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.

The collection is a short, handwritten autobiography by Harrison Conger. Conger was born in Bangor, Franklin County, New York, but emigrated from there to Michigan in 1836. He wrote it in 1892. His autobiography recounts his travel across several waterways to reach Michigan and work done under several men before he settled down after marrying Deniza Ann Seeley in 1839. Conger offered few details regarding the work he did prior to and after he married Deniza. The marriage occurred at the intersection of where Kearsley Creek met the Flint River. Both later settled in Davison Township.

The collection reflects contributions of Corydon Foote during the Civil War and activities of Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 145, sometimes better known as Governor Crapo Post No. 145. Correspondence reveals some activities undertaken by Foote during the war, including marching through Confederate territory past plantations and cotton fields. Foote made no mention of slaves. It is possible he marched through territory liberated by the Union or chose not to mention having seen slaves for reasons unknown. He may have assisted in the looting of civilian homes and farms, though the details in a letter are too spare to know for sure. He wrote a lengthy letter to family about witnessing the execution of a three-time deserter from the Union Army. The letter suggests witnessing death left a deep impression on him. He wrote descriptively of how the deserter’s body acted once shot and of how uncomfortable he felt looking at the ground under which the deserter had been buried. Other records of Foote’s service including papers for a furlough, discharge from the Army, and pension receipts.

Records of Post No. 145 document meetings and finances of the post from the late 1870s to 1936 when the post disbanded for lack of members. Minutes document meetings of the post. Members were frequently referred to as comrades. Reports were read concerning correspondence with individuals and organizations, including other posts, death notices of deceased members, and lectures on various topics, including the war. Records of rosters from the 1870s and 1890s are present. Cash books show how the post received funds, largely in the form of dues, and spent them. Spending them included paying bills or dispensing financial support to members or families of deceased members.

Unconnected to the war is a brief untitled and unauthored history of interurban rail in Flint. The history focuses on the rise and decline of interurban rail. The role of labor factors in it, how much workers were paid and times they went on strike. Financial struggles of many rail lines are detailed as well.

The scrapbooks contain many clippings and other items relating to Flint and Genesee County and areas beyond. Some of them come from the state of Michigan. The scrapbooks are being retained due to containing content regarding the history of the county, including several articles on schools throughout the county.

Loose contents were previously placed into plastic bags. They were removed from these bags and transferred to acid-free folders for better preservation. They retain the organization they were found having in the bags.

Weeding of the scrapbooks was an impossibility as it meant causing significant physical damage.

Correspondence composes the majority of the collection. It details lamps discussions concerning lamps from antiquity to the early modern period. Half of the correspondence details lamps that may or may not have been considered by Sloan Panorama of Transportation for exhibition and lamps that were given consideration for donation and exhibition. The remainder of the collection is an issue of The Reminder, a newsletter published by Genesee County Historical and Museum Society.

The collection represents aspects of the life of Fred Aldrich, though largely his service with the Genesee County Reemployment Committee for Selective Service of Michigan. Records reflect little of his personal life. Other work Aldrich participated in includes the Senior Council of the Michigan Children’s Aid Society, the Flint Defense Test Committee, the Genesee County War Board, and the Genesee County Historical and Museum Society. Records from these other organizations are scant and it is difficult to ascertain the extent of Aldrich’s involvement.

Other records in the collection unrelated to Aldrich include an abstract for land around Parkland No. 2 from 1819 to 1909. The abstract contains information pertaining to ownership and taxable value. Another record of interest are the specifications for a house owned by H.J. Bachtel.

The breadth of records in this collection is expansive, covering many aspects of the life of Frank D. Baker and family members. Represented are correspondence, newsletters, newspaper clippings and pages, class yearbooks, meeting minutes, expense ledgers, and poems. Some of these were collected and produced by Baker, others by family members. Records reveal Baker had a varied career and life. The expense ledgers detail purchases made by customers of good in his store, notably pharmaceuticals. The ledgers represent purchases made in the early 1880s. All writing in them is in cursive. Baker served a single-year term as Mayor of Flint in 1889 and was subsequently elected twice as Sheriff of Genesee County. An opponent, William A. Garner, in 1893 accused Baker in a letter of illegally occupying the office, despite Baker have won a majority in the election. Baker is reported to have resigned the office to avoid a confrontation. He returned to his business but later joined the board of the Flint Building Corporation in the 1920s, which oversaw capital development in Flint. He also served as a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention in New York City. He also served as postmaster of Flint between 1914 and 1922. He died in 1927.

Records relating to other family members largely represent those of a daughter, Mattie. Her school records compose most of what is present. These include yearbooks and composition books. She also undertook a long holiday in Europe in the early 1930s as evidenced from brochures and tickets.

The remaining records include minutes of the Genesee County Board of Supervisors from 1892 to 1893, handwritten poems by an unnamed author, and World War II-era ration cards. Another descending served as postmaster for the city in Flint in the late 1940s.

The collection was divided into multiple series due to its large size. Series I is composed of advertising materials, pamphlets, menus, bulletins, and voter ballots by Wolverine Citizens Printing between 1918 and 1923. What is arranged in Series I is what remains of what was accessioned in 1965. Extensive weeding removed empty envelops and letterhead that lacked prices and services offered. Government publications were retained, in particular those related to the Flint Board of Health when William DeKleine served as director. The Flint Board of Health contracted Wolverine Citizens to print many health notices related to the 1918 smallpox epidemic, the Spanish influenza, and proper handling of milk canisters. Other government bodies include the Flint Board of Education and the Flint Police Force. Materials retained from private organizations include business cards, coupons, and restaurant menus, bulletins issued by businesses, copies of bond tickets when the city of Flint raised money to pay for road improvements, and advertisements for social events. Numerous organizations contracted with Wolverine Citizens, including the Knights of Columbus, Flint Board of Education, Consumers Power Company, and Hardy Bakery.