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- Description:
- This white paper envelope contained a 5-page letter that was written by Francis A. Blades who was the Controller of the City of Detroit. The front side of the envelope is addressed in handwritten black text to "The Honorable Controller of the City of Detroit." and "Compliments of the Controller of the City of Detroit AD 1900, F. A. Blades." The flap on the back side of the envelope is sealed with dark green wax.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This tan paper envelope contained a 7-page letter that was written by Dr. James A. Post who was the secretary of the Detroit Association of Charities. The front of the envelope has a typewritten address that shows "Associated Charities in Detroit - Past, Present, and Future, By Dr. James A. Post, Secretary of the Association of Charities, Detroit, Mich."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 3-page letter was handwritten in black ink on a folded piece of slightly yellowed paper by Rev. Charles L. Arnold. His letter is entitled, "The Arnold Home for the Aged and Hospital for Incurables," and the text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Arnold Home for the Aged and Hospital for Incurables. In December 1899, the Rev. Charles L. Arnold, rector of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, at that time the third parish in Detroit in number of Communicants, and situated on the corner of Church St. and Michigan Ave., came to realize the great need existing in our city of a "House" for those who by reason of age or other hopeless infirmity are unable to care for themselves. Through the kindness of the Trustees of the diocese of Michigan, the founder secured the free use of the former Episcopal residence, at 226 Fort St. West. Here Mr. Arnold gathered a score of the aged and incurable, and through the liberality of a number of gentlemen, notably, Hon. D.M. Ferry and Oliver Goldsmith Esq., was enabled to conduct the affairs of the "Home" with marked success. The first bequest to this institution was made by Mrs. Hannah Titus, who died in March 1900. With the amount of this bequest, about seven thousand dollars, the Arnold Home is to be incorporated on the day following the sealing of this box, and steps have already been taken for the acquiring of valuable real estate. No charity of this city today is more popular or more highly appreciated than this one, that has just entered upon, what we hope will be, a perpetual and enduring career of usefulness and beneficence. The earnest hope of the founder is that its existence may reach far beyond the limits of the century. 'Morituri salutaris' C.L. Arnold"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This tan paper envelope contained a 2-page letter that was written by Orrin R. Baldwin who was the president of the American Harrow Company as well as the president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange. His name is written in black ink along the top edge of the front side of the envelope. The flap on the back side is sealed with black wax that is impressed with the letter, "B."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by William C. Maybury who was the Mayor of the City of Detroit. The paper is printed with the Executive Office letterhead at the top and shows a watermark that consists of a shield and crown emblem with the words, "Pure Linen Stock." The four pages were bound at the top with a narrow pink ribbon (not shown in the digital images). The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "December 31st 1900 Midnight To His Honor - The Mayor of Detroit in 2001 and to the generation whose privilege - and I hope pleasure - it will be to read the letters in this box contained. Health and Greeting - The papers herein contained and now for the first time brought to light by you - after a retirement of one hundred years - were prepared at my request by men and women prominent in the activities of Detroit at the close of the nineteenth Century. Our chief desire and purpose is to convey to you across the long span of the Century a brief and concise statement of the present and past conditions of the community in which we live and to give you as clear an insight as is possible into the social, religious, moral, commercial and political affairs of Detroit and of the times in which we live. There will be given to you testimony from living witnesses of the events chronicled and of conditions described. From testimony so transmitted you will be the better able to discern what advancement you have made from the modest beginnings of which we are witnesses. We are well aware that the century closing has been marvelous in its achievements and we might be fairly excused for believing that the ultimate limits of possibilities has been accomplished in many ways. But on the contrary we do not so believe, because the past has thought us that what seemed to be impossible has been already accomplished and we would therefore not be greatly surprised at more wonderful accomplishments in the future. We communicate by telegraph and telephone over distances that at the opening on the nineteenth century were insurmountable. We travel at a rate of speed not dreamed of then. The power of electricity has been marvelously applied while compressed air and other agencies are now undergoing promising experiment. We travel by railroad and with steam power from Detroit to Chicago in less than eight hours and to New York City by several routes, in less than twenty hours. How much faster are you traveling? How much further have you annihilated time and space, and what agencies are you employing to which we are now strangers? We talk over long distance telephones to the most remote parts of our own land, and with a fair degree of practical success. Are you talking to foreign lands, and to the islands of the sea by the same method? And thus throughout all the various pathways of human progress the papers in this box will bring to you a correct knowledge of present conditions, and possibly words more or less, prophetic of the future. How correct our prophecies may prove we know not, for we write them with hesitation and doubt, but yet with hopefulness. We write in full anticipation that you will stand upon a vantage ground of experience far higher and more resplendent than our own. We ask therefore, for those who assume to prophesy, your kindliest consideration, and judgment, especially when we assure you that our prophets are not without honor, even in their own Century and in their own times. If we may judge from the history of human life as so far told - and of all experience very few - if any - of the 300,000 souls now inhabiting Detroit - will live here when you open this box; which we so solemnly close. And yet it may be possible that such which we now accept from faith may be to you certainty and knowledge - and possibly that knowledge may be accompanied by consciousness that we are witnesses and even listeners to the voices that interpret our words. We humbly ask that you accept for usefulness all that may tend to information and to good, and that you may look most kindly upon that which time has changed or which may have passed out of the realms of live and living. May we be permitted to express one hope - in our hearts - superior to all others - that whatever failures the coming century may have in store - in things material and temporal - you may realize that as a nation, people, and city, you have grown in righteousness for it is this that exalts a nation. Respectfully and affectionately submitted, William C. Maybury Mayor Written hastily and in the last hours of the century at my home on the southwest Corner of streets now called 8th St and Lafayette Avenue - near where I was born."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by lawyer, D. Augustus Straker. The paper has the watermark, "Riverside Paper Company." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "December 31, 1900 Detroit, Michigan To the Hon. William Maybury Mayor of the City of Detroit, Mich. "The past, present, and future of the colored race in Detroit." Sir, none who have lived the allotted time of human life within the confines of our beautiful city can fail to notice the changes, and events which have marked the 19th century, and especially so as relates, to the colored race of people, living and who have lived in Detroit. The 19th century found the colored people of Detroit a race of slaves although slavery is not known ever to have had a foot hold here. The incoming of the 20th century finds every man, and woman, and child of the colored race enjoying complete freedom under the law. The 19th century found the colored race in Detroit ignorant, uneducated, poor, and unenlightened, save with few exceptions. The 20th century dawns upon us with every school door in the City of Detroit wide open, welcoming within its walls every colored as well as white child of our common citizenship, and from whose precincts have come educated and well equipped colored men and women who have filled high honor and trust. The 19th century found laws upon the statute books of our state which deprived the colored man and woman of employment of every civil, and social privilege participated in by our white fellow citizens. The 20th century finds the colored citizens of Detroit in the employment and right to go and enter every public place established for public accommodation. the 19th century found the colored race poor and in many instances homeless, because of the low wages and restricted opportunity to labor and receive adequate wages. The 20th century finds a large percent of the colored race in Detroit the owner of their residences. In the past, enough was not earned for any part to be saved. On the incoming of the 20th century a large number of our colored citizens are depositors in our savings banks and some carry a fair commercial account in the transactions of their business. The moral status of the colored race in Detroit with the advantages afforded compare most favorably with that of any other race of people similarly situated. No laws discriminate between the races on account of color. These achievement have been brought about by the pioneer energy of such veterans among the colored race as William Lambert, Ben De Baptiste, John Richards, George Parker, and others. And now as to the future of the colored race in Detroit. If we should augur from the past and present, we have the brightest expectation for the future. Two elements must enter into the future progress of the race. One by the white race and the other by the colored themselves. This element is equal opportunity. This and this only remains to test the true development of the race. In the past this was wholly desired by the colored race, in the present it is but partially employed. We look to the future for its completion. We ourselves must be ready for the wider opportunity to come. May one hundred years hence find us in the full enjoyment of those rights and privileges which prejudice now deny us. A prejudice does now exist on the fringe of the 20th century. I predict that the sunlight of a more perfect understanding of man will drive out the demon prejudice and when the 21st century arrives he will find no resting place in the beautiful city of the straits. D. Augustus Straker"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- Cover page with a 12-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Mrs. John Vallée Moran (née Emma Etheridge). The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "To Hon. Wm. C. Maybury Mayor of Detroit. A few reflections on the American Mother in Detroit. Compliments Mrs. John Vallée Moran née (Emma Etheridge) 1 The American Mother in Detroit. The divinely instituted order of Motherhood, into which so many of us have been initiated, imposes upon its members an obligation so serious, and withal so sweet, that one hesitates to enter upon a discussion of its real status, and influence, upon the social fabric of our city, at the close of this wondrous century, realizing as one must, that upon the mothers of our day rests 2 the destiny of many in the years to come. The pen of an angel or a sage might be worthily employed to predict from present conditions how far maternal influence is to determine the fate of millions, in the mysterious gloom of futurity; a power of prophecy to tell what will be the effect of our present mothers upon the children of the new year. The honorable Mayor has asked for a brief expression of opinion on the "American Mother in Detroit" as she stands 3 today; the task is interesting, but not easy, especially in the limited hours allowed to a subject so far reaching, reaching indeed to eternity and which deserves profound reflection; to group facts and properly draw conclusions is impossible, but even in these last quivering moments of the closing year, a few distinct impressions may be noted, and they need not go very deeply into detail. In the first place, our Detroit mother may be declared a very fair product of her age 4 - an age however that has done more for the development of woman - per se - than for woman as mother; and the closing century finds her along with her sisters of the United States, a center of influence - social, intellectual, patriotic, philanthropic - if not strictly spiritual (the latter quality cannot always be denied her however, for we discover in our midst matrons who are examples of deep religious fervor that cannot fail to influence the child's mind.) The theatre of action for this modern nineteenth century mother is 5 not confined to the limits of home, she is recognized in the great world of activity and denied entrance to very few of its fields of advancement, where she plunges with intense zeal into the current of affairs, and readily becomes a devoted follower of the various cults - fads - and philosophies that distract our minds and destroy the serenity of existence. But in spite of these seeming inconsistencies, this same American mother carries in her heart a warm strain of devotion to 6 her children, ambitious earnestness in their behalf, and a fervid desire for their advancement, that taken all in all , has not been surpassed by the mothers of any age, even unequaled in many respects. If she be somewhat lacking in feminine virtues or the full measure of gentle composure, so needed to make her a perfect receptacle of childish confidence, she atones for it in the enthusiasm and tireless energy with which she assumes control in all that pertains to the health, comfort or mental development of her children, making herself their guide and directress from the cradle and kindergarten to the threshold 7 of social, business or professional life; and even further, she may follow as counsellor, and assistant in occupations which were closed to her in the early days of the century. Our fin de siecle mother does not cling to the traditions of those early days, but following the strong bent of her own convictions, is more frequently intense and earnest, than concentrated and composed - surprising the world by the multitude of her interests - she stops at nothing that to her seems worthy of human endeavor, and living as it were upon her nerves, finally exhausts them in the activity of her aims. 8 Stopping at nothing, she finally and naturally wearies of everything. It must follow that the care of a household - and the rearing of children to this product of a trying age, while nearest to her heart, and uppermost in her mind, must often become a burthen to the mother where interests cover so wide an area - and the boasted liberty of our great century [country?] - the liberty that has struck fetters from slaves in every land - unbound the realms of human thought and professed to emancipate woman and place her on an equal footing with man, 9 has really made of her a slave to its conflicting theories. Until our women have checked this tendency to substitute new for old methods, they have not learned the best lessons of the century. Reviewing the past we find that it is the domestic woman, the serene and motherly whose image we love to resemble because we loved her, and the enlightenment that deprives this sweet concentration of gentle forbearance, self control and pines to guide without egotism or excitement of a single 10 element of feminine charm, [?] us of the mother we need, and the nineteenth century must be responsible for some falling off in these qualities. Family life today is certainly less limited than in the old old times, where our fathers watched the yule log play its wondrous light upon the loving group that gathered round the warm hearthstone. But human hearts are all aglow with quickening love and sympathy and in this hurried greeting to the mothers of a new century, there goes a hope that its close may 11 find them as proud and happy in the kingdom of home as we are today - for whatever complex questions arise to vex the maternal mind, our "American Mother" sits enthroned upon a pedestal that is upheld by the loyalty and devotion of millions of sons - husbands - fathers, and her generation will bring her forth victorious from every trying ordeal of a brilliant and bewildering age - May God be with her in her mission and lead her gloriously through the 12 battles and scars and triumphs of the centuries! This is the wish of her sisters who send this greeting and benediction to her in the dying moments of a mighty age; this great nineteenth century that at this moment breathes its dying sigh and fades into eternity! Emma Etheridge Moran Detroit, Michigan December 31st 1900 Midnight."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- Photograph. Sepia-toned head and shoulders photo of Orrin R. Baldwin. He is wearing a white shirt with high collar, vest with pocket watch, dark suit, and pince-nez eyeglasses. Handwritten text on the verso shows "Orrin R. Baldwin, born at Springboro, Crawford Co., Penn., January 14th 1848" and "Detroit, Michigan, December 31st 1900." He was the president of the American Harrow Company, president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange, and president of the Masonic Temple Association of Detroit.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
79. Sepia-toned gelatin silver photo of a parade float that was part of the Detroit Bi-Centenary Parade
- Description:
- Photograph. Sepia-toned gelatin silver photo of a parade float that was part of the Detroit Bi-Centenary Parade. The float consists of a decorated wagon that is being drawn by four horses and carrying six people who are wearing costumes to represent different people of the world. A seventh person on the float is dressed as Uncle Sam. A sign on the side of the wagon notes "Search Light Parlor Match, Made by the Diamond Match Co." A sign on the back of the wagon notes "Factories: America, Switzerland, England, Africa, Germany, Peru, Brazil." The horses are all wearing signs that note "Diamond Match Co." Four more costumed people are standing in front of the float and horses. A brick apartment building is visible in the background, but the address and street name are not known. A stack of clay sewer pipe sections and fittings is visible in the lower right corner of the photo. Handwriting on the verso notes "Diamond Match Co., Search Light Parlor Match."
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
80. Sepia-toned gelatin sliver photo of a parade float that was part of the Detroit Bi-Centenary Parade
- Description:
- Photograph. Sepia-toned gelatin sliver photo of a parade float that was part of the Detroit Bi-Centenary Parade. The float is mounted on a streetcar truck and decorated with two canoes and a log cabin that represents a fur trading post. A sign at the right end of the float notes "The Fur Traders." The parade is moving along a residential street and two wood frame houses can be seen in the background, but the street name is not known. Handwriting on the verso notes "The Coming of the Fur Traders."
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries