Lawrence Family Papers

Description:

A collection of papers from the Lawrence family, who lived in Lansing for many years around the turn of the century, mostly in the 700 block of West Shiawassee Street. The collection contains three boxes of glass plate negatives taken by siblings Albert E. (A.E.L.) and Harriet (Hattie) Lawrence. These glass plate negatives have been separated out into Series 1 (2015-10-005.001) and each individual photograph is cataloged. The remainder of the collection is represented by the container list only, and those items can be seen on request in the library. Other siblings were William W., Ella H., and Frank H. Lawrence. Their father Henry North Lawrence also had a sister named Harriet, for whom his daughter may have been named. Brothers William and Frank kept several ledgers. Frank's seem to be more of an educational practice in record keeping, while William's served as both daily financial accounting and a diary of his thoughts or notes on happenings. The accounting and diary entries are often mixed together on the same page. There are also many theatre programs from all of the early 20th-century theatres around Lansing, most likely collected by William W. Lawrence. Henry North Lawrence was involved in the printing and insurance businesses. In this collection are a number of his business and accounting ledgers, as well as files of documentation from the businesses, especially the Wolverine and Peninsular Mutual Fire Insurance companies for which he served as secretary to the board. He was also the Deputy Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Michigan for some years in the late 19th century. There are several cabinet cards, prints of Albert and Hattie's photographs and from Lansing photography studios, not always identified. The collection also includes calling cards representing a number of important early Lansing families, a catalog of the phonograph records Hattie Lawrence owned, a booklet from the First Presbyterian Church dedicated to the memory of Henry North Lawrence, and a rolled broadsheet printing of "Pioneer Recollections" by James H. Lawrence concerning his move to Branch County, Michigan, in 1835. These materials were originally collected by David Caterino, a library volunteer and local history enthusiast.

Date Created:

[1830 TO 1930]

Data Provider:

Capital Area District Library (Lansing, MI). Forest Parke Library and Archives

Collection:

Lawrence Family Collection

Subject Topic:

Insurance companies, Printing industry, Theaters, Theater programs, Shiawassee Street West, Glass negatives, Photography, Ledgers, Presbyterian churches, Methodist Episcopal churches, and Diaries

Language:

English

Rights:

Copyright Not Evaluated

URL:

http://cadl.pastperfectonline.com/archive/256A49DF-CBBA-49AC-A26D-167628154070