The Bamber family papers consist primarily of correspondence written or received by members of the family of Joseph S. Bamber, a farmer residing in Oakland County, Michigan. The collection includes letters (1862-1865) to Bamber from members of the Hayes family, related to the Bambers by marriage. These letters describe civilian experiences during the Civil War and contain information on food prices, the draft, and "Copperhead" activity in 1864.

Also included are letters (1879-1883) from Bamber's son Albert, a student at Michigan Agricultural College, and letters from various family members to Albert and his brother Herbert, also a student at M.A.C. The letters are concerned with family matters, especially the elder Bamber's sheep.

Miscellaneous papers include a letter expressing sympathy with the Bamber family over Albert's death in 1883, a memorial poem written by one of his classmates, and a humorous account, apparently written by Albert, of the freshman year (1879-1880) experiences of the M.A.C. Class of 1883.

The collection also contains Civil War letters (1861-1864) received by Edward H. Dickerman (3rd Michigan Infantry) from members of his family in Michigan and New England, and from his brothers Samuel (6th New Hampshire Volunteers) and James (8th Michigan Infantry). In addition, there is one letter from Miles Predmore to his brother (1864), describing army life at Fort Creighton in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Predmore and Dickerman's relationship to the Bamber family is unclear.

The Civil War related materials (folders 1 and 4) have been transcribed, scanned and put online at http://civilwar.archives.msu.edu/collection/7-1C-49/bamber/.