Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory | Appendix

 Introduction

The Edward N. Middleton Collection was transferred to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes on August 25, 1986. The instrument of gift was signed on the date of transfer.

Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purpose of preservation and research. Final processing was completed with the assistance of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant in August 1991 by Mark J. Barnes and Monica Manny.

 Biographical Sketch

Edward N. Middleton's interest in Great Lakes shipping subjects induced him to maintain an active correspondence with researchers in the United States and Canada that assisted in documenting the history of numerous vessels and transportation companies. Middleton was named Great Lakes Historian of the Year in 1984 by the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Mr. Middleton resided with his wife Blanche Middleton, in Kansas City, Missouri at the time of his death on December 2, 1984. Mrs. Middleton was instrumental in transferring this collection to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes.

 Scope and Content

The Edward N. Middleton Collection is not a large collection in terms of volume (2.5 cubic feet) but does contain detailed information on the history of Great Lakes vessels and steamship companies. Middleton's correspondence and research notes (1.5 cubic feet) provide excellent documentation for the histories of a number of Great Lakes transportation companies. The scope of coverage on these companies includes information on events from 1833 to 1984. The Crosby Transportation Company, the Goodrich Transportation Company, and the Graham and Morton Naviagion Company receive the most extensive treatment.

Supplementing the research notes are a few examples of legal and financial files regarding lake shipping activities. The financial files in particular offer insight into wage structures for vessel crews in the period 1933-1946.

A series of clippings from newspapers in the Great Lakes region describes shipping activities for 1912-1985. This series contains 0.5 cubic feet of material, so the events noted are described in sufficient detail to make the clippings worth examining. Also included is one folder containing memorabilia: passage and meal passes, tour tickets, receipts, and other souvenirs pertaining to Great Lakes passenger and cruise lines from 1865 and 1906 through 1985.

Photographic materials have been separated for inclusion in the main HCGL files. Two rolls of microfilm entitled "Vessel Information Replies from National Archives" is included with 823 black and white prints in the photographic materials. See Appendix 1 for a listing of vessels included on the microfilm.

 Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence
1979-1984
Box 1
Arranged chronologically
Series contains correspondence for 1979-1984 between Edward N. Middleton and other parties studying the Great Lakes. The subject matter generally is regarding vessels active on the lakes and continues research on those ships. Frequently, discussion centers on obtaining photographs of lake vessels. Many of the numerous letters are those between Middleton and Dr. Richard Wright, late director of the Institute for Great Lakes Research (now the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes) at Bowling Green State University.

LITERARY WORKS

Research Notes
1833-1983
Boxes 1-3
Arranged alphabetically by company, then chronologically by event
Series contains research notes by Edward N. Middleton while drafting histories of vessels and steamship companies engaged in Great Lakes shipping. The notes were prepared primarily in the 1970s and 1980s covering events extending from 1933 to 1983. Included are handwritten notes, photocopies of newspaper accounts of events, copies of information obtained from books and periodicals and typescripts of proposed articles. Several steamship companies received more attention than others in Middleton's research. Included in particular are notes on the Crosby Transportation Company, the Goodrich Transportation Company, and the Graham and Morton Navigation Company.

LEGAL FILES

JOHN M. McKERCHEY
1947
Box 3
Arranged alphabetically
Series contains copies of the Consolidated Certificate of Enrollment and License for the vessel JOHN M. McKERCHEY owned by the Kelley Island Lime and Transport Company in Sandusky, Ohio. The certificates are dated March 3, 1947. Details of the vessel's design are recorded on the documents.

SULLIVAN V. WATT
1937
Box 3
Arranged chronologically
Series contains copies of legal documents filed in the 1937 case of H. R. Sullivan v. Steamer JAMES R. WATT. The case was heard in the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The case involved the foreclosure by Sullivan, acting as Receiver for the Jenkins Steamship Company, on assets of the WATT, owned by Carriers Transport Corporation.

FINANCIAL FILES

WAGE INFORMATION
1933-1946
Box 3
Arranged chronologically
Series contains memoranda and circulars listing wages and tax rates for officers and crew of Great Lakes vessels. Standard rates of pay described by Lake Carriers Association literature are described.

GREAT LAKES STEAMSHIP COMPANY, INC.
1955-1957
Box 3
Arranged chronologically
Series contains Bylaws of the company for 1955-1956, notices of stockholders' meetings for 1957 and stock purchase agreements information for 1957.

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS

CLIPPINGS
1865, 1980-1985
Box 4
Arranged alphabetically by subject
Series contains newsclippings regarding Great Lakes vessels, shipping companies, and ports. Articles cover the period 1865-1985.

 Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. Correspondence, 1979-1984
2. Research notes, general, ca. 1975-1976
3. Research notes, general, ca. 1981-1982
4. Research notes on the ERIE L. HACKLEY, 1981
5. Research notes for Steamship Lines A-D (notes for events from 1833-1983)

Box 2

Folders

1. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Crosby Transportation Company (notes for events from 1883-1981)
2. Research notes for Steamship Lines, E-M (notes for events from 1963-1982)

Box 3

Folders

1. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Goodrich Transportation Company (notes for events from 1948-1963)
2. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
3. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
4. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
5. Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
6. Research notes for Steamship Lines, N. (notes for events from 1838-1919)
7. Research notes for Steamship Lines, O-Z (notes for events from 1853-1965)
8. Legal Files: JOHN M. McKERCHEY, 1947
9. Legal Files: Sullivan v WATT, 1937
10. Financial Files: Wage Information, 1933-1943
11. Financial Files: Wage Information, 1933-1943
12. Financial Files: Wage Information (Wage and Tax Deduction Schedules), 1942-1946
13. Financial Files: Wage Information (Wage and Tax Deduction Schedules), 1942-1946
14. Financial Files: Wage Information, 1941-1946
15. Financial Files: Great Lakes Steamship Company, Inc., 1955-1957

Box 4

Folders

1. ALABAMA, 1964-1965, 1967-1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, n.d.
2. ALGOMAH, 1970
3. ALLEGHENY, 1968, n.d.
4. ALPENA, 1970, ca. 1981, 1982
5. Alpena, Michigan; salvaging in Thunder Bay, 1975
6. AMERICA, 1976
7. Ann Arbor Carferries, 1960-1983 scattered, n.d.
8. AQUARAMA, 1982-1983
9. ARCADIA, 1983
10. ARGO, 1974-1975
11. ARIZONA, 1970
12. Arnold Line Boats, 1952, 1969-1970, 1977-1978
13. ARUNDEL, USCG, 1979
14. ASHLAND, 1979
15. ATLANTA, 1967
16. BAINBRIDGE, 1969-1970
17. E. B. BARBER, 1981
18. JAMES R. BARKER, 1976
19. BELLE RIVER, 1976, n.d.
20. Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, 1977
21. JOE BLOCK, 1978
22. JOHN J. BOLAND, 1969
23. CARL D. BRADLEY, 1964, 1968-1969
24. CARL D. BRADLEY, 1983
25. Bridges, 1966, 1979
26. Bultema Dredge & Dock Company, 1981
27. Burns Harbor, 1976
28. CALYPSO on Great Lakes, 1980
29. Canfield Tug Line, 1977
30. Carferries, 1975, 1982-1983
31. CEDARVILLE, 1965, 1970
32. Charlevoix, Michigan, 1975
33. CHEQUAMEGON, n.d.
34. C & O Ferries (Pere Marquette), 1975-1979
35. C & O Ferries, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-1971, 1973, 1975, 1977-1982
36. Chicago & Muskegon Transportation Company, 1982
37. CHICORA, 1968, 1976, 1979, n.d.
38. CHIEF WAWATAM, 1970-1971, 1977-1978, 1980
39. CHIPPEWA, 1970
40. Chicago, City of, 1964, 1979
41. CITY OF DULUTH, 1973
42. CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, n.d.
43. CITY OF MILWAUKEE, 1969-1970, 1977
44. CITY OF SOUTH HAVEN, 1935, 1970
45. ALVIN CLARK, Schooner, 1969, 1978-1979, 1982
46. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, 1969-1970
47. CONDOR, Schooner, 1979
48. MARY ELLEN COE, 1976
49. HENRY CORT, 1968, 1980
50. Crosby Transportation Company, 1966
51. Crosby Transportation Company, 1966-1982
52. LYMAN M. DAVIS, Schooner, 1981
53. D. H. Day & Company (Northern Transit Company of Michigan), 1979
54. Defoe Shipbuilding Company, 1976-1977
55. DELTA QUEEN/DELTA KING, 1976, 1978
56. DEPERE, 1968, 1975, 1977
57. DETROIT RIVER, 1974
58. HMS DOLPHIN, 1975
59. Dossin Museum, 1966
60. Dowling, Father E. J., 1972
61. DAVID DOW, 1978
62. Duluth, Minnesota, 1973
63. EASTLAND, 1968, 1985
64. Ecology of Great Lakes, 1963-1964, 1968-1970, 1973-1974
65. EDISTO, USCGC, 1971
66. EDNA G. (Two Harbors, Minnesota, Tug), 1975
67. ELLEN ELLWOOD, Schooner, 1970
68. FLORA EMMA, Schooner,1981
69. EMSSTEIN, 1966
70. ESCANABA, USCGC, 1968, 1975-1976, 1979
71. Ferries, 1983
72. Ferry-Dowling Mill, "The Red Mill" Montague, 1983
73. EDMUND FITZGERALD, 1975-1978, 1982
74. E. M. FORD, 1979-1980
75. LEWIS W. FOY, 1981
76. FRANCE, 1975, 1979
77. Freighter Travel, 1975
78. EDWIN H. GOTT, 1978
79. Graham & Morton, ca. 1950
80. Grand Hotel, 1979
81. Grand River, 1972
82. Grand Trunk Ferries, 1963, 1965, 1968-1970, 1972-1980, 1982
83. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, 1979
84. EDWARD B. GREENE, 1982
85. GRIFFON, 1975
86. ERIE L. HACKLEY, 1980-1981
87. HAINS, 1969. 1982-1983
88. CARTIERCLIFFE HALL, 1979
89. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, 1971, n.d.
90. HILDA, barge, (a) PERE MARQUETTE, 19, 1975
91. Holland, Michigan, 1962, 1970, 1983
92. ARTHUR B. HOMER, 1972
93. ILLINOIS, 1982
94. INDIANA, 1848, 1979
95. Inland Route, 1977
96. IRONSIDES, 1977
97. ISABELLA SANDS, schooner, 1978
98. JENNIFER, 1974
99. KAMPLOOPS, 1977
100. KATMAI BAY, USCG, 1979
101. KEEWATIN, 1967-1968, 1973-1975, 1980, 1983
102. LABRADOC, 1979
103. LAC LA BELLE, 1984
104. LADY ELGIN, 1980
105. Lake Harbor Hotel, Muskegon (Antisdale's), 1981
106. Lake Michigan, 1964, 1980
107. Lake Michigan Ferry Service Proposals, 1977-1984
108. Lake Ontario Ferry, 1980
109. JOHN F. LEAVITT, 1979
110. Robert E. Lee, 1980
111. Life Saving Stations, 1983
112. Lighthouses, Lifesaving Stations, 1966-1967, 1973-1977, n.d.
113. Lighthouses, 1982-1984
114. Mackinac Bridge, 1982
115. MACKINAW USCG, 1971, 1973
116. Mackinaw City, St. Ignace, 1970
117. MAKEBJELL, 1962
118. MANISTEE (Steamer), 1977, n.d.
119. Manistee, Village of, 1977-1978
120. MARIPOSA-MONTEREY, 1978
121. GEORGE C. MARKHAM, Steambarge, 1912
122. MEDUSA CHALLENGER, 1977, 1979
123. DANIEL J. MORELL, 1966
124. HATTIE B. BEREUE, 1975
125. CHRISTIAN RADICH, 1975-1976
126. MEL WILLIAM SELVICK, 1982
127. J. R. SENSIBAR, 1972
128. JOHN SHERWIN, 1973
129. H. LEE WHITE, 1974
130. CHARLES E. WILSON, 1982
131. L. C. WOODRUFF, C. 1972-1973
132. Memorabilia, 1865, 1906-1985 scattered, n.d.

 Appendix

Roll 1

Roll 2

HCGL Manuscript Checklist | Miscellaneous Collections