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- Description:
- 6-page letter written by Michael W. O'Brien, President of Peoples Savings Bank. It is a blue carbon copy which was typewritten onto slightly yellowed, thin linen paper. The last page is signed in black ink, "M. W. O'Brien, " and is dated December 31, 1900. Most of the pages have several handwritten corrections that have been made in black ink. The body of the letter generally discusses past and present banking practices and laws in Michigan.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This slightly yellowed paper envelope contained a 12-page letter that was written by Mrs. John Vallée Moran (née Emma Etheridge). The front of the envelope is addressed "To Hon. Wm. C. Maybury, Mayor" and is entitled, "The American Mother in Detroit, from Mrs John V. Moran." The back flap of the envelope is sealed along its entire edge with an irregularly-shaped line of red wax.
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 7-page letter was typewritten in black text on light gray paper by Jeremiah Dwyer who was the President of the Michigan Stove Company. The first page shows the letterhead of the Michigan Stove Company and is dated "December 31, 1900." The first page also has the watermark, "Crane's." The remaining pages have a watermark that shows the "Garland Stoves and Ranges" emblem along with "The Michigan Stove Company." The body of the letter gives some company history and a list of approximately 90 of the largest manufacturing companies in Detroit. The last pages offer some general descriptions of the city, high hopes for the continued success of manufacturing, predictions for the benefits of electricity, and best wishes to future residents of the city. Several pages have some handwritten corrections.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Desire B. Willemin, Correspondence Secretary for the Franco-American Club. The paper has a watermark that shows a crown and shield emblem with the words, "Pure Linen Stock." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Franco-American Club to the People of Detroit in the year 2001 Detroit, January 1st 1901. Greeting. The members of the Franco-American Club, French born of descendants of the French of our beautiful city, wishing to express their hopes and expectations for the future of Detroit, join hand and heart with you in the 1st of January in the year 2001. They beg of you not to forget at your inauguration of a new century that the French population in the city of Detroit, is entitled, no matter what is or will be their number, to a great consideration on the part of those who live on the beautiful spot, chosen by the French in 1701 and w[h]ich was the foundation of Detroit. The name of Cadillac, must and ought to be dear to all citizens of this metropolis as the names of Romulus and Remus were at all times dear to the Romans. As all know, the French under the command of the celebrated Lamothe de Cadillac crossed our splendid river and after examination of the land and its surroundings made it their camping place and erected a fort on what is to-day the center of our city. He predicted great things of the new settlement, as did the great Caesar when first beholding Laetitia w[h]ich was the name of the world renowned city of Paris, the cradle of art, science, literature and above all of Liberty. Soon after, taking advantage of a military establishment, French immigrants, the very pioneers, came and did settle all around, and build little by little the great city of Detroit. Thus it is that a good many of our streets to-day bear French names in honor of those noble Frenchmen of the early days of our city; such as Lafayette, Champlain and many others. The French however are all American citizens, have kept their language and parts of their usages and customs, among themselves, and have founded several societies: The Lafayette Society, of benevolent nature founded in 1848. First President Daniel J. Campau; its actual President Chas. J. Dossin. The St. Jean the Baptist Society founded in 1869. First President Henry M. Deare and actual President Chas. M. Rousseau. There are many other French institutions and gatherings too long to mention. The most recent acquisition is the Franco-American Club founded in 1898 with J. B. Gravier as its first and actual President. We expect those institutions, will be still existing when reading the present, and will be an honor to the great city of Detroit. When the author of these lines came to Detroit 32 years ago, the city had then 45,000 inhabitants; today she has a population of 300,000. During the coming century the population will increase and it is safe to predict a population of over a million for our city of Detroit by 2001. But what will be the French population at that time? Proportionally their number may be very small. Frenchmen do not immigrate in comparison with other nations. They love their native soil; its sciences, arts, industries, etc. and above all enjoy to live under the flag and motto Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. Citizens of Detroit, in the year 2001, if there are 20,000 Frenchmen amongst you or only one, remember that they are of that noble nation that shed some of its more noble blood during the struggle for independence of this glorious country, and that your noble city. La Belle of the Straits is an offspring of the noble and great Lamothe de Cadillac. The members of the Franco-American Club, wishing you prosperity. The committee. J. B. Gravier, President Andrew P. Ducy Desire B. Willemin Louis Aulry Emile Connault Chas. M. Rousseau G. Grimaldi"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Orrin R. Baldwin, president of the American Harrow Company as well as president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange. The paper has the watermark, "Crane & Co., Dalton, Mass., 1900 Bond No. 21." It was placed in a heavy tan envelope that was sealed with black wax that was impressed with the letter, "B." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit Mich. Dec. 31 1900 To Detroit's First Mayor of the 21st Century Greetings: I have been requested by our present Mayor the Honorable Wm. C. Maybury to look into Detroit's Industrial and Commercial possibilities a full century and make a prophecy thereon. This is quite a problem and I will undoubtedly be wide of the mark but for your assessment and possible enrichment I cheerfully comply. Today we have about 2000 manufactories, none of which have been established a Century and nearly all less than one fourth of that period. Assuming that the number will increase one percent annually and those now in suburban territory, being then within the city limits, Detroit will have on January 1st 2001 about 5000 manufacturing plants. With the increase in number and the natural growth in size, employment will at that time be given to 500,000 employees supporting 2,500,000 inhabitants. (estimated) I predict that nearly all of Woodward Avenue, from the River north to the Grand Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue east to Belle Isle Bridge will be occupied by business houses. I predict also that Detroit then as now will possess its own Capital and maintain its Conservatism as its people will continue to cherish and keep their success and it will take more than one hundred years to make Detroit thoroughly progressive. I predict further that Sandwich, Windsor and Walkerville now in Canada will be a part of the City of Detroit and that Ontario will be a state of the United States of America. Also that the factory products will be largely transported in Air Ships and discrimination against Detroit shippers will then be a thing of the past; that mechanical skill will control the river's current and the rays of the sun to make power for the industries. Also that Detroit will have a Common Council that will adopt and keep a Time that is standard and in harmony with other great cities of our country. With all due respect for you and your posterity. Yours, Orrin R. Baldwin"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This cyan halftone picture was cut from a page and shows a view of the front of the old Detroit Opera House from Campus Martius. The cutout also shows printed text adjacent to the picture and on the verso that gives some historical information about the Opera House which burned in 1897.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 3-page letter was typewritten in black text on slightly yellowed paper by Armond H. Griffith who was the Director of the Detroit Museum of Art. The first page shows the letterhead of the Detroit Museum of Art and is dated "December 31st, 1900." The page also has a partially readable watermark, "West---ock." The second two pages are of a larger size and show the watermark, "Riverside Paper Company." The body of the letter gives some description of the museum, attendance by the public, and mentions the names of various local artists. All three pages have several corrections that have been handwritten in black ink and the last page is signed in black ink by the director, "A. H. Griffith."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This white paper envelope contained an 8-page letter that was written by Edwin W. Abbott. The front of the envelope is addressed in handwriting to "The Mayor of Detroit, Jan. 1st 2001, Suburbs of Detroit by E. W. Abbott." The return address of the sender is printed in the upper left corner of the envelope. A colored drawing of an American flag is also shown on the left side of the envelope. The back flap is sealed with a red two-cent George Washington postage stamp.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This white paper envelope contained a 2-page letter that was written by Louis Blitz who was the proprietor of Detroit City Glass Works. The front of the envelope has a handwritten title, "Subject: The Jewish People in Detroit in the 19th Century and their relations to Social, Commercial and Religious Life" and is signed "Louis Blitz." The upper right corner of the envelope has the return address of "The German American Bank, Detroit, Michigan." The flap on the back side of the envelope has three red wax seals that have been impressed with a circular seal of The German American Bank.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Herbert J. Greville who was the ex President of the Trades and Labor Council. The paper has a watermark that shows "Hampshire." The handwritten text is transcribed as follows: "It was our fathers who created the condition under which we live, and it is us who created the condition under which our children shall live. Herbert J. Greville ex President of the Trades and Labor Council"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries