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.