Detroit Historical Society
12642 items
- Description:
- Color postcard depicting outdoor seating at Shumway's, with trees among the tables. Handwritten message on verso, postmarked Aug 17, 1916.
- Date Issued:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Postcard
- Description:
- Postcard. A color photograph on cardstock depicting an elevated view of the Y.M.C.A. Building with the tops of trees in Grand Circus Park in the foreground. Printed on verso, "Y.M.C.A. Building, corner Witherell and Adams Avenues, is the largest and most complete of its kind in the world and boasts of a gymnasium second to none in the country. It was erected in 1908 and has cost in the neighborhood of $700,000." Handwritten message on verso. Postmarked Feb 1, 1915.
- Date Issued:
- 1915-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Postcard
- Description:
- Color reproduction of painting by Robert Hopkin, "Detroit in Cadillac's Time," from data sourced by C.M. Burton. Depicts palisaded fort on high ground with several small vessels at shore below; forested background. Printed copyright statement reads "Copyright, 1901, Charles B. Parsons, Detroit, Mich." Printed text on lower left reads, "Press of Winn & Hammond, Detroit, Mich. Printed text in center reads "Detroit in Cadillac's Time. Painted by Robert Hopkin, from data furnished by C.M. Burton." Printed text on lower right reads, "By Permission of Detroit Monthly (July Number.)" On the verso is an advertisement for Winn and Hammond.
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- General History
- Description:
- This 8-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by George H. Russell who was the President of the State Savings Bank. The bank letterhead is printed in black text at the top. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit's Banking, Retrospective" George H. Russel 31 Dec 1900 To Detroit in 2001 A.D. Our worthy and honorable Mayor William C. Maybury has requested me to write a few words for the "Century Box" on the subject of my present occupation, Banking - I much regret that no time is given me to properly prepare an article upon so important a subject as such a city and people as then may be resident here. Now I can only briefly and hastily give such recollections and present facts that may occur to me. Born in Detroit Nov 29. 1847 educated in its Public Schools I have lived in this good city over fifty three years. I commenced work in 1863 and since then have been engaged and actively connected with the manufacturing interests of this city (particularly in the manufacture of Pig Iron, Castings Car Wheels, Cars, Structural Steel, Chemicals, etc.). I did not enter the Banking business until Dec 1889 when I accepted the presidency of the State Savings Bank which then had deposits of about $1,000,000.00 and ranked thirteenth in place. Now the State Savings Bank in its new marble building has deposits of over $9,000,000.00 and holds first place among the banks of this city and state. Living in the city during the last half of this great century in a period when Detroit's population has increased from 20,000 to 300,000 people, I have seen many changes. From a few private and incorporated banks having a total deposit of less than one million dollars, we now have fifteen (15) State Banks, six National Banks, two Trust Company[ies], one private banker having total deposits of over $73,000,000.00. I can remember the Michigan State Bank, The Michigan Insurance Bank, The Peninsular, The Farmers and Mechanic's Bank and the State Bank all incorporated and ably managed under such men as C.C. Trowbridge, John A. Wells, John Owen, H.K. Sanger, H.H. Brown, H.J. Stringham, L.M. Mason, J.C.W. Seymour, Walter Ingersoll, J.P. Hall, Emory Wendell, A.H. Adams and many others whom I knew and pleasantly remember. Then the Detroit Savings Fund Institute a specially chartered Savings Bank, upon the mutual plan, organized by H.N. Walker, Elon Farnsworth, Samuel Lewis, A.H. Adams and others, was our first bank for savings. The incorporated banks after surviving the "Wild Cat" period and the varying values of different state bank currency gave way to the National System in 1863 - which for some years did nearly all the commercial business but through this time the private banks of A.H. Dey, Wen. A. Butler and G.A. Ives and David Preston did a successful business. Then after 1870 the Peoples Saving's Bank organized by Francis Palms and M.W. O'Brien and the Wayne County Savings under S. Dow Elwood, W.B. Wesson and Herman Kiefer occupied this field of State and Savings Banks until 1883 when the State Savings Bank was organized by David Hamilton, T.S. Anderson and R.S. Mason. In 1887 the new banking law was passed and as a Constitutional Amendment was confirmed by a vote of the people in 1888. From this time until the panic of 1893 several banks were organized whose statements and officers names appear in the pamphlet enclosed. These banks enter the 20th Century in strong condition and with the best prospects. The country takes place as the leading nation in the world and New York City soon will become the clearing center for the financial interests of all nations. The outlook is bright but the future of business and banking depends so much upon the political condition in our great Republic that one cannot look far into the future. At present the business is good and it is a pleasure to do banking and to be associated with such men as M.W. O'Brien, D.M. Ferry. F.W. Hayes, Hugh McMillan, Alex McPherson, Wm Livingstone, Alex McGregor and others who lead the chief financial institutions of our city. Wishing that I could see the development of another 100 years I leave to younger bankers and those that follow them my blessing. George Howard Russel. I am the son of Dr. Geo. B. Russel who came here in 1836 and of Anna Davenport born in Detroit in 1827. She was the daughter of Lewis Davenport who came from Vermont and of Sarah Homer born in Detroit in 1809. G.H.R."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Detroit Anniversaries
- Description:
- World War I poster entitled, "Fill the Flag." The poster shows a color drawing of a young woman who is dressed in patriotic clothing that resembles the American flag. She is holding her red and white striped apron up in order to catch coins that are falling into it. A circular emblem near the upper right corner of the poster shows "Detroit Patriotic Fund" and "Fill the Flag." The artist's initials, "RFH," are shown at the lower right corner of the drawing.
- Date Issued:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Military
- Description:
- Color postcard depicting the Windsor approach to the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel Handwritten message on verso, postmarked Sep 15, 1911.
- Date Issued:
- 1911-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Postcard
- Description:
- One address book cover (lightweight cardboard with rounded corners) with blue and white text on a dark blue background (Interior address pages are missing.) Text on the cover shows "Garland Stoves and Ranges - The World's Best" and "The Michigan Stove Company - Largest Makers of Stoves and Ranges in the World."
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Business/Stores/Retail
- Description:
- Program sheet for performances of "A Celebrated Case," at the Lafayette Theatre during the week of December 15, 1907. The program lists the cast, scenes, and songs. The following week's production of "In the Bishop's Carriage," is promoted at the bottom.
- Date Issued:
- 1907-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Theatre/Theater
- Description:
- One drawing entitled "Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, Ohio." The drawing consists of black ink and gray shading on linen and shows a view of the transom of the wooden-hulled Ann Arbor No. 1 railroad car ferry. Handwritten text and a blue stamp in the lower right corner show "Strs. No. 55 & 56, No. 45" and "New Drawing No. Tol. 55-S9-0-1, Tube No. 1."
- Date Issued:
- 1892-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Maritime
- Description:
- Color postcard depicting an elevated view of Monroe Street at Campus Martius, facing northeast. In view are many pedestrians, cars, Merrill Fountain, and a sign reading "Bond's". Printed on verso: Monroe Avenue, Detroit, Mich. Monroe Avenue is Detroit's Great Amusement thoroughfare. Here are located the Temple, Family, Columbia Royale and National Theatres; also any number of Nickel Shows. The electric display at night is very brilliant and here we follow the crowd in the evening. Handwritten message on verso, postmarked Mar 15, 1918.
- Date Issued:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Collection:
- Postcard