Conservation and Environmentalism Movements in Michigan
Environmental Politics and Legislation
Ann Arbor Airport Advisory Committee.
- Ann Arbor Airport Advisory Committee records, 1970s-1990s.
- 2 linear feet.
Committee established to study the impact (noise, environmental, etc.) of a proposed expansion of the Ann Arbor Airport.
Records maintained by Committee secretary Barbara Perkins include resource materials, memoranda, meeting minutes, clippings, position papers, publications, and related.
Jerry C. Bartnick
- Jerry C. Bartnick papers, 1984-2003.
- 0.5 linear ft.
Representative Jerry Bartnick in 1991. Folder
"Portrait." Jerry C. Bartnick papers, Box 1.
Michigan state representative from Temperance, Michigan (1983-1992), also member of Michigan Natural Resources Commission.
This collection contains speeches, newsletters, clippings, and correspondence relating to his legislative career and his environmental interests, including natural resource conservation.
Blanchard, James J.
- James J. Blanchard gubernatorial files, 1982-2002.
- 345 linear ft. and 9 oversize v.
Governor Blanchard helping with
trash collection. Folder
"Adopt-A-Highway, 4/21/90."
James J. Blanchard papers, Box 189.
Earth Day billboard behind Governor,
click to enlarge.
Blanchard was Democratic governor of Michigan from 1983 to 1991.
The collection is arranged mainly by unit or functional responsibility within the governor's office. These series are chief of staff/executive assistants, correspondence office, government relations, issues development, legal department, operators, personnel, press office, Upper Peninsula office, Washington office, Lansing residence, and political and campaign files. The files document the Blanchard administration's efforts in areas of education, job creation, the state's economy, environmental protection, and the rebuilding of Michigan's infrastructure.
Brater, Elizabeth S.
- Elizabeth S. Brater papers, 1989-2010, bulk 1996-2010.
- 19.75 linear feet (in 20 boxes) and 1 oversize folder.
Elizabeth S. Brater was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1995 and served until 2000. In 2003, she was elected to the State Senate, where she served until 2010. Previously, she served as a member of the Ann Arbor City Council (1988-1993) and Mayor of Ann Arbor (1991-1993).
Legislative records from Brater's service in Michigan's House of Representatives and Senate, including handwritten notes on policy issues, correspondence (including printed email), collected research materials, and news clippings. The collection is particularly strong in documenting Brater's service on the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality subcommittees, as Minority Vice chair of Judiciary and Corrections on the State Appropriations Committee, and as a member of the Governor's Land Use Leadership Council.
The collection is closed to research use until Jan. 1, 2021.
Clevenger, Raymond Francis
- Raymond Francis Clevenger papers, 1953-1967.
- 46 linear ft.
Raymond F. Clevenger was a Democratic Senator in the 89th U.S. Congress from 1965-1967. Box 17 contains most of the material pertaining to conservation and environmental protections. As a representative hailing from Sault Ste. Marie, the issue of natural resource conservation was particularly pertinent to his Upper Peninsula constituents. After his congressional term, he was appointed and served on the Great Lakes Basin Commission.
This collection contains newsletters, reports, testimonies, and other material about environmentalism in Michigan, including material relating to conservation of Michigan's natural resources, environmental protections, and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council.
Note: The collection is closed to research except with the written permission of the donor.
Cramton, Louis Convers
- Louis Convers Cramton papers, 1896-1966.
- 9 linear ft., 2 oversize v., and 1 oversize folder.
State Representative from Lapeer, Michigan, U.S. Congressman, 1913-1931, and special attorney to the Secretary of the Interior.
Correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, campaign materials, and other items relating to his advocacy of the national park system, the concept of historic preservation, fair employent practices legislation, increased support for Howard University and all other aspects of his career. Correspondents include: Horace M. Albright, the American Civic Association, the American Indian Defense Association, the Anti-Saloon League of America, Charles H. Burke, James Cannon, Carrie C. Catt, Albert B. Cummins, the Emergency Peace Federation, Fred W. Green, John A. Hannah, Carl T. Hayden, Herbert Hoover, the Indian Rights Association, Hiram W. Johnson, Mordecai W. Johnson, Pliny W. Marsh, Stephen T. Mather, Andrew W. Mellon, William Mitchell, Charles Moore, the National Security League, William Lyon Phelps, Amos R. Pinchot, Gifford Pinchot, Kim Sigler, Irving Stone, Mark Sullivan, Arthur H. Vandenberg, Roy O. West, Wayne B. Wheeler, Ray Wilbur, G. Mennen Williams, Conrad L. Wirth, and Hubert Work.
Cushman, Katherine Moore
- Katherine M. Cushman papers, 1950-1970
- 4 linear ft.
Katherine M. Cushman. Folder "Portrait."
Katherine M. Cushman papers, Box 4.
Local and state League of Women Voters official, Dearborn, Michigan, civic activist.
Papers relating to her organizational involvements, especially Church Women United, 1962-1969; the Citizens Committee for Equal Opportunity, 1963-1969; the Governor's Special Conservation Study Committee, 1963-1964; the state office and Dearborn chapter of the League of Women Voters, 1950-1970; the Michigan Constitutional Convention, 1961-1963; the Michigan Council of Churches, 1963-1969; the Northwestern Child Guidance Clinic, 1962-1966; also files relating to her opposition to parochiaid, or public funding of private schools; and photographs.
Engler, John
- John Engler papers, 1968-2003.
- 435 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder.
Republican member of the Michigan state legislature (House and Senate, 1971-1990); governor of Michigan (1991-2003); active member of the Republican Governors' Association and the National Governors' Association.
During his gubernatorial tenure, Engler restructured the Michigan State Department of Natural Resources. Much of the material on the topic of conservation of natural resources pertains to this agency reorganization, but annual reports and other materials are also available in this collection.
Goeboro, Winnifred Edna Anderson
- Winnifred Edna Andersen Goeboro papers, 1972-1980.
- .4 linear in.
Winnifred Edna Andersen Goeboro was involved with the Dearborn Heights chapter of the League of Women Voters. The Goeboro papers document her activities with the League, including a river clean-up effort in the Rouge River basin.
Correspondence makes up the bulk of her collection, but there are personal materials in other formats Correspondence primarily relates her League activities, especially detailing efforts to clean-up the Rouge River basin; also family history, 1980, entitled "Andersen Odyssey."
Hart, Philip A.
- Philip A. Hart papers, 1948-1976.
- 281 linear ft., 3 oversize volumes and 2 oversize folders.
Caption on reverse: "Sen. Hart holds a sample of badly
soiled water from the lower Detroit River. At left is a
sample of pure water from the upper river. The water at
right is from the Rouge River and is badly contaminated
despite its relative clarity." Folder "Photographs--
Environment." Philip A. Hart papers, Box 272.
Philip A. Hart, a U. S. Senator from Michigan, 1959-1976, was supportive of environmental rights. As a senator, he used his legislative powers to further the expansive of state and national parklands. In particular, his legislative activism helped to establish the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rock National Lakeshores.
Pro-forest Hart supporters. Folder "Photographs
--Environment." Philip A. Hart papers, Box 272.
Legislative, staff, and Press files; other records relating to operation of Hart office; speeches and press releases; political materials detailing Democratic Party activities and his election campaigns in 1964 and 1970; and photographs and films; include materials documenting the legislative issues of the 1960s and 1970s, especially civil rights, environmental protection, and the Vietnam War.
Hillegonds, Paul C.
- Paul C. Hillegonds papers, 1964-1996.
- 12 linear ft.
Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives (1979-1996); Co-Speaker of the House (1993-1994); Speaker of the House (1995-1996).
Press/publicity files; correspondence, 1995-1996; speeches, ca. 1980-1996; political campaign files, 1974-1996, including information on Philip Ruppe's congressional campaigns in 1974 and 1976 and Ruppe's unsuccessful bids to obtain the Republican nomination to the U.S. Senate in 1978 and 1982; legislative files contain information on education finance reform, workers' compensation reform, and legislation relating to the environment and the protection of natural resources, especially in his home district of Allegan County; legislative files also pertain to the politics of the Michigan House of Representatives mainly during the period when Hillegonds shared the speaker's chair with Curtis Hertel; also staff files, biographical and personal information, and photographs.
League of Women Voters of Allen Park
- League of Women Voters of Allen Park records, 1955-1986.
- 3 linear ft.
The League of Women Voters of Allen Park was established as a provisional league in 1955, formally recognized in 1956, and operated until 1986 when it merged with the Downriver League of Women Voters.
Annual meeting and board meeting minutes and reports, 1955-1986; member newsletters, 1955-1986; topical files comprising committee minutes, reports, position statements, correspondence, pamphlets, and other publications. Subjects covered by files include municipal, county, state, and national elections, and social, political, and environmental issues.
League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties
- League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties records, 1957-2007.
- 1.5 linear feet and 6 oversize volumes.
The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties is a non-partisan political organization that works to increase citizens' political participation and understanding of public policy issues. Through citizen education and outreach, the League attempts to involve citizens in public policy decisions. Recycling, solar energy, and the environmental impact of livestock on water quality are among the environmental issues for which the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties organized advocacy efforts.
Newsletters, annual reports, clippings, correspondence, subject files, and scrapbooks.
League of Women Voters of Detroit
- League of Women Voters of Detroit records, 1930-1988.
- 4 linear ft.
"Lake Erie: Requiem or Reprieve" booklet,
the result of LWV efforts to study industrial
impact on Lake Erie. Folder "Lake Erie
Basin; Oil and Gas Drilling." League of
Women Voters of Detroit, Box 3.
The League of Women voters of Detroit (LWVD) is an affiliate of the League of Women Voters of the United States. It is one of twenty-six locals that comprise the state League of Women Voters chapter.
Board meeting minutes, correspondence, newsletters, position statements on various statements, and pamphlets and other publications; also visual materials; subjects covered by files include environmental quality, education, and women's rights issues.
League of Women Voters of Michigan
- League of Women Voters of Michigan records, 1926-1995.
- 38 linear ft.
The Michigan state chapter of the League of Women Voters was formed in the early 1920s. The League of Women Voters of Michigan works to promote the political involvement, impact social policies, and to advance environmental protection legislation.
Memo between LWV members, discussing course of
action regarding bilge and sewage holding tanks on
commercial vessels navigating the Great Lakes. Folder
"Holding tanks, 1970-1971." League of Women Voters
of Michigan, Box 7. Click to enlarge.
Minutes, annual reports, presidents' letters, legislative programs, issue files concerning its involvement with such issues as child welfare, civil service, the Constitutional Convention of 1961-1962, election law reform, environmental quality, fair employment practices, human resources, reapportionment, taxation, and voters services; also include materials relating to local branch offices.
League of Women Voters of Mount Clemens-Clinton Area
- League of Women Voters of Mount Clemens-Clinton Area records, 1932-1989.
- 3.5 linear ft.
The League of Women Voters of Mount Clemens was organized in November 1927. In 1972, the League became known as the League of Women Voters of Mount Clemens-Clinton Area. The League was disbanded in 1989.
The record group contains 3 series. The Administrative series contains annual, unit, and board meeting minutes, 1932-1988; annual reports and workbooks, 1939-1987; correspondence; and newsletters, 1936-1989 (scattered). The Topical series contains reports from surveys, materials from the Voter's Guides, and publications. The Visual Materials series contains four scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and color slides of an International Trade Fair in 1962.
Michigan State Land Office Board
- Michigan State Land Office Board records, 1816-1924.
- 101 v. and 69 outsize folders (in 20 boxes).
The Michigan State Land Office Board records contain records of United States land offices in Grayling and Marquette, MI.
Plat and tract books containing the record of the survey and sale of public lands in Michigan.
Milliken, William G.
- William G. Milliken papers, 1961-1982.
- ca. 1000 linear ft.
Republican governor of Michigan, 1969-1982.
Gubernatorial papers.
Note: Portions of the Milliken papers are stored offsite; two days notice required for retrieval. Parts of the papers, principally the correspondence files, described in this finding aid and originally housed by the Bentley Historical Library have been transferred to the Michigan State Archives.
O'Hara, James G.
- James G. O'Hara papers, 1958-1987.
- 53 linear ft. and 2 oversize v.
Democratic congressman from Michigan, member of the House committees on Education and Labor, Interior and Insular Affairs, Budget, and the Joint Committee on Congressional Operations; and chairman of the Democratic Study Group, 1967-1968, and chairman of the Democratic Party Commission on Rules, 1969-1972.
Congressional files, political files, Democratic Party materials; and photographs.
Osborn, Chase S.
- Chase Salmon Osborn papers, 1889-1949.
- 168 linear ft. and 3 v. [outsize]. Photographs. 1 linear ft.
Chase Salmon Osborn, 1906. Folder
"Middle years: Hunting and camping
scenes, ca. 1890-1910." Chase S.
Osborn papers, Box 144.
Osborn was a Michigan politician, newspaper publisher, mining investor. He served in various political offices around of the state of Michigan, including the elected office of Governor from 1911-1912. He was appointed to the office of the State Fish and Game Warden for an 1895-1899 term. Among his papers are 7 linear feet of records from Osborn's mining and lumber interests.
Correspondence, diaries, business papers, scrapbooks, addresses, manuscripts of books, and miscellaneous papers concerning Republican politics and business interests; also photographs; correspondents include most Republican political leaders in Michigan during period; also correspondence with many prominent Democratic leaders, newspaper men, educators, writers, businessmen and members of his own family; includes letters from every President from McKinley to Franklin D. Roosevelt with those of Theodore Roosevelt.
Pollack, Lana
- Lana Pollack papers, 1979-1994.
- 15.5 linear ft.
After years spent volunteering for the Ann Arbor Democratic party, Lana Pollack ran for elected office and won, serving a twelve-year term (1982-1984) as state senator from Michigan's 18th District. Environmental causes were consistently among Pollack's top priorities, and in 1996, she became president of the Michigan Environmental Council.
Six series comprise the Pollack papers: Ann Arbor Board of Education, Michigan Senate, Campaigns, Photographs, Videotapes, and Audiotapes. Materials in the collection detail Pollack's political and legislative involvement in an array of social issues.
Romney, George W.
- George W. Romney papers, 1939-1973.
- 598 linear ft.
President of American Motors Corporation, governor of Michigan, 1963-1969, candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1968, and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1969-1972.
This collection of George Romney papers is composed of six subgroups of materials. Pre-gubernatorial files, 1939-1962, concern Romney's activities as head of American Motors, Mormon church activities, and developing interest in government and politics. Gubernatorial files consist of files relating to state government and politics, 1963-1969. The Romney Associates subgroup documents the research/press group established by Romney in his bid for the Republican nomination for president in 1968. The Post-gubernatorial subgroup, 1969-1973, consists of files from Romney's service as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and his involvement with the National Center for Voluntary Action and the Concerned Citizens Movement. The last two subgroups are Visual Materials and Sound Recordings.
Note: Portions of the collection are located offsite--two days notice is required for retrieval.
Sax, Joseph L., collector
- Joseph L. Sax papers, 1969-1986.
- 17 linear ft.
The material in this collection relates to environmental protection legislation, particularly the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) of 1970. However, correspondence with public officials from other states regarding environmental policy is also included. Joseph L. Sax was a professor and the University of Michigan Law School; he holds the distinction of drafting the first version of the MEPA.
Material relating to the passage of the Michigan Environmental Protection Act of 1970 and to subsequent litigation arising out of enforcement of the Act; include correspondence, testimony, policy statements, bill analyses, case files, newspaper clippings, and related items.
Smit, Raymond J.
- Raymond J. Smit papers, 1960-1975.
- 19 linear ft.
Raymond Smit was a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives. Smit served from on the 1973-1974 Standing Committee on Conservation, Environment, and Recreation, and had previously been involved with the Task Force on Water Rights, Use, and Pollution Control in 1965. The Smit papers contain records of his involvement in legislative action and document his role in proposing and advocating for the passage of environmental legislation, specifically the 1968 Clean Water Bond Program.
Legislative files, 1967-1974, concerning in part his interest in water pollution legislation; political files concerning election campaigns, and involvement in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, Michigan, Republican Party activities; and photographs.
Note: Portions of the collection are located offsite--two days notice is required for retrieval.
Swainson, John Burley
- John Burley Swainson papers, 1943-1975.
- 71.5 linear ft., 1 oversize folder and 1 oversize v.
Attorney, Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Michigan Governor, 1961-1962, and state Supreme Court judge.
Political and gubernatorial files, judicial papers, and personal papers, including World War II correspondence and papers, 1969-1970, reflecting his interest in drug rehabilitation.
Note: Stored offsite except for oversize folder and volume; two days notice required for retrieval of materials.
Williams, G. Mennen
- G. Mennen Williams papers, 1883-1988.
- 818 linear ft.
Construction on the Mackinac Bridge, ca. 1956.
Folder "Construction of the Mackinac Bridge
(1954-1957)." G. Mennen Williams papers, Box 5.
Click to enlarge.
Michigan Democratic Governor, 1949-1960; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, 1961-1966; U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1967-1969; Michigan Supreme Court justice, 1970-1987.
Official and personal files arranged into four series of papers: 1) Gubernatorial papers, 1949-1960 (681 linear ft.); 2) Non-gubernatorial papers, 1883-1948 and 1958-1988 (107 linear ft.); 3) Visual materials, ca. 1911-1988 (ca. 25 linear ft.); and 4) sound recordings, 1950-ca. 1988 (5 linear ft.). Included with the collection are scrapbooks and un-mounted clippings covering Williams' career activities (with some gaps) from 1948 to 1988, also scrapbooks and personal papers of Nancy Quirk Williams.
Note: The collection is open to research except where noted in the finding aid. The bulk of the closed materials are Williams' case files for the Michigan Supreme Court. These are in boxes 30-61.
Developed by Rachael Dreyer, Graduate Reference Assistant, June 2009.