Dublin Core
Title
Finding Aid of Old Mission Peninsula School records
Subject
Traverse City (Mich.)
Schoolhouses--Michigan.
Description
Finding aid of Old Mission Peninsula School records, 1860-1992, 2000-2021
Details the collection of records of Old Mission Peninsula School, as well as photos and articles re: one room school houses.
Details the collection of records of Old Mission Peninsula School, as well as photos and articles re: one room school houses.
Creator
Barritt, Amy; Morgan, Mary 1860 -
Source
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Publisher
Peninsula Community Library
Date
2025
Contributor
Mary T. Morgan
Rights
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display or transmit this document.
Relation
Old Mission Peninsula School records, 1860-2021
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
LHC002pcl-findingaid.pdf
Coverage
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Creator: Staff and Students of Old Mission Peninsula School
Title: Old Mission Peninsula School records
Inclusive dates: 1860-1992, 2000-2021
Bulk dates: 1890s, Early-mid 1900s, 1960-1984
Extent: 3.5 linear foot
Call number: LHC 002 Pcl
Language: Material is in English.
Acquisition: Reassigned to archive at end of primary use; some of the
collection acquired through anonymous donation.
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Volume 1, 2, 3 & 4
https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/46 & Box 1; O/Size Folder 1,
Slides-Volume 5, 6, 7 & online at https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/40
A-V Material: None.
Digital Material: https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/25057
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Processed By: Amy Barritt, 2013, Mary Morgan 2020, 2021, 2022,2023, 2025
Abstract
Records of Old Mission Peninsula School, donated to and collected by the Peninsula
Community Library staff. Series include: Annual Reports, Newspaper Clippings,
Patents, Publications, Reminiscences, School Inspectors, Scrapbook, Student
Records, Student Work, Treasurer Records, and Yearbooks.
History
Old Mission Peninsula School was founded after a township vote passed to consolidate
the 7 one-room schoolhouses in the various districts of Old Mission in the Spring of
1954. The original one-room schoolhouses were: Old Mission, Bowers Harbor,
Ogdensburg, Stoney Beach, Mapleton, McKinley and Maple Grove. Prior to 1893,
Stoney Beach and Maple Grove were one school known as Archie School which was
housed in a log cabin. When the log cabin burned down, Stoney Beach and Mapleton
were built.
In 1955, residents supported the new school by passing a $300,000 bond issue to build
the current school building on Island View Road. The School opened in September
1956, and educated students from kindergarten through the eighth grades. In 1968, new
state law required that public education must be offered through the twelfth grade, and
the School was annexed to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). The School
educated students from kindergarten through the sixth grade.
The Peninsula Community Library has long been tied to the School, hence many of the
donations that make up this collection were donated to the Library for safe-keeping. The
Library was opened in the Summer of 1957, on the stage in the gym at the School, and
moved into a larger, semi-permanent space the following year. The Library worked
closely with Traverse City Area Public Schools to offer services and support to the
School and students.
In late 2015, TCAPS announced that they would be closing a number of smaller schools
in their district due to low enrollment and financial distress. After months of public
hearings and hours of deliberations the TCAPS Board unanimously voted, on March 8th, 2016 to close Bertha Vos and Interlochen Elementary, at the end of the school year. Due to the vocal efforts of a Community Group that was formed by Old Mission residents, a decision to close the OM School was delayed.
During this uncertain time, in late 2016, a decision was made by the Board of the
Peninsula Community Library, to build a new Library on the land that the Library had
owned since 1980. In under three years, a fundraising campaign raised over 2.5 million
dollars, all in donations. Architects, site engineers, and builders were hired and a
beautiful farmhouse style building arose at the corner of Island View and Center Roads.
The Library opened its doors to the public on September 7th, 2019.
Simultaneously, informal discussions among two TCAPS board members, the
Superintendent and a lead community member were conducted and regular meetings
took place, working on ways to save the school. One community member offered up
$800,000 to cover the overhead cost of the school for two more years while the group
continued to work on ways to keep OMPS afloat. As negotiations continued to founder,
a group of six community members began designing a concept for a foundation. Old
Mission Peninsula Education Foundation (OMPEF) was officially incorporated on
September 14, 2016. The incorporating members included Allison O’Keefe – President,
Corey Phelps – Vice President, Jennifer Coleman – Treasurer, Susan Shipman –
Secretary and Jacquie Harding and Dena Schweitzer – Trustees.
Ultimately, OMPEF purchased the school, with donor funds, from TCAPS for $1.1
million, a price that included both the building and its contents. The building title officially
transferred on July 1, 2018. The Foundation received charter authorization from Grand
Valley State University to open a new school, and opened their doors as a charter
school in September, 2018, continuing the mission of enhancing educational
opportunities on Old Mission Peninsula. [Information gleaned from the OMPEF website
at https://www.ompef.org/about-us/our-history/ on October 12, 2020]
Scope and Content Note
Artifacts from Peninsula Township’s One Room Schoolhouses and the Old Mission
Peninsula School located on Island View Road. Items include pupil records (District 7),
which contains pupil names, grades and attendance records (1918-1920), School
Inspector Board Minutes which contains maps showing the creation of the seven
different districts (1860-1910), and information on the formation of the consolidated Old
Mission Peninsula School.
Annual Reports contain statistics and funding records from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s
& 2000/2001.
Newspaper Clippings is a small collection from 1960-1961.
Patents from the 1950’s/1960’s and the original deed for the Old Mission School.
Publications by local residents re: different aspects of the Old Mission Elementary
school, and some early textbooks used in the One Room Schoolhouses
Reminiscences by local residents of One Room Schoolhouse memories.
School Inspectors board minutes from late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
Scrapbook photos and documents from Old Mission Peninsula Elementary School and
the various One Room Schoolhouses.
Student Records from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
Student Work from 1895 and 1960/70
Treasurer Records from the early 1900’s, and Yearbooks (various).
Container No. Description
Annual Reports [series]:
Box 1 Statistics, 1898-1901, 1923-1924, 1926
Box 1 Bond and Retirement Fund Records, 1891-1932
Box 1 Teacher’s Contracts, 1894-1901, 1930-1932
Box 1 TCAPS Annual Report, 2000-2001
Newspaper Clippings [series]:
Box 1 Various newspaper clippings, 1960-1961, 2017
Patents [series]:
Box 1 Indentures dated 1953, 1954, 1956, 1968, and 1974
Box 2 Copy of original land patent for OMPS school grounds
Box 1 Old Mission School Original Deed, 1866
Publications [series]:
Box 1 “Getting to know us at Old Mission Peninsula School: a handbook for student
teachers at Old Mission School,” compiled by Liz Tousain and
Marie Grassa, 1971
Box 1 “Guide to the Old Mission Peninsula School Outdoor Laboratory and Karyl
Tompkins Memorial Trail”, 1992
Box 1 “Peninsula Schools and the Future”, compiled by Harold Titus, Robert Dean, and
Ellis Wunsch (pamphlet ~1954)
Box 1 “Hagar’s Elementary Arithmetic”, text book – part of Hagar’s Mathematical Series
(late 1800’s/early 1900’s)
Box 1 “Essentials of Arithmetic”, Boston, MA: Ginn and Company by Wentworth, G. A.,
& D. E. Smith. (1915).
Reminiscences [series]:
Box 1 Memories re: One Room Schoolhouse days (various dates and authors), Photographs of Old Mission High School (and Hart High School, Hart, Michigan) from Edith Courtade’s scrapbook album, dated 1916 (pcl002.1; pcl002.2; pcl002.3);
Box 2 Autograph Book owned by Jud Ladd, circa 1882-1883.
Digital “One Room Schoolhouse Memories” Talk (memories of Old Mission and Mapleton one room schoolhouses) https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/25057
School Inspectors Board Minutes [series]:
Box 2 School District 5, 17 November 1860-September 1884
Box 2 Peninsula Township, 9 December 1865-24 September 1910
Scrapbook [series]:
Volume 1 Early history of Old Mission Peninsula School
Box 3, Volume 2 “Bits from Old Mission,” 1959-1984
Box 3, Volume 3 “Old Mission Peninsula School, 2000-2002: Students Parents Staff Events”
Volume 4 One room schoolhouses - photographs and articles
Volume 5 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (1961-1962 and prior, October, 1977)
Volume 6 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (Spring, 1978 and June, 1984)
Volume 7 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (undated)
Drawer 3 Oversize Folder 1 Photo of the Old Mission Class of 1913
Drawer 3 Oversize Folder 1 Photo of the Old Mission Student Band and list of names
Digital Old Mission Peninsula School (digitized photos of the slides located in Volumes
5, 6 & 7) https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/40
Student Records [series]:
Box 2 Attendance and Examination Record Book, Old Mission School, 1913-1916
Box 2 Peninsula Township School District 7, 1918-1920
Box 3 Peninsula Township School District 2, 1918-1920
Student Work [series]:
Box 1 ca. 1895
Box 1 Kitchi-Wik-We-Don-Sing (La Grand Traverse in Chippewa Indian Language)”,
Old Mission Peninsula School’s eighth grade class, ca. 1964 (4 copies)
Box 1 “Si Quarus Peninsula Amceman Circumspice” (a history of Old Mission),
Old Mission Peninsula School’s seventh grade class, 1970-1971
Treasurer Records [series]:
Box 1 1903-1906
Box 2 1929-1938 (McKinley School)
Box 2 1905-1925 (Mapleton School)
Box 3 1933-1943 (District 5)
Yearbooks [series]:
Box 1 The Wildcat, 1953
Box 1 The Pines, 1912, 1921
Box 1 Old Mission Elementary School, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012
Box 2 The Black and Gold, 1907, 1911
Box 2 The Orion, 1902
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Creator: Staff and Students of Old Mission Peninsula School
Title: Old Mission Peninsula School records
Inclusive dates: 1860-1992, 2000-2021
Bulk dates: 1890s, Early-mid 1900s, 1960-1984
Extent: 3.5 linear foot
Call number: LHC 002 Pcl
Language: Material is in English.
Acquisition: Reassigned to archive at end of primary use; some of the
collection acquired through anonymous donation.
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Volume 1, 2, 3 & 4
https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/46 & Box 1; O/Size Folder 1,
Slides-Volume 5, 6, 7 & online at https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/40
A-V Material: None.
Digital Material: https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/25057
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Processed By: Amy Barritt, 2013, Mary Morgan 2020, 2021, 2022,2023, 2025
Abstract
Records of Old Mission Peninsula School, donated to and collected by the Peninsula
Community Library staff. Series include: Annual Reports, Newspaper Clippings,
Patents, Publications, Reminiscences, School Inspectors, Scrapbook, Student
Records, Student Work, Treasurer Records, and Yearbooks.
History
Old Mission Peninsula School was founded after a township vote passed to consolidate
the 7 one-room schoolhouses in the various districts of Old Mission in the Spring of
1954. The original one-room schoolhouses were: Old Mission, Bowers Harbor,
Ogdensburg, Stoney Beach, Mapleton, McKinley and Maple Grove. Prior to 1893,
Stoney Beach and Maple Grove were one school known as Archie School which was
housed in a log cabin. When the log cabin burned down, Stoney Beach and Mapleton
were built.
In 1955, residents supported the new school by passing a $300,000 bond issue to build
the current school building on Island View Road. The School opened in September
1956, and educated students from kindergarten through the eighth grades. In 1968, new
state law required that public education must be offered through the twelfth grade, and
the School was annexed to Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). The School
educated students from kindergarten through the sixth grade.
The Peninsula Community Library has long been tied to the School, hence many of the
donations that make up this collection were donated to the Library for safe-keeping. The
Library was opened in the Summer of 1957, on the stage in the gym at the School, and
moved into a larger, semi-permanent space the following year. The Library worked
closely with Traverse City Area Public Schools to offer services and support to the
School and students.
In late 2015, TCAPS announced that they would be closing a number of smaller schools
in their district due to low enrollment and financial distress. After months of public
hearings and hours of deliberations the TCAPS Board unanimously voted, on March 8th, 2016 to close Bertha Vos and Interlochen Elementary, at the end of the school year. Due to the vocal efforts of a Community Group that was formed by Old Mission residents, a decision to close the OM School was delayed.
During this uncertain time, in late 2016, a decision was made by the Board of the
Peninsula Community Library, to build a new Library on the land that the Library had
owned since 1980. In under three years, a fundraising campaign raised over 2.5 million
dollars, all in donations. Architects, site engineers, and builders were hired and a
beautiful farmhouse style building arose at the corner of Island View and Center Roads.
The Library opened its doors to the public on September 7th, 2019.
Simultaneously, informal discussions among two TCAPS board members, the
Superintendent and a lead community member were conducted and regular meetings
took place, working on ways to save the school. One community member offered up
$800,000 to cover the overhead cost of the school for two more years while the group
continued to work on ways to keep OMPS afloat. As negotiations continued to founder,
a group of six community members began designing a concept for a foundation. Old
Mission Peninsula Education Foundation (OMPEF) was officially incorporated on
September 14, 2016. The incorporating members included Allison O’Keefe – President,
Corey Phelps – Vice President, Jennifer Coleman – Treasurer, Susan Shipman –
Secretary and Jacquie Harding and Dena Schweitzer – Trustees.
Ultimately, OMPEF purchased the school, with donor funds, from TCAPS for $1.1
million, a price that included both the building and its contents. The building title officially
transferred on July 1, 2018. The Foundation received charter authorization from Grand
Valley State University to open a new school, and opened their doors as a charter
school in September, 2018, continuing the mission of enhancing educational
opportunities on Old Mission Peninsula. [Information gleaned from the OMPEF website
at https://www.ompef.org/about-us/our-history/ on October 12, 2020]
Scope and Content Note
Artifacts from Peninsula Township’s One Room Schoolhouses and the Old Mission
Peninsula School located on Island View Road. Items include pupil records (District 7),
which contains pupil names, grades and attendance records (1918-1920), School
Inspector Board Minutes which contains maps showing the creation of the seven
different districts (1860-1910), and information on the formation of the consolidated Old
Mission Peninsula School.
Annual Reports contain statistics and funding records from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s
& 2000/2001.
Newspaper Clippings is a small collection from 1960-1961.
Patents from the 1950’s/1960’s and the original deed for the Old Mission School.
Publications by local residents re: different aspects of the Old Mission Elementary
school, and some early textbooks used in the One Room Schoolhouses
Reminiscences by local residents of One Room Schoolhouse memories.
School Inspectors board minutes from late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
Scrapbook photos and documents from Old Mission Peninsula Elementary School and
the various One Room Schoolhouses.
Student Records from the late 1800’s/early 1900’s.
Student Work from 1895 and 1960/70
Treasurer Records from the early 1900’s, and Yearbooks (various).
Container No. Description
Annual Reports [series]:
Box 1 Statistics, 1898-1901, 1923-1924, 1926
Box 1 Bond and Retirement Fund Records, 1891-1932
Box 1 Teacher’s Contracts, 1894-1901, 1930-1932
Box 1 TCAPS Annual Report, 2000-2001
Newspaper Clippings [series]:
Box 1 Various newspaper clippings, 1960-1961, 2017
Patents [series]:
Box 1 Indentures dated 1953, 1954, 1956, 1968, and 1974
Box 2 Copy of original land patent for OMPS school grounds
Box 1 Old Mission School Original Deed, 1866
Publications [series]:
Box 1 “Getting to know us at Old Mission Peninsula School: a handbook for student
teachers at Old Mission School,” compiled by Liz Tousain and
Marie Grassa, 1971
Box 1 “Guide to the Old Mission Peninsula School Outdoor Laboratory and Karyl
Tompkins Memorial Trail”, 1992
Box 1 “Peninsula Schools and the Future”, compiled by Harold Titus, Robert Dean, and
Ellis Wunsch (pamphlet ~1954)
Box 1 “Hagar’s Elementary Arithmetic”, text book – part of Hagar’s Mathematical Series
(late 1800’s/early 1900’s)
Box 1 “Essentials of Arithmetic”, Boston, MA: Ginn and Company by Wentworth, G. A.,
& D. E. Smith. (1915).
Reminiscences [series]:
Box 1 Memories re: One Room Schoolhouse days (various dates and authors), Photographs of Old Mission High School (and Hart High School, Hart, Michigan) from Edith Courtade’s scrapbook album, dated 1916 (pcl002.1; pcl002.2; pcl002.3);
Box 2 Autograph Book owned by Jud Ladd, circa 1882-1883.
Digital “One Room Schoolhouse Memories” Talk (memories of Old Mission and Mapleton one room schoolhouses) https://localhistory.tadl.org/items/show/25057
School Inspectors Board Minutes [series]:
Box 2 School District 5, 17 November 1860-September 1884
Box 2 Peninsula Township, 9 December 1865-24 September 1910
Scrapbook [series]:
Volume 1 Early history of Old Mission Peninsula School
Box 3, Volume 2 “Bits from Old Mission,” 1959-1984
Box 3, Volume 3 “Old Mission Peninsula School, 2000-2002: Students Parents Staff Events”
Volume 4 One room schoolhouses - photographs and articles
Volume 5 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (1961-1962 and prior, October, 1977)
Volume 6 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (Spring, 1978 and June, 1984)
Volume 7 Slides of student life at Old Mission Peninsula School (undated)
Drawer 3 Oversize Folder 1 Photo of the Old Mission Class of 1913
Drawer 3 Oversize Folder 1 Photo of the Old Mission Student Band and list of names
Digital Old Mission Peninsula School (digitized photos of the slides located in Volumes
5, 6 & 7) https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/40
Student Records [series]:
Box 2 Attendance and Examination Record Book, Old Mission School, 1913-1916
Box 2 Peninsula Township School District 7, 1918-1920
Box 3 Peninsula Township School District 2, 1918-1920
Student Work [series]:
Box 1 ca. 1895
Box 1 Kitchi-Wik-We-Don-Sing (La Grand Traverse in Chippewa Indian Language)”,
Old Mission Peninsula School’s eighth grade class, ca. 1964 (4 copies)
Box 1 “Si Quarus Peninsula Amceman Circumspice” (a history of Old Mission),
Old Mission Peninsula School’s seventh grade class, 1970-1971
Treasurer Records [series]:
Box 1 1903-1906
Box 2 1929-1938 (McKinley School)
Box 2 1905-1925 (Mapleton School)
Box 3 1933-1943 (District 5)
Yearbooks [series]:
Box 1 The Wildcat, 1953
Box 1 The Pines, 1912, 1921
Box 1 Old Mission Elementary School, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012
Box 2 The Black and Gold, 1907, 1911
Box 2 The Orion, 1902
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