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Detroit Historical Society
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1901 Time Capsule
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- 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:
- This 9-page letter is a blue carbon copy that was typewritten onto slightly to heavily yellowed paper by Wales C. Martindale who was the Superintendent of Public Schools. The paper shows his office letterhead in fine black script in the upper left corner of the page (first page only). The letter is dated December 31st, 1900, on the first page and is signed, "Wales C. Martindale," in black ink on the last page. He has also signed "W. C. Martindale" along the left margin on pages 1 through 8. The body of the letter gives many details and statistics concerning the history and development of the public school system in the city. The pages of the letter are held together at the top with two brass prongs.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- 3-page letter written by Malcolm J. McLeod, President of the Trades Council. It is printed in typewritten text that has been mimeographed onto slightly yellowed paper. The paper is printed with light blue lines and also shows the letterhead of the Detroit Street Railway Employees' Association in dark blue text across the top. The letter is dated "Jan. 1st 1901" and is signed in black ink by Malcolm J. McLeod. Several handwritten corrections have been made in black ink throughout the letter. The body of the letter discusses the trades union movement, typical wages rates, and working hours.
- Date Issued:
- 1901-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 5-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by James Schermerhorn who was the Editor of the TO-DAY newspaper. The newspaper letterhead is printed in black text at the top and each page and has the watermark, "Persian Bond." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 1900. The press of 1901 salutes the "fourth estate" of 2001. The newspapers of the present time speak for themselves even as the public prints of that distant day when these words shall be read, will speak for themselves. They must bear their own testimonies of the times through the printed words and the testimonies of their own traits and merits. In the Free Press and the Tribune, of the morning field, the News, Journal and To-Day, of the evening field, and the Abend Post and the Volksblat, of the German evening field, Detroit has better than the average specimens of American daily newspaper making. The Free Press, the pathfinder of Michigan newpaperdom, found glory and distinction formerly through its humorous sketches and other literary features. Late years, like all the once flourishingly journals of light vein, it has been happy to put aside the reputation of being a funny paper and has aspired to the higher rank and influence of the great and serious newspapers of the times. The Tribune - once the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day to the faithful Republicans of the state - no longer essays political leadership or claims party followers. The decline of partisan newspaper-making is revealed in the situation in Detroit at this writing, one daily paper only being an out-and-out exponent of a political faith. Happily the thick-and-thin party organ appears to be passing away. The German papers have their appreciative constituencies - not very large, but very loyal. The Evening News led the way into the two-cent newspaper field twenty eight years ago and achieved a great success. The Journal has followed it through many vicissitudes to prosperity. "To-Day," the latest comer, has received a welcome in the closing weeks of the nineteenth century that presages permanency and prestige. The last is least in price, selling for one cent and foreshadowing that twentieth century day when the smallest coin will be the universal newspaper price. One hundred years hence will see the newspapers mightily increased in number, but reduced in size. In good time the daily prints must take on more compact and manageable form. There must needs be increasing discrimination in the selection of news as the country grows older, and the business of printing the happenings of the passing day will absorb all of the daily paper's energies and resources. Twentieth century newspapers will be compelled by the necessities of the situation to devote themselves exclusively to the chronicling of the weightier facts of the hour, leaving to other publications the mission of serious discussion of pending problems and the moulding of public opinion. Prophecy: The twentieth century newspaper will be a newspaper and nothing else, and there will not be so much of it. James Schermerhorn, Editor, TO-DAY."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- 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
- Description:
- This 3-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Charles L. Freer. The sender's address, "33 Ferry Avenue," is printed at the top in black text. The paper also has a watermark that shows "Scribner's Linen." The handwritten text is transcribed as follows: "December 31st, 1900 Congratulations to the citizens of Detroit on the Centennial Anniversary of this day! In looking forward to that day I see Detroit ablaze with the radiance of more perfect and higher life; brilliant with the light of shining ideas and noble actions - gracious in simpler and truer relations between men - useful in broader and countless ways. The "Possibilities of Detroit as a Manufacturing Center" are immeasurable! Her excellent climate, her blue skies, her clear running waters will not change! Her educational, mechanical and business methods will change - for the better! And in her onward march will follow a long train of scientific and mechanical practices, having chiefly in aim, the economic utilization of natures forces and materials, and improvement of the means of transportation by rail by water, underground and in the air. In the invention, development, adoption and possible manufacture (in part) of each of these powerful agents Detroit will occupy high rank. Her geographical position will enable her to compete most successfully in the markets of the whole world, not only in the varied lines of present manufacturing but also in many others, as yet, unknown. The growth and expansion of Detroit's beautiful streets and parks, more general use of her charming river and lakes, keener appreciation of her exceptional educational and religious advantages will attract to her gates exceptional artisans and laborers - Nothing will bar them out! The intelligence, loyalty and skill of her workmen, which today, is unsurpassed, will continue and broaden superiority of workmanship and quality of materials used will long distinguish articles of Detroit manufacture. Men of vigor and resources, honest and fearless, will direct her splendid manufacturing establishments, and their wisdom in respecting both manual and mental labor, and in sharing fairly with each, will open the perfect way to the great advantages of fittest employment for each worker - factory conditions possibly only in cultivated and beautiful communities. Surrounded as Detroit is with vast quantities of natural wealth, blessed with armies of energetic and courageous workers, governed by a free people, here, surely, the battle of progress will be constant and the possession of health, wealth and happiness will be the probable reward of all those fortunate ones who may cast their lot with the manufacturing industries of our fair city during the coming century. Charles L. Freer"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 6-page letter was typewritten in blue ink on slightly yellowed paper by John M. Donaldson of Donaldson & Meier Architects. The paper has a watermark that shows the image of ancient oil lamp and the words, "Rialto Mills." The letter is dated Dec. 31st, 1900, on the first page and is signed, "John M. Donaldson of Donaldson & Meier Architects, Detroit, Michigan," in black ink on the last page.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- 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
- Description:
- 4-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by the Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police Commission. The paper has the watermark, "Springdale." The letter is a summary of the police department personnel and equipment for the current fiscal year. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit Mich. Dec. 31 - 1900 --Board of Police Commissioners-- July 1 - 1900 to June 30 - 1901 George W. Fowle Marvin M. Stanton Ralph Phelps Jr. Homer Warren George W. Fowle President J. Edward Dupont Secretary J. Henry Cleveland Asst. Secretary George F. Robinson Attorney Dayton Parker M.D. Surgeon --Officers-- John Martin Superintendent --Captains-- C. C. Starkweather Wm. Thompson Jesse Mack Wm. Nolan A. H. Bachmann J. T. Spillane E. F. Culver James McDonnell Alphonso Baker L. Guyman George Heigho Appropriation for maintenance of Police Department for fiscal year ending June 30 - 1901 --$574850.00-- --Composition of Force-- Superintendent…………………………………….………1 Captains…………………………………………....……..11 Lieutenants……………………………………….……….27 Sergeants…………………………………………….……32 Detective……………………………………………...……1 Patrolmen………...……………………………………...419 Doormen……………………………………………………23 Total 514 From the above special details are made as enumerated below - Captains…………………………………………………….4 Lieutenants…………………………………………………8 Sergeants………………..………………………………...3 Detective…………………………………………………...1 Patrolmen………………………………………………..114 Doorman……………………………………………………1 Total 131 --Distribution of the Force-- Detective Bureau…………………….…………………..20 Central Division……………...………..………………...44 Central or First Precinct………….……………………122 Second Precinct…………………………………………63 Third Precinct……….……………………………………71 Fourth Precinct………………..………………………...57 Fifth Precinct……………………………………………..68 Sixth Precinct…………..………………………………..33 Seventh Precinct……… ……………………………….35 Total (Superintendent not included) 513 In addition to the Force proper, herein before enumerated there are employed by the month or year as follows. Clerks in Secretarys Office………………………....…….2 Chief Clerk and Stenographer Superintendents Office...1 Clerk in Detective Bureau…………..……………………..1 Janitor Headquarters Offices.………………....………....1 Superintendent of Signal Service Telephone lines…..…1 Inspectors-Truchman-Operators-Timekeepers…………16 Police Matrons…………...………………………………...7 Telephone boy in Harbormaster's Office………….……..1 Hostlers……………………………………………………..7 Janitor at Hamlin Station…………….…………………...1 Telephone Operators Superintendent's Office…………..3 Total 41 --Sites and Buildings valued at $268051.99 1 Headquaters Building 1 Headquarters Barn and Signal Office 1 Harbor Master's Building 11 Station Houses --Horse and Vehicle-- 63 Horses 8 Patrol Wagons 3 Road " 1 Bus 2 Trucks 2 Buggies 1 Three Seated Carriage 6 Wagons 2 Sleighs 25 Saddles with the necessary equipments for mounted Service --Signal Service Department-- Number of Street boxes in service……………...........………229 Number of Private Signal boxes in service………..................25 Number of Telephone owned and in use by the department…52 Number of Miles of wire on Belle Isle………….…………………8 Number of Miles of wire over head in City……….……………230 Number of Miles of Covered Cable under ground…..………....11 Number of Miles of Single wire under ground…………...……..35
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- 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