Scope and Contents The Allcott family papers consist primarily of letters to Sidney S. Allcott from his brother William and from business associates in Massachusetts and New York. Allcott was involved in land speculation in Eaton and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, and he built the Emerald Mills on Bear Creek in 1848. The correspondence gives a clear picture of the economy in the years 1835-1850, especially with respect to money and banking. Many of the letters discuss market prices, transportation costs, and the...

Scope and Contents The Campbell family papers consist primarily of Civil War letters from Alexander and Allen Campbell to their father, John, in Groveland, Michigan. The Campbell brothers joined the 1st Michigan engineers and served for the most part in Tennessee, where they helped build bridges and repair railroads. The letters discuss their experiences and home matters as well as recruitment and opposition to the draft. Their regiment later joined Sherman for his March to the Sea. In one letter Allen...

Scope and Contents Charles Francis and his wife, Elizabeth, migrated from Wethersfield, Connecticut, through New York and Indiana, eventually settling in New Buffalo, St. Joseph County, Michigan. His papers include correspondence from various members of the Francis family in Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The collection also contains a ledger of Charles Francis, in which he recorded his daily work as well as expenses and receipts.Much of the...

Scope and Contents The Smith family papers consist mostly of Alfred Smith's letters to his parents while he was in the Army, and correspondence exchanged by family members in Michigan and New York in the years following the war. The collection also includes various documents including insurance policies, deeds, mortgages, and a lottery advertisement (1868).Subjects of particular interest from Alfred's correspondence include conditions in the Union hospital at Albany, New York (July 12, 1862);...