Edward Everett Pettengill (1870-1959) attended Michigan Agricultural College (M.A.C., now Michigan State University) for two years from 1890 to 1892 where he studied agriculture. He did not graduate. Pettengill was the donor's paternal uncle. From 1884 to 1885 he attended Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). As of 1930 he was telegraph operator in Oviatt, Benzie County, Michigan.

Perry Holden and Edward Pettengill were neighbors in Almira, Benzie County, Michigan in 1880 according to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census.

Perry Holden (1865-1956) graduated from Michigan Agricultural College in 1889 and received his MS degree in 1895. He received his Bachelor of Pedagogy degree in 1894 from Michigan State Normal College and a Master of Pedagogy from the same institution in 1904.

From August 1889 to May 1893, Holden was the Assistant Agriculturist to the Experiment Station at M.A.C. He was also a Commissioner of Schools for Benzie County from 1894 to 1895; Professor of Science at Benzonia College from 1894 to 1895; Assistant Professor of Agricultural Physics at the University of Illinois from September of 1896 to 1900; and Superintendent in the Agricultural Department of Illinois Sugar Refining Co. As of 1911 he was the Superintendent of the Extension Department of Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) in Ames, Iowa. Around 1930 he was Field Director of the Agricultural Extension Department for International Harvester Company.

Berto Holden (1871-1948) and Perry Holden were brothers. Berto attended M.A.C. and graduated in 1891. He also received his Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1894 from Michigan State Normal College. From 1895 to 1898 he was Superintendent of Schools in Hastings, Michigan. As of 1900 he worked at the Lansing branch of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. As of 1911 he was a farmer in Wixom, Michigan and by 1930 he farmed in Milford, Michigan.

A photo of Mr. Holden in the collection, may be of the Perry and Berto's father, Denison.