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- 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
- Description:
- Sepia-toned photo showing a head to knees image of William C. Maybury, Mayor of Detroit. He is wearing a white shirt with a high collar and a dark-colored tie. His dark-colored suit includes a long coat with a vest. He is holding a pair of glasses in his right hand. An embossed label in the gray frame area below the image shows "C. M. Hayes & Co., Detroit" and a handwritten note shows "Description on reverse side." Handwriting on the verso shows: "Detroit, Mich., December 31, 1900. This portrait of the Mayor of Detroit, William C. Maybury, was made with a Dallmeyer Lens, on Seed Dry Plate, and a silver emulsion printing out paper called Aristo Platino, all of which are considered to be the best tools for ordinary photographic portraiture at this time. The exposure of the plate was two seconds in subdued light. The developing agent, pyrogallic acid. The paper print exposure about thirty minutes in sunlight. Toning agent, gold and platinum. Fixing solution, hypo-sulphite soda. The makers of the photograph are: C. M. Hayes & Co., Inc., Photographers 246 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich. C. M. Hayes, President F. A. Goodrich, Vice-President and Treasurer Frederick H. Holt, Secretary."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 14-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Sara M. Philleo Skinner. The paper is printed with light blue lines. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Woman's Suffrage - Retrospect and Prophecy. One of the largest questions before the civilized world at the close of the 19th century is Woman's Suffrage, for it underlies the just settlement of mans problems of the day. There is no better evidence of the progress of an era than that found in the progress of its women. The line that marked woman's limitations at the beginning of the 19th century was long since broken. 100 year ago, married women in any country could not control their property or will it at death. The Common Law of England and in [the] United States held husband and wife as one and that one the husband. The wife was 'dead in law.' the husband collected and used her wages, he could legally whip her if he wished. Many husbands were so much better than the law that they treated their wives humanely. Very few occupations were open to women; no college admitted her, men did most of her thinking (or thought they did) and most, because women's minds were so inferior, pulpits emphasized women's subordination. But women were thinking and there were premonitions of coming events. Mary Wollstonecraft plead eloquently for greater opportunities for women. In 1809, Connecticut was [the] first state to enact a law giving married women right[s] to make wills. In 1820, Gov. Clinton of New York called attention in his annual address to the 'Academy for Female Education at Waterford, N.Y.' established by Mrs. Emma Willard. In the following year Mrs. Willard combined her school with the Troy Seminary, the first institution in the United States offering higher education to women. Later, Boston had a high school for girls and Mt. Holyoke Seminary in Mass. was opened for higher education for women. The lectures of Abby Kelly, Frances Wright, the Grimke sisters, the book of Lydia Main Childs, 'History of Woman' published in 1832, Catharine Beecher's high school for girls in Cincinnati, the opening of Oberlin College for women, Prudence Crandall's school for colored girls in Canterbury, Conn. (in 1834), Ernestine Rose, in 1836, pleading for enfranchise of women, Margaret Fuller's book, "Women of 19th Century' an appeal for equal rights for women. These and many other events were clarion notes whose sounding roused sympathy in favor of woman's suffrage. States gradually gave women power to make wills, the right to control property and wages, and to have equal guardianship of children, though as late as 1817, husbands could legally will away their children, even unborn ones. In 1840, a world's anti-slavery convention was held in London, Eng. A few women delegates were sent from America, but they were not allowed to have any voice in [the] convention. This circumstance marked a new era for women. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (then a bride) resolved then and there to call a 'Woman's Rights Convention.' It was held in Seneca Falls, N.Y., July 19 & 20, 1848. When equal rights were demanded for men and women in colleges, universities, trades, professions, the right to vote, to share in political offices, honors and emoluments, equal rights in property, in wages for equal work, equal rights in minor children, etc., in fact, they asked for all that the most radical have ever asked for up to this date. Other conventions followed, many leading men and women, even in the face of ridicule, espoused the cause. Many laws pertaining to women were modified; ridicule and persecution began to abate. The Civil War gave women opportunity to show their ability in many ways. The planned money-making enterprises and millions of dollars were realized for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. Dorothea Dix, superintendent of nurses, Clara Barton on the field relieving wounded soldiers, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell founding in New York City the Woman's Loyal League which developed into the Sanitary Commission with which Mrs. Mary A. Livermore was so grandly connected, there women and their works proved to the world that women could plan and carry out schemes for good as well as could men, and all was [were] a part in the evolution of woman's suffrage. In 1869, a National Woman's Suffrage Association was formed, and another named American Woman's Suffrage Association. The first had headquarters in New York and Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony published there 'The Revolution,' a strong suffrage organ. The other had headquarters in Boston where Mary A. Livermore, Julia Ward Howe, Lucy Stone, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, and L. W. Higginson published 'The Woman's Journal' a paper equally strong in favor of equal suffrage. Later the two associations united under the name 'National American Woman's Suffrage Association.' In 1861, school suffrage was given to women in Colorado and Kansas. In 1869, full suffrage was granted to women of Wyoming Territory. It was in this year that the University of Ann Arbor [Michigan] opened its doors to women. In 1870, the Territory of Utah had full suffrage; it was taken away in 1883, but restored when Utah became a state in 1896. In 1875, school suffrage was granted in Michigan and Minnesota. In 1876, Colorado was granted school suffrage when it was made a state. In 1878, school suffrage was given to women in New Hampshire and in Oregon. In 1879, it was granted to women in Massachusetts. In 1880, it was given to women in New York and Vermont. In 1881, a universal suffrage convention was held in Rome (Italy) where a strong appeal was made by Anna Mazzoni for woman suffrage. During all these years many foreign countries were given municipal suffrage for women. In 1883, school suffrage was given to women in Nebraska and in [the] same year full suffrage was granted to women in Washington by Territorial legislature. It was taken away on ground[s] of being unconstitutional. In 1885, full suffrage given to women of Dakota by legislature of the territory, but was vetoed by Gov. Price. In 1886, school suffrage was granted to women of Washington Territory. In 1887, municipal suffrage was granted Kansas women, and school suffrage to women of Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, North and South Dakota. In 1888, a permanent International Council of women was organized. In 1890, Wyoming became a state with equal suffrage for women. In 1891, school suffrage was given women of Illinois. In 1893, Colorado had full suffrage for women, and Connecticut had school suffrage. The Congress of Representative Women in Chicago, during World's Fair, helped the cause of woman's suffrage. In 1894 Ohio women had school suffrage. In same year 600,000 men and women petitioned New York constitutional convention for woman's suffrage. In 1895 Utah became a state with equal suffrage. 1896 brought same fate to Idaho. In 1899, the 2nd International Council of Women was held in London with delegates from nearly all civilized countries. So we see the gains for women during the 19th century were many. Condensed, it might read: 1. Married women granted control of their separate property in all United States but Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, N. Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee. And the same was granted to Great Britain and her colonies; Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Russia. 2. Married women granted right to make wills in all United States in Great Britain and her colonies, and in many, nearly all European countries. 3. Married women given control of their wages in all United States except Louisiana and Texas (although control is not complete) in Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, N. Carolina, S. Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee. The right was granted in Great Britain and her colonies, in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Russia. 4. Mothers were granted control or rather guardianship with fathers over their children in California, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. In all the other states, the father only is the guardian. 5. The age of consent has been raised in nearly all United States and in Great Britain and her colonies, and this shows influence of women's work. 6. Nearly all professions (not ministry and law in certain states) have been opened to women; the right to labor in nearly all occupations; a voice is given women in most business and church meetings. 7. Women may petition city councils, legislatures, and Congress. Of the 44 United States, 25 have limited suffrage, 4 have full suffrage, limited suffrage is granted in many foreign countries and full suffrage in New Zealand, South and West Australia, and in Isle of Man. Woman has made progress in industries, in teaching, in medicine, in the ministry, in law, in journalism, in social-political liberty, and public opinion has materially changed in her favor in the 19th century. The prophecy for the new century is that she will make greater advance and with less opposition than she has in the 19th century. Popular opinion will be educated to grant woman's suffrage to nearly all parts if not all of the civilized countries. Ignorance, bigotry, conservatism, prejudice, and fear concerning woman's use of the ballot will have passed away, and by her use of the ballot, there will be less evil and a higher civilization. Sara M. Philleo Skinner."
- 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 group of head and shoulders images. The pictured individuals include four Police Commissioners: Capt. John Conline, George W. Fowle, Ralph Phelps, and Marvin M. Stanton as well as Secretary, J. E. Dupont and Assistant Secretary, J. H. Cleveland. A handwritten date beneath John Conline's image shows "1899" and a handwritten date at the bottom of the cutout shows "Jany. 1st 1901."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This slightly yellowed paper envelope contained a 4-page letter that was written by D. B. Willemin. The front of the envelope has a handwritten title, "Foundation of Detroit by the French," and is signed "The committee of the Franco-American Club - its Correspondence Secretary, D. B. Willemin." The back flap of the envelope is sealed with an irregularly-shaped blot of dark green wax.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- This 6-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Dr. Theodore A. McGraw, M.D., who was a surgeon. The paper is printed with faint blue lines and shows the watermark, "The Richmond & Backus Co., Detroit, Mich." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "On Dec. 29th 1900 in the afternoon I received a letter from Hon. Wm. C. Mayberry, Mayor of the City of Detroit asking me to write a paper on the Progress of Surgery during the century now closing. - The paper should be finished and delivered on the last day of the year. - Had I received the request earlier, I should have been glad to undertake the labor of summarizing the achievements in the surgical art and science, which have distinguished the nineteenth century and of analyzing as well as I could the influences which had led to such wonderful changes in surgical practice. I felt, however, that a hastily written article on a subject so vast and of so much importance would convey a mean impression to our descendants, of our culture and I wrote to Mr. Mayberry, declining the commission on those grounds. - He, however, insisted upon having this department of science represented and I accordingly consented to write a short article on the subject. The growth of the surgical art and science during the last hundred years has been due to many complex causes which can hardly be enumerated here. - It has felt the impulse which was communicated to all branches of learning by the great awakening of the human mind at the time of the French revolution. - There is no science which it has not laid under contribution for its own purposes and its history therefore if carried out fully, would embrace that of all sciences and arts. - Abstaining however from a discussion, which would be endless, I will only mention a few of the many important discoveries which have had a powerful influence in changing the habits of surgical thought and practice. First of all, I must note the increasing tendency manifest even in the early part of this century to determine disputed points by an appeal to experiment. Surgical experiments have to be conducted on the lower animals and excepting anaesthesia, there is hardly a great discovery in surgery closing the last century which has not been led up to by vivisection. - Before the year 1805 the profession had been in a sad state of uncertainty regarding the proper method of ligating arteries. Every surgeon approached a large operation with a dread of the secondary hemorrhages which destroyed so many lives. - Even John Hunter, when he performed the famous operation, of tying the femoral artery for aneurism, tied the artery with a tape and inserted another tape under the artery higher up, to be tied in case of secondary hemorrhage. - Jones, an English surgeon, operated on a number of dogs and studied carefully the changes produced in their arteries by different methods of ligature and published his results in 1805. It is not so much to say that this book revolutionized the surgery of the day, for it taught surgeons, what they did not know before, exactly how an artery should be tied and thus enabled them to operate with the certainty, that their patients would for the most part escape secondary hemorrhages. The second great even in surgery was the discovery of anaesthesia. - The influence of this discovery on operative surgery is almost incalculable. Before the day of anaesthesia, no surgical operation was undertaken which was not absolutely necessary and the surgeon was obliged to operate with extreme rapidity. - After anaesthetics were introduced, patients submitted themselves to the knife for lesser troubles and the surgeon, no longer urged to rapid action, became more careful and considerate. - I need not dwell on a matter which every one fully understands. The third great change in surgery was that due to the labors of Pasteur, Lyster, and others, with reference to the nature of fermentative and suppurative processes. - The causes of sepsis were shown to be the microscopic cells, which swarm, wherever life exists, in mild climates and low altitudes. Surgery on the internal organs became possible when surgeons were enabled to shut out these organisms from the great cavities of the body. This knowledge gave an enormous impulse to operative surgery, but only we who practiced surgery before the days of Lyster can realize the differences in modes of thought and practice, which have followed his teachings. - The three events which I have noticed seem to me to stand predominantly above all others as the controlling influences which have determined the development of surgical art and science in the nineteenth century. - What can be done in the twentieth century to equal these achievements of the nineteenth. - Will it be possible for the scientist to discover the nature of cancer and sarcoma? Or to hasten the disappearance from the human body of that useless and dangerous organ the appendix? Operative surgery would seem to have nearly reached its limits. Will there arise a prophylactic surgery which will eradicate the germs of disease before they have time to develop? What will the surgeon, who on the final day of the twentieth century, shall open this paper think of our theories and practice? Will he also give chloroform and aethis for anaesthesia? Will he also extirpate uterus and ovaries? Will he too, seek a quick solution of all morbid phenomena by the use of a knife - Will he too use the elastic ligature, my own invention, for the performance of gastro-enterostomy? To you, my brother, yet unborn this paper will bring you greeting from one long since dead. - Theodore A. McGraw M.D. Detroit Dec. 31st 1900"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- These 3 pages have been cut from a financial statement concerning banks in Michigan. The pages provides a summary of the assets and liabilities of the state banks, national banks, and trust companies in Michigan. The pages are printed in black text on slightly yellowed paper.
- 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 Louis Blitz who was the proprietor of the Detroit City Glass Works. The paper shows the company letterhead across the top of the page and also has the watermark, "Calvert Litho Co." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Mich. December 31st 1900 His Honor, the Mayor, having transferred a request that I prepare a paper on "The Jewish People in Detroit in the 19th Century and their relations to Social, Commercial and religious life" I feel that so far as their communal and denominational activity and usefulness is concerned, I cannot do better, than to attach to this letter, a copy of the Souvenir History of Congregation Beth-El, established in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of said the leading Jewish Congregation of our city and state, which faithfully reflects not alone its growth spiritually and materially but is also a fair index of the individual growth and civic standing, of the representative citizens of the Jewish faith, that compose its membership. - The XIX Century has been an eventful one, not alone in the local history of the Jews of our fair city, but throughout the nation and the world. - It was ushered in by the ringing declarations for civil and religious Liberty - Equality - and Fraternity - that have immortalized both the American and French Revolutions - Centuries of Persecution - of passion and repression, had been Israel's hard lot, until the yoke of tyranny and the barriers of fanaticism and bigotry were first thrown down, and hence it is, with undying gratitude and affection, that we the descendants of "the People of the Book" cling to lands and communities, that have given them the opportunities to found farm and homes and endowed them with equal privileges - Thus fitting them for the highest duties of responsible citizenship. How well we have made use of this great boon, the honorable words of our Co-religionists in every walk of life attest and wherever and whenever, public duties. Patriotic devotion and private sacrifice for the common good have been called for, we have not been found wanting; Hence it is with confidence, that I may be permitted to bespeak for them an honorable participation in all that may tend to the future welfare and greatness of our beloved city and country in and throughout the coming century and that in all that different walks of life, in their social, commercial and religious status, they will harmoniously blend their lives, with those of their fellow citizens of every station and denomination - mingling and fraternizing in their respective homes, lodges, churches, public and private charities, commercial organizations. Each added year will bear witness to a closer affiliation with our fellow citizens and may God, keep watch and ward over this our fair city and exalted nation and when these plain but grateful lines are read at the dawn of the 21st Century, may they have indeed arrived [at] that era of "Peace on earth and good will to men" that shall have made possible, that common Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man, that will have beaten the sword into ploughshares, the spear into pruning hook and nations shall have unlearned war - Amen. #26 Woodward Avenue Terrace Louis Blitz"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- Four pages torn out from the "Fifth Annual Report of the Public Lighting Commission." The pages show the names of the Public Lighting Commission members, names of ex-members, and black and white halftone pictures of the office and plant as well as the commissioners. The text and pictures are printed in black ink on slightly yellowed paper.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries