James Taylor papers
Scope and Contents of the Papers
The James Taylor papers include correspondence, receipts, and other materials dealing with his business and personal activities. Throughout the correspondence there are numerous letters concerning education, particularly at the college level. One letter, dated February 26, 1865 gives a good account of academic life at the University of Michigan. The collection also contains personal correspondence about life in general. Most of the receipts pertain to Taylor's agricultural implement business and his dealings with other companies. Of particular interest in the miscellaneous materials is an excellent genealogy of the Taylor family which was written in 1942.
Dates
- Creation: 1855 - 1900
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Biographical/Historical
James Taylor was born in August 5, 1836 in Yorkshire, England. In 1842 the Taylor family emigrated to the United States settling in Livingston County, Michigan. Taylor soon found great opportunities in education. He finished a course at Cochran's Business Institute at the age of twenty. He was a member of Michigan Agricultural College's first class in 1857 and later graduated from the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. After dividing his time between teaching and farm labor for three years, Taylor entered the general store business with his brother-in-law, Alexander H. Benedict. In 1868 he sold out his share of the business and moved to Chelsea, Michigan where he engaged in the purchase of farm produce and the sale of agriculture implements for many years. Taylor was married on July 4, 1864 to Mariette Benedict who died on May 28, 1893. Four years later, on May 5, 1897, he was remarried to Mrs. Mary Potter. Taylor died on August 7, 1916 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Extent
1.5 Cubic Feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Gift of Mrs. Charles Schlacks, transferred by the MSU Museum.
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.
Subject
- University of Michigan. Law School (Organization)
- Michigan Agricultural College (Organization)
- Eastern Michigan University (Organization)
- Hillsdale College (Organization)
- Ann Arbor Union High School (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- Ann Arbor (Mich.)
- Chelsea (Mich.)
- Hillsdale (Mich.)
- Lansing (Mich.)
- Unadilla (Mich.)
- Ypsilanti (Mich.)
Topical
- Title
- James Taylor Papers
- Status
- 4 Published And Cataloged
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Historical Collections Repository
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu