Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Genesee County Historical Society
Date(s)
- 1836 - 1955 (Creation)
Extent
6.26 linear feet for physical contents. Two hundred six megabytes for digitized content.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The collection is composed of records and manuscripts from a variety of backgrounds. If there is one theme, it is that all are related to the history of Genesee County. Documents reflect the founding of Genesee County in the 1830s to early developments in infrastructure in the 1840s and 1850s, contributions of county residents in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the First World War, ledgers and other documents detailing business activity, and organizational records from GCHS.
Those documents that detail the early history of Genesee County include oaths sworn and signed by initial officers of the county: sheriff, public notary, justice of the peace, and county surveyor. Other documents show the impetus and funding passed for a bridge over the Flint River.
Contributions county residents in various wars are reflected in clippings about Corydon Foote, a veteran of the Civil War and letters written by Herman Crites, a decorated veteran of the First World War. The letters of Crites reveal another side of a soldier who received the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery. His letters made light of daily life in the Army from before American entry into the war to preparing family members that he might die while serving in France.
Business records reflect activities undertaken by farms and stores in Flint and in the wider county. A member of the Crapo family, or an employee of the Crapo farm, kept a diary of daily activities on the farm for several months in 1895. Related to the business records are those from various civic and social organizations, such as ladies’ library associations in Flint and in Atlas Township.
The organizational records from GCHS reflect many activities taken by it and its members. Visitors logs from the old museum, informally known as the Flint Museum, list names and addresses of visitors. Curators’ reports document activities of GCHS, including collecting policies and exhibitions. Many letters are addressed to Charles M. Barber, who served as curator for GCHS for many years. Included also are many manuscripts written by Barber.
Portions of the collection were digitized for preservation concerns and for research purposes. These portions include oaths from early county officials, a contract for a bridge in 1848, a record of stockings sewn by county women during the Civil War, and a speech by Levi Walker to the Genesee County Agricultural Society.
System of arrangement
Past practices described the contents of this collection individually. Each item received an object ID number and was treated as a distinct artifact. Records have been reunited, but their original order may have been lost.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
No restrictions. Contact the Collections Department to arrange use for research.
Physical access
Paper composes the predominant media in the collection. Documents are housed inside acid-free folders in legal-length Hollinger boxes. Larger documents were placed in a flat file folder which resides in one of the flat file cabinets.
The general condition of the collection is good. Documents nearly 200 year in age are in remarkably good condition. They should be handled with care but do not show signs of flaking along their edges. Some tears are present. Younger documents are no less brittle nor in any danger of falling to pieces. Ink in handwriting is visible with only slight fading in some instances. Yellowing of paper is present but is slight, excepting newspaper clippings. Some contents were digitized for preservation purposes and uniqueness of information.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
No restrictions. Reproductions are done and charged in accordance with Sloan Museum Archives Fee Service Policy.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
A downloadable PDF finding aid is available.
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
The Genesee County Historical Society (GCHS) transferred the collection to Sloan Panorama of Transportation in 1965.
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
None.
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Object Identification Number
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd edition
Sources used
Archivist's note
Jonathan Kirkwood, Archivist
November 22, 2022 (PastPerfect)
Archivist's note
Jonathan Kirkwood, Archivist
April 3, 2024 (Access to Memory)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Avery, Charles P. (Subject)
- Barber, Charles M. (Subject)
- Bunnell, Putnam (Subject)
- Bush, George C. (Subject)
- Butler, George (Subject)
- Crites, Herman (Subject)
- Embury, Emma (Subject)
- Foote, Corydon (Subject)
- Howe, George R. (Subject)
- Lodge, Rebekah (Subject)
- McIntyre, Dolly G. (Subject)
- Payne, Chauncey S. (Subject)
- Perry, Willis J. (Subject)
- Stone, Elizabeth (Subject)
- Swimm, George T. (Subject)
- Walker, Helen V. (Subject)
- Walker, Levi (Subject)
- Wilber, Mark D. (Subject)