The records contained in this collection span over two centuries. Their media compose correspondence (with envelopes in some instances), military manuals, a marriage certificate between Louisa Smith and Chauncey S. Payne, a document detailing the estate of Jacob Smith, banking records, a reunion roster for the 16th Michigan Infantry, and newspaper clippings. The majority of the records focus on the early military career and Civil War service of Thomas B.W. Stockton. The records are limited to correspondence and orders received for various assignments after he graduated from West Point in 1827. He initially saw service in the Western Department of the US Army, which oversaw territory between the Mississippi River to California. He later transferred to Washington, D.C. to serve as an assistant quartermaster.

Later service saw him transferred to Detroit to participate in what correspondence describes as construction of the Sagana Road. Stockton resigned in 1837 to assume a civilian post with the Army as an engineer. He left in 1840 and returned in 1844. He sought a commission in the army to raise regiments for the coming Mexican-American War. From there a gap exists until orders were received for him to remove the 16th Michigan to Washington, D.C. in late 1861. Correspondence details his time as a prisoner of war before being paroled and a request to assistance Andrew Johnson in raising three regiments to participate in operations in Tennessee.

Personal aspects of his life remain absent from the records. Other records focus on Jacob Smith, which include correspondence between him and family members. Related to these are correspondence from his children. Later records represent children and other descendants of Stockton and their efforts to carry on his legacy. These are documented in correspondence and newspaper clippings.

This collection documents the social activities of Lloyd Tyson during the 1940s-1960s at work as a parts inspector at AC Sparkplug. The materials also depict him performing in factory choirs and as a cast member of the Flint Community Players. The materials include photographs, pamphlets and newspaper clippings.

Lloyd Tyson was born about 1912 in Flint, Michigan to George Tyson, a factory worker, and his wife Genia (Jenice). Lloyd had three brothers and lived with his family at 524 Mathewson Street. He was active in high school, where he graduated from Central High. In addition to playing the fleugel horns in the band, he was also an assistant editor for the yearbook and participated in theater, student council, the Belle Masque Club, the Hi-Y Club, and Delta Epsilon Alpha. On April 7, 1938, Lloyd married Ilene Smith of Coldwater, Michigan. They had a son named Dale.

The collection consists of several letters and one poem received by Susie C. Fisher from various men serving in U.S. Army in World War I. Letters do not provide details as to whether she was related to them or if they were friends or suitors. All were handwritten in either ink or pencil except one that was typed. Letter writers were Valeno Prince, who served in the headquarters of the American Expeditionary Force, Carl Paterson, who served in evacuation hospital no. 21, and Ralph Manwell, who served at an artillery school. All three served in France during the war. Every letter but one was mailed from France. The one exception originated from Camp Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan. Letter writers mentioned training, operations of their units, and what France and its people were like, but wrote sparingly about combat.

The poem is a chilling account of how the Spanish influenza affected a person’s body. It is unknown when and where the poem was written.

The collection is composed of a 1923 radio directory and trouble finder, radio repair station and letter.

The collection consists of 6 photographs. 5 of the photographs depict blizzards at or around 3114 Feilding Street in Flint, Michigan and are dated May 1959. The last photograph is of a Hungarian Military Band based in Michigan and is not dated.

Two copies of a manuscript detailing the life of Rose Waite and her family as they lived in New York, Toronto, and Michigan.

The collection consists of two copies of invitations to a New Year’s party at the Idlewild in Flint. Room managers were identified as George Stevens, William Lewis, and Vene Cole. Music was to be provided by Kinman’s Band. D.W. Denio was identified as the proprietor of the Idlewild. Entry cost $2.

Several records comprise the collection: correspondence, newspaper clippings, and a ribbon from 1914.

The collection is composed solely of a single handbill which announces the first train for what was then the new Flint Belt Line. The train was scheduled to leave on Monday, June 4, 1923 from Pere Marquette Station.

The bill also announces several festivities in connection, such as the last spike being driven where Davison Road crossed the Belt Line, a free ride on the train, bands playing, and movies being taken. A dinner was announced for subscribers to the Belt Line fund at Hotel Durant.

Paul Purdy signed his name at the date at the bottom of the bill.

The collection can be broken into two halves. One half contains various local and state government compendiums and manuals. The other half consists of records related to one part of the life of Paul D. Phillips.

Concerning government records, the majority come from the city of Flint from the 1920s to the mid-1940s. Of significance are three copies of the 1939 compiled ordinances of Flint. The ordinances provide for enforcement and regulation of building and traffic codes, zoning changes, safety, welfare, public morals, health, recreation, business, and public works. Two interesting developments are that African Americans were no longer legally considered nuisances when renting property from white owners in certain parts of Flint, as city ordinances had described them in the 1920s, and that city health inspectors were empowered to inspect factories.

Accompanying the compiled ordinances is a 1926 schedule of license fees. Some service fees were crossed out with dark green ink. In their place, and in the same colored ink, someone wrote different charges for services. Ordinance No. 195, approved in 1917, regulated the use of motor vehicles of various types within the city limits. It represents an example of the automobile’s growing influence within Flint. The 1946 Flint Municipal Traffic Code, in contrast, is more descriptive and longer. In it are loose-leaf sheets of paper, which list taxicab companies in Flint from 1949 to 1950 and how many cabs each owned. These companies, including independent contractors associated with them, operated 150 cabs in the city.

The collection contains the 1920 report to the City Plan Commission. This contains extensive statistical information of the population of Flint at the time, excepting ethnic statistics. The report was related to a vote held in 1917 concerning a new charter amendment. The report was meant to compile statistical data for use in future planning.

Another document of interest is a booklet which contains a proposed revised city charter. It was published in 1919 after members of the Charter Provision Commission took suggestions from voters and examined charters from other cities.

Other government documents include a copy of the 1930 city charter, a copy of the 1938 official planning and zoning ordinances, and copies of the 1946 and 1948 state of Michigan elections manuals.

The other half of the collection is related to the life of Phillips. It does not contain records that reflect his personal tastes, but gives an idea that he was something of an outdoorsman. Phillips served as secretary of the Genesee Sportsmen’s Club in the early 1920s. The records contain the rules and by-laws of the Congress of Michigan Game Associations, newspaper clippings relating to activities of the club and associated individuals, and correspondence of club activities. The correspondence is largely limited to advocacy Phillips and other members of the club engaged in in 1921 and 1922. Objections rose among club members, Phillips included, toward state game warden John Baird out of concern that the warden and Governor Alexander J. Groesbeck were using funds meant to support conservation, propagation, and law enforcement of game for establishing and maintaining political connections. Phillips received letters from, and drafted letters to, individuals within the club and from across the state to mobilize a response. He and others often referred to political interference as “Bairdism” or “Groesbeckism.” Other records of the club include the fifth and sixth annual banquet programs and programs for other events.

The remaining records in the collection comprise documents from the Republican Party, a publication call “The Wheeze,” programs of First Baptist Church, including a program from its fiftieth anniversary, and by-laws of the Flint Shriner’s Club from 1925.