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Lewis A. Wileden papers

 Collection
Identifier: UA-10.3.415

Scope and Contents

The collection documents Lewis A. Wileden's military service during World War I, including personal notebooks, military vouchers and orders, and personal reports. Also present is a 1919 copy of the Second Division newspaper, The Indian, a small publication about the accomplishments of the division during the war, a scrapbook of postcards and photographs of Europe, postwar correspondence with the Second Regiment Engineers, wartime newspaper clippings, and military identification papers, one of which holds a photograph of Wileden. The collection includes a personal synopsis of his war experiences and copies of speeches he made concerning the war in later years.

Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) materials include a personal expense notebook, social programs, a scrapbook including photographs of family and friends from the Ortonville and Lansing (Michigan) areas, programs, invitations, and ribbons, and articles and programs of alumni events.

Postwar materials include veterinary accounts, records, and day books, articles, records of his service with the Ingham County (Michigan) Health Department, the Mason (Michigan) City Council, and his jury duty tenures, speeches, and personal correspondence. There are also numerous materials relating to his accident on the Grand Trunk Railway system in 1941, his claim against the railroad company, his medical expenses, and a hospital diary. Also an account of his 1949 hernia operation and a scrapbook of get well cards from both hospital stays.

Dates

  • Creation: 1908 - 1968

Creator

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 Note

Lewis A. Wileden (1888-1969) of Oxford Township, Oakland County, Michigan, was the first student at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) to earn a degree in veterinary medicine. After graduating in 1913, he accepted the position of Sanitary Inspector for Lansing, Michigan. In 1914, he married Carolyn D. Gornitz. In 1917, he enlisted in the Second Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces, and he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Veterinary Corps in France. Upon his return, in 1919, he set up a veterinary practice in Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan, which he relocated to Mason, Michigan, in 1922. He was elected president of the Michigan Veterinarians' Association in 1927, and he served on the Mason Board of Education from 1927 to 1935. In 1941, he was injured in a train accident in Lansing. In 1946, he sold his veterinary practice to become the meat inspector for the Ingham County (Michigan) Health Department, from which he retired in 1957. He also served on the Mason City Council from 1954 to 1956.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Gift of Lewis A. Wileden, 1968-10-09.

Legal Status

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to Michigan State University but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Copyright restrictions may apply. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Processing Information

Changed record group from 00073 to UA 10.3.415 to reflect Wileden's connection to Michigan State University. M. Badgley Malone, December 2019

Title
Lewis A. Wileden Papers
Status
4 Published And Cataloged
Author
B. Galda
Date
1968
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

Contact:
Conrad Hall
943 Conrad Road, Room 101
East Lansing MI 48824 US
517-355-2330