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- Description:
- Typewritten letter from Dexter M. Ferry to the Detroit Safe Company thanking them for the durability of four large fire-proof safes which protected their contents from a fire, lasting five or six days, which claimed the D.M. Ferry and Company seed warehouse. The letter is dated January 8, 1886, and is printed on D.M. Ferry and Company letterhead, listing company executives, and printed by the Calvert Lithograph Company.
- Date Issued:
- 1886-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- A letter from Ralph Emery, a clerk working for the Detroit Stove Works, to his father, Robert T. Emery, in Belfast, Maine, dated July 19, 1886. The letter is written on Detroit Stove Works letterhead, which features a lithograph, credited to the Calvert Lithograph Company, depicting the Detroit Stove Works offices in Detroit and Chicago as well as the company's foundry in Hamtramck, Michigan. The letter reads: My dear Father, Yours of the 11th came duly at hand and noted. Everything is going on all right + business is commencing to pick up considerably. Received a letter from Miss [Rocaf?] a few days ago - she writes that Mr. Stone has had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him + that his church in honor of the raise gave him a purse of gold, to pay his expenses [-] Mr. Stone to England but Ms Stone was not able to go. He sailed about July first - Mr. Stone and Miss [Rocaf?] are in Montreal + Violet is in the county - We have had no warm weather to speak of - only a day or two. The nights are so cool that often one has to wear an overcoat. For the next few days suppose the city will be crowded as it is the week of Races at the Detroit Park, which is situated only a short distance above the Works. Today the Avenue is crowded with carriages + the cars are packed full. [-----] are at McLellan's shopping + do there intend to remain all summer. Have they decided on a site for the new Library Building? Please remember me to all enquiring friends. Hoping to hear from you again soon + that you are well. I remain your affec. son, Ralph
- Date Issued:
- 1886-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 12-page letter was handwritten in black ink by Mrs. Sidney Trowbridge Miller on her personal stationery. Her address, "524 Jefferson Avenue," is printed in blue text near the upper right corner of each page. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: December thirty first, 1901 [1900] A travelled Englishman, writing in the London Spectator about three years ago, said that the most exclusive society that he found anywhere was in the large American cities outside of New York and Chicago. He gave as the reason for this that the leading social circles in the 'old mold' were kept together principally by cohesion, while in these American towns it was pressure from without their line that solidified them. In example, [if] a man pleads of bribes his way into society in this country, he usually attempts to force it. The latter method gives rise to resistance and hence exclusion. Be the reasoning true of false, it certainly is true that the leading social circle in Detroit is today, and has been for decades, hard to get into. It is possibly more true here than in most cities of this part of the country. The early leaders of society here, say from seventy five to a hundred years ago, were the families of French civil officials and army officers who had settled here, together with a few English and Scotch officers, and younger sons with their families, supplemented by the representatives of the American government as they were selected, and the American officers from the Fort. Withal it was a refined collection, which rated good breeding higher than wealth. It left its indelible stamp on the society of the town, and each successive generation has it impress, so that today the tone of society is good and the atmosphere has a sweeter fragrance than in many places more noted. It is of course a fact that there have been great changes in the personnel. The names of Godfroy, Beaubien, St. Aubin, Desnoyer, Van Dyke, and Campau of the French have many of them passed away from the social calendar, their descendants having intermarried with other stocks. And the same is true of some of the earlier Americans here, but the Brushes, Biddles, Sibleys, Stantons, Jones[es], Ledyards, and Trowbridges still have prominent representatives in society, and they are there not because of wealth. For most of them are not among the rich, but because of the conservatism already described. The days when the only carriages in Detroit were owned by General Cass and the Trowbridges are sixty years away; now the having of fine horses and handsome trappings is beyond description. To the older circle have been added families like the Lothrops, Millers, [?], Joys, Russels, Douglas' and others who have some from different places within the last sixty year, and have attained distinction in professional life. To them might be added the descendants of some gallant Irish gentlemen like the Georges and Lysters who have been welcomed long since. The descendants of these families are the arbiters of form today, and with them, the most prominent additions within the last years are perhaps the Miller, Newberry, Alger, Walker, and Palms families whose social power comes largely from business ability and great wealth, but who are cultivated and refined as well. So much for the leaders. The others are too numerous to mention, and the beautiful women and charming young men of their families with those of the older stocks already named suffice to make Detroit known through the country as a recognized social circle. Jefferson Avenue is par excellence the fashionable street of Detroit. There is a growing tendency toward the building of handsome homes far up the street in the neighborhood of Van Dyke and Seminole Avenues away from the dirt and noise of the factories and trains on the back streets, but the little portion of the Avenue between Hastings Street and St. Aubin Avenue is still the most highly prized and contains the very power of Detroit society. Woodward Avenue, the most beautiful of all the streets, has a distinct society of its own; although many of its residents and the residents of the innumerable pretty side streets that run from it are members of the more aristocratic Jefferson Avenue set. Fort Street and Lafayette Avenue which until recently have been popular residence streets, are now rapidly being deserted and left to the mercy of tailors, factories, and railroads. Social life here today is much as everywhere else in the civilized world. The forms of amusement are in Winter, the theatres, balls, receptions, afternoon teas, dinners, and card parties. for theatrical amusement there are three playhouses. The best of these is the Detroit Opera House on the Campus Martius where almost all of the best actors from New York and from abroad are seen during their times. It seats about two thousand and is gorgeous in internal coloring - too much probably for the taste of most. Here on gala occasions, all of the socialites are gathered. A theatre party of ten or twelve is a familiar mode of entertainment and on first nights, many are found. After the performance, such a party sups at the home of the hostess or perhaps at the Detroit Club or the Russell House Cafe. The other theatres are the Lyceum and Whitneys which are not so expensive and appeal more to the popular taste for sensation or extravaganza. The balls are seldom given in private homes nowadays as the list of eligibles is so long that few homes are large enough for this form of entertainment. They are usually given in public halls engaged for the purpose by the host. Of these, Strassburg Hall on Adams Avenue, Harmonie Hall on Wilcox Street, and the armories of the Light Infantry Guard on Congress Street and Larned Street are most in vogue. These halls are elaborately decorated by professional decorators and florists - the adornment sometimes costing several thousand dollars. Dances usually commence about half past nine and last until the wee hours! An incident, but not a feature is the supper - across the boundary in Canada it is the feature. There it consists of different salads, oysters, croquettes, frequently quail, ices, coffee and punch, and sometimes champagne. All prepared by a caterer - usually one who rejoices in the name of A. Hain. In Summer, the Country Club at Grosse Pointe to which a trolley line runs, is the haunt of the fashionables, here golf and steam yachting claim most of the habitants, though many ride and drive, and the automobile has just been introduced, a new diversion is offered. Various clubs of a literary and musical nature improve the taste, and add to the acquirements of the members. They are too many to mention and are very popular. Whist is the fashionable card game - bridge whist being the craze of this season. Taking it all in all, the society of Detroit today is attractive in the extreme and you will find many tributes to it if you read the letters or writings of visitors from other places. To say more might seem self laudatory, but I can only add that I hope the readers of this a hundred years hence will be as beautiful and charming and fine as my dear friends in its present social life. Lucy Trowbridge Miller"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- 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
- Description:
- Handwritten letter from Lewis Cass. The letter reads: For Major Cass As you agree with me, that it is, but an act of justice, on our part, to make a substantial acknowledgement, to William Foxen, for his faithful services, please to deed to him, lot no. 17, block 56. Lewis Cass Detroit July 3d, 1865
- Date Issued:
- 1863-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Handwritten letter and envelope sent by Andrew Inglis of London, England to David Birrell, of Windsor, Canada, concerning matters of religion and the effect of the Civil War on the supply of cotton in England. London 31st January 1861 My Dear Birrell, I had much pleasure in receiving your letter, and note[?] all you say. It is, as you remark, a delightful thought "God loves us," for had our salvation depended on our love to God we could and have been saved as all after the fall. But may you and I not be thankful that we have been led by the Spririt to choose the better part which shall not be taken away from us, may we not be thankful that we have had the light that is denied to so many, or rather you so many refuse. My conviction of the necessity of f[….] Christianity is more strengthened within the last two months since I entered my new office. There are in it other four who are all very […], & three of them very immoral. Of course they look upon religion as mere humbug; I want to convince them that it is not, and I see the best way to do it is by the life. I see that if I declare myself to be led by the dictates of the Birth, but at the same time enter heartily into their amusements & idle pleasures, that my Christianity is vain. They respect a man who says 'no' to temptation, but they disrespect a man who is always arguing & never acting. I am precluded from quoting scripture as their [sic] is a Roman Catholic in the office who is constantly doing so, but out of whose mouth at the same time proceeds blessing & cursing; this of course has led them all to think very lightly[?] of the scripture. I hope that my influence amongst them turn[?] out for good. By-the-way you will be glad to hear that I have got another situation. It is in the Secretary's office of one of the London Railways, & I like it very much, it is not such hard work as I had before & rather better pay. I notice your comments upon the political state of America at present, which are very interesting & which have afforded me additional information to what I get in the newspapers. Your explanation of the revolution is a good "get off"- you make out that the Americans could not stand […], because they are a chip off the old block- Thus rolling the blame on the old block after all; however that is done with, what we have to do with is the present. I was in the City today & heard one gentleman say to another "Well are they going to make you a director of the new Cotton Co." so you see we are looking about us to see where we can get cotton independent of the States- India & Africa are both looked to as fields & have been spoken of for many years, but you know we speak about things a long time before we act; but now since we are pushed, we are making an effort. Your mention of B[…] G[…] reminds me of old […], who I am glad to say is again in a good way of living- he is servant to a lame[?] gentleman, which suits him much better than […] at kicking […]. My friends at home are all in their usual, my Father very frail. Mr. Bell is quite well, he has another of his brothers coming to London. London swallows up a great many S[…]. My Uncle's family are likewise well. And I am well and hoping this will find you the same I am My dear Birrell. Yours Affectionately, Andrew Inglis
- Date Issued:
- 1861-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter addressed to James B. Witherell from the acting Secretary of War on September 25, 1860, informing him that the President of the United States has promoted him to the rank of First Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Cavalry of Fort Inge, Texas, vice for Joseph H. McArthur. This service is written to take effect on June 28, 1860. The final printed line states: Acknowledge the receipt of this letter to the Adjutant General. There is a United States seal in the top left corner.
- Date Issued:
- 1860-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
128. This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Edward F. Marschner
- Description:
- This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Edward F. Marschner who was the president of the Detroit Board of Education. The paper is printed with light red lines and shows the letterhead of the Board of Education of the City of Detroit as well as the names of officers. It also has the watermark, "English Bond." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Mich. December 31st 1900 I was born in the City of Detroit, at the northeast corner of Lafayette and Dequindre Streets April 16th 1857. Was married at Milwaukee, Wis. in 1880 to Miss Emelia Mayer who was born in New York City February 2nd 1862. We have three children: Edward P. Marschner - 19 years. Lillie F. Marschner - 18 years. Armin O. Marschner - 14 years I entered an apprenticeship to learn the trade of Lithographic Engraving with the Calvert Lithograph Company February 29th 1872 - have been employed with that firm since that date and am now a foreman of the Engraving Department. Ed. F. Marschner."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter from D.M. Ferry and Company to Exchange Bank, Bloomfied, Iowa. "Dear Sirs:- We herewith enclose for collection draft No. 4549 Amount $8.52 and EXCHANGE on Eberline & Kneedler, (Town) Belknap, (State) Iowa. When collected, please remit proceeds by New York or Chicago Exchange and report by number. Yours truly, D. M. Ferry & Co."; on company letterhead, no image; handwritten note on bottom stating that Eberline paid representative when he took up unsold seed; Dated October 11, 1912
- Date Issued:
- 1912-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Typewritten letter sent to the Clark Electrical Engineering Company from Captain George Sabin Gibbs, of the Signal Corps on June 26, 1906. The message is in regard to order no. 6614, and acknowledges receipt of letter concerning the impending ship of a set of Leyden jars. Gibbs instructs Clark to forward the information about the shipment to the local Quartermaster, and provides clarification concerning using a single shipper's receipt for multiple destinations. Gibbs closes with his signature. The letter is printed on War Department, Office of the Chief Signal Officer letterhead.
- Date Issued:
- 1906-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society