Suggested Research Topics - Michigan's Spas, Springs and Sanitariums

For the latter part of the nineteenth and eary part of the twentieth century Michigan was a center of alternative health regimes. In a September 1990 Ann Arbor Observer article, Mary Hunt drew a direct parallel between the Michigan of 100 years ago and modern California. The presence of mineral springs and a salubrious summer climate doubtless were integral to the creation of a locale's image as a mecca of health. But this image was certainly a historical artifact, limited by the extent of personality, advertising, accessibility, and continuing demand for the services provided by these health resorts.

What happened to create these cities' reputations as health resorts? Was it the result of forceful personality (Ellen G. White and John Harvey Kellogg in Battle Creek)? Railroads and local boosters' advertising (Grand Trunk and Mt. Clemens)? What were these folks selling? Health restoration or resort hotels? What exactly were the medical benefits of spa bathing and why should they boom in late nineteenth century Michigan? Do these resorts adapt over time? Change their sales pitch in the light of developments in medicine?

Examples of Primary Source Collections and Other Resources:

Published primary sources

Archival and other primary sources

Secondary sources

Caveats

The only problem I foresee in this otherwise straight-forward project is the basically different natures of the services offered by nineteenth century spas and the fuller array of options available at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in the twentieth century. With this in mind, students should have fun handling early advertisements as cultural artifacts (and may even stand back and examine modern ads as artifacts). Given that none of these cities presently has much of a reputation as a health or vacation resort, students should be amused in pursuing this topic.


In an effort to encourage creative thinking about possible research topics for students unfamiliar with archives and their inevitable complexities, archivists and student employees of the Bentley Historical Library have authored "suggested research topics ." The purpose of these is not to define a topic but rather to stimulate thinking about a topic where the holdings of the Bentley Library are particularly strong.