Detroit Historical Society
12642 items
- Description:
- Sepia-toned photograph showing the exterior of a factory building at the Ford River Rouge development, while under construction. Workers can be seen on the roof. The foreground shows large logs stockpiled. Small wooden sheds are stationed near wall of factory. Lower right hand corner shows photo number and date of photo: 22073-5-11-18. Photo mounted on a linen backing.
- Date Issued:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Bill of Sale from Jacob Brown, Importer and Jobber, to Mr. Peter Jones of Manistee, Michigan, in the amount of $98.70. The letterhead is printed in black text on white paper. Lines and columns are printed in light blue and red. Purchased items are handwritten on 32 lines in dark brown ink with two lines handwritten in pencil along the bottom of the sale form. A red ink stamp near the top shows "Not Responsible for Goods after Shipment at Detroit."
- Date Issued:
- 1878-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 6-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 To the Hon, William C. Maybury, Mayor of Detroit. My dear Sir, Your suggestion to prepare, for future reference, records and documents, showing the progress made during the closing century (the 19th) these records to be placed in a box and sealed, to be opened a century hence, I deem a very good and valuable one and I take great pleasure in doing my share in the matter by complying with your request to submit a report upon the subject: "Progress of Public Education in Detroit in the 19th Century." This being the century in which the 1st steps were taken toward the establishment of a "Public School System" makes this statement a valuable and interesting one for our coming generations and I earnestly hope that nothing may occur to destroy it. The earliest records we have of any attempt being made to introduce Public Schools are from the year 1802 when a petition to congress was presented asking for "one or more townships of land for the purpose of erecting or endowing an academy." In March 1804 the government directed that section No. 16 of the public lands of every township be appropriated to educational purposes. This law laid the foundation of the primary school fund of the state. Nothing was done toward establishing schools under the above act until 1827 - at which time there was an act passed authorizing each township to determine by vote whether they should maintain township schools. If so, a township of 50 families was to have one schoolmaster for a period of six months in a year; a township of 100 families, a teacher for a period of 12 months; a township of 150 families, two teachers and those of 200 families two teachers and two schools. Under this act Detroit secured a teacher and in May, 1827, a common school was established in a room in the academy. In 1832 the city was divided into two districts and a school taught by one Chas. Wells was opened in the academy. In the same year a number of ladies formed a free school society, and a notice published by the society in 1833 tells of their progress as follows: They had opened a school under a competent instructress during the year with an average daily attendance of 50 pupils and an enrollment of 150 pupils, they had paid to their instructress and for fuel and other expenses $233.00, had erected a school house at a cost of $475.00 toward which they paid $350.00, leaving an indebtedness of only $125.00 at the end of the year, the schools were kept for a half day only and on two days each week the girls were taught sewing. Children between the ages of 4 and 10 years only were admitted and were furnished books and tuition free. The methods employed by the ladies of the free school society for raising funds to maintain their schools were many and unique. They gave fairs and also prepared tomato catsup which was sold by the bottle or dozen, by dealers, the proceeds of sale being devoted to the maintenance of their schools. In 1836 the society maintained two schools. In 1837 they maintained 3 schools with an attendance of 200 children. In 1837 the state was admitted to the union and the government granted 1,067,397 acres of land for public schools. In 1838 three school inspectors were elected who proceeded to put the state law in operation. They ordered a census taken which showed that there were 1,320 children under 15 years of age. They also divided the city into seven districts and maintained school in five districts for three months each. In 1839 the city received the first money from the primary school fund, the amount of which was $1,342.08, last year, ending June 30th 1900, we received from this fund the sum of $116, 456.00. On February 2nd, 1842 an act creating free, or public schools, and making Detroit one school district was approved and took immediate effect. Under this act all schools organized within the limits of the city were to be public and free to all children between the ages of 5 and 17 years residing within the city. The first "Board of Education of the City of Detroit" was elected under this act and consisted of 12 members, and the Mayor and Recorder of the City, there were 6 Wards in the City and each ward elected 2 members. The interest in education matters now increased steadily, every thing was done to advise learning until at the present time we maintain 69 schools which are attended by 34,153 pupils who are ably guided by a corps of 898 teachers. Our expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30th 1900 were $1,085,710.16. With this I will close my brief scetch [sketch]. Time will not admit my giving a fuller report and I will close with a wish that the new Century will be one of prosperity and advance to our education institutions. May education advance in the coming years in such strides as to fully erase ignorance, superstition and poverty from all mankind and substitute intelligence, reason and happiness therefore. This is the sincere wish of yours truly, Ed. F. Marschner President Board of Education 1900-1901."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Photograph. Sepia-toned photo showing the construction of a railroad bridge over the Rouge River. Printed text in the lower left corner of the photo shows "M.C.R.R.; River Rouge Bascule; May 12, 1919. The view looks northwestward along the existing railroad tracks with caissons #1 and #2 visible in the foreground. In the background is a steam locomotive. Construction cranes, equipment, and temporary buildings can be seen on both sides of the tracks. The old railroad swing bridge can be seen in the upper left area of the photo and the water surface of the river can be seen to the right.
- Date Issued:
- 1919-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- One plan sheet showing "Details, Steering Gear" for the Erie Railroad Transit Company tugboat, FREDERICK U. ROBBINS. The drawing consists of black ink on linen and shows hull/deck cross section views for the layout of the steering cable and sheaves in the vicinity of the pilothouse. The title block in the lower right corner shows that the drawing was prepared by the "Manitowoc Ship Building & Dry Dock Co." at a scale of 1 inch = 1 foot and is dated July 15, 1913. The plan number is shown as "2350."
- Date Issued:
- 1913-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Handwritten letter from Lewis Cass, Jr. to the wife of William Foxen. The letter reads: Clarendon Dec 9, 1874 Mrs. Foxen, The enclosed cross and chain have been blessed by his holiness, the Pope [Pius IX], & I request you to accept them, as a token of my esteem for your husband. Lewis Cass. Mrs. William Foxen, Detroit
- Date Issued:
- 1874-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Black and white photograph, printed on a postcard, showing an angled front end view of a Stout Batwing inside a Motor Products Corporation building. The photograph was taken from the Batwing's front right.
- Date Issued:
- 1918-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Color postcard depicting the Cedar Mound on Belle Isle, with people canoeing on the canal in the foreground. The Mound features a floral American flag. Printed on verso: Floral Flag and Mount, Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich. This beautiful park is said to be unequalled in the world. Among the many attractions are an Aquarium, Horticultural Building, Zoological Gardens, Yacht and Boat Clubs, Beautiful Casinos, Picnic Grounds, miles of Canals for Boating, Splendid roads for Autos, Band Concerts, etc. Handwritten message on verso, postmarked Sep 7, 1916.
- Date Issued:
- 1916-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- J.T. Wing and Company invoice for $0.85 for two couplings and a nipple sold to the E.J. Dossin Company on July 30, 1923. The invoice features a letterhead touting J.T. Wing's compliance with the Child Labor Act, and promoting their "High Speed Graphite Babbitt," and "Detroit star Grinding Wheels."
- Date Issued:
- 1923-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Color postcard depicting the Hotel Ste. Claire from the corner of Monroe and Randolph Streets, with a few people standing in front. Printed on verso: The Hotel Ste. Claire, Monroe and Randolph Sts., dates back to 1892, when it was built by the Brush estate. It is a modern hostelry in every way, and contains 102 rooms for guests. Handwritten message on verso reads, "Dear Mudder:- Arrived all O.K., and have had a lot of fun. Got a bit to eat + visited a moving picture show - the funniest ever. We didn't see 'Beanie'. Guess he didn't get my card. 'Nanno'" Postmarked Jul 4, 1908.
- Date Issued:
- 1908-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society