Dublin Core
Title
Finding Aid of Peninsula Family History records
Subject
Traverse City
Description
Finding Aid of Peninsula Family History records. Collection is part of the holdings of the Peninsula Community Library. Collection was processed and finding aid published in 2021.
Creator
Amy Barritt; Mary Morgan , 1963-
Source
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City, MI
Publisher
Traverse Area District Library
Date
2022
Contributor
Peninsula Community Library staff
Rights
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
Peninsula Family History records
Format
PDF
Language
English
Identifier
LHC008pcl-findingaid.pdf
Coverage
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 1
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Title: Peninsula Family History records
Inclusive dates: 1856-2022
Bulk dates:1987-1994
Extent: 4.25 linear feet, 1 oversize folder
Call number: LHC 008 Pcl
Language: Material is in English
Acquisition: Various
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Box 1
A-V Material: Box 2
Digital Material: None.
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Copyright for oral histories held by creators.
Processed By: Amy Barritt, 2013, 2014, 2017, Mary Morgan, 2020, 2021, 2022, Ted Arnold 2022
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 2
Abstract
The Peninsula Family History records include records created by, or collected by,
Township residents to formalize the history of the township and the people that have
lived there. Series in the collection are: Oral Histories, Periodicals, Photographs,
Published Works, Reminiscences.
History
The settlement at Old Mission was founded in May 1839 by Reverend Peter Dougherty
and Reverend John Fleming, and was the first European settlement in the Grand
Traverse Bay region. In addition to the mission, the settlers founded a school there, and
developed peaceful relations with the native population, consisting of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians, living in and around the harbor.
As word spread of the excellent growing conditions in the area, and roads were
extended northward, white settlers move to the area. In 1853, the Peninsula Township
was formally organized. On May 20, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the
Homestead Act into law. The act, which took effect January 1, 1863, granted 160 acres
of unappropriated public lands to anyone who paid a small filing fee and agreed to work
on the land and improve it, including by building a residence, over a five-year period. In
the spring of 1874, the Indian reserves were opened to homesteaders, bringing more
settlers to the area. With this growth, seven distinct unincorporated communities were
established. Each boasted a one-room schoolhouse and were placed such that no child
had to walk further than a reasonable difference (approximately 1.5 miles) to attend
classes there. (In 1955 a bond was passed to consolidate into one school).
The communities were all rural farming communities, growing a variety of fruits,
predominantly apples. Organizations, such as the Grange and Woman’s Clubs, and the
volunteer fire department, were significant in building a sense of community. Resort
communities also grew, including the Neahtawanta Resort Association (Bowers
Harbor), the Old Mission Beach Resort, and the Illini Cottagers Association.
In 1905, cherries became the fruit of choice. In 1974 the first 35 acres of vines were
planted for growing grapes specifically for wine making. Wineries, cherry and apple
orchards and other agricultural ventures continue to be essential for sustaining and
growing the community. Although the center of commerce has shifted to Traverse City
at the base of the Peninsula, the area continues to be a tourist destination for its
beautiful landscape and farms.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 3
Scope and Content Note
Oral Histories consists of four cassette tapes recorded at Old Mission Historical
Society (OMHS) events held in 1987, and a series of oral histories, recorded OMHS
events, and short histories, all produced by local historian and OMHS member, Ken
Weaver.
Also this collection contains a subset of transcribed women’s oral histories, specific to
the Peninsula that were obtained via the Women’s History Project of Northwest
Michigan (WHPNM), a 501c3 which was begun in Traverse City, Michigan (2000-2019).
It was a membership organization led by a Board of Directors. Its mission was to
preserve and recognize the contributions of women to their families and communities in
northwest lower Michigan. These recollections offer insights into women’s domestic and
professional lives covering much of the 20th century. The complete collection of
oral/written histories resides in the archives at the main branch of the Traverse Area
District Library (TADL).
Periodicals is a scattered collection of periodicals that mention some aspect of Old
Mission Peninsula life and Grand Traverse County. Most of these have been collected
by the Peninsula Community Library staff, and are locally published.
Photographs include a small collection of largely unidentified and undated images.
Published Works include written accounts by Old Mission Peninsula residents about
their lives on the Peninsula. Various authors, dates and subjects are represented.
Remininscences include unpublished written accounts by Old Mission Peninsula
residents about their lives on the Peninsula. Various authors, dates and subjects are
represented.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 4
Container No.
Description
Oral Histories [series]:
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Historic Society”, 18 November 1987
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Sesquicentennial Party”, 26 January 1987
(cassette tape, Note: “Historical Group and Children with
questions”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Library’s Historical Meeting”, 23 April 1987
(cassette tape, Note: “Tape made during one hour session with 25
oldtimers attending”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Lester Buchan reciting poems”, recorded
December 1987 (cassette tape, Note: “Mr. Buchan was 96 years
old”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Oldtimer’s Night, lecture by Dr. Joanne
Westphal, Michigan State University, Landscape Architecture”,
16 October 1998 (video cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Axel Ostlund, 26 October 1993”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Fred Dohm, 26
September 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Helen Altenburg, 19 November 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Molly Levin, 22 September 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Marty Hyslop and Dr. Elizabeth Potter,
2 September 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Jim Wilson, 9 August 1994” (cassette tape)
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 5
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Marty Hyslop and
Elizabeth Potter, 29 August 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Lardie Hess Tape,
Delano Lardie, 1988” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”William Duckwitz on
Neahtawana, 17 October 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Ida Bee, 7 October 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer for Old Mission Historical
Society, ”Oakley Lardie, 2 May 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Bud Kroupa, 3 November 1993”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
“Interview with Maurice DeGraw, 21 September 1994,
at his home 13117 Bluff Rd.,” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer “Marguerite Swaney
Bartlett, 27 July 1994, at the Bartlett hideaway in Bluff”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Ken Weaver interviewing Ross Richardson, “The Search for the
Westmoreland” (restricted use, please get Weaver’s permission to
publish) (compact disc)
Box 2
Ken Weaver interviewing Ross Richardson, “Shipwrecks of Sleeping Bear
Point” (restricted use, please get Weaver’s permission to publish)
(compact disc)
Volume 1
Transcribed oral histories from the Women’s History Project of Northwest
Michigan
-
DeVol, Helen: Grand Traverse County, Old Mission cherries
Dodd, Margaret: Grand Traverse County, politician/mayor of TC, from Scotland, teacher, Red Cross worker.
Herkner, Lynda: Old Mission History, Real Estate, Creative Arts.
Hicks, Michele M.: Old Mission Peninsula History, National Forest
Service Volunteer, Traverse City Senior Center.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 6
-
-
Hyslop, Martie: Grand Traverse County, homemaker, family resort on
Old Mission.
Johnson, Mary: Grand Traverse County, nurse, cherry farm owner,
Peninsula historian, music teacher.
Levin, Molly: Grand Traverse County, rural homemaker, local
historian, and cherry farm wife.
Lyon, Mary: Old Mission Peninsula; Cherry Farmer on Centennial
Farm; Catholic Faith; Volunteer extraordinaire.
McDermott, Dorothy: Old Mission Peninsula History, Crocheting.
Mericle, Rebecca: Grand Traverse County, NMC librarian, Inuit art.
Milliken, Helen: Grand Traverse County, First Lady of Michigan 196983, worked on passage of Equal Rights Amendment and other
women's issues, environmental issues, gardening.
Olson, Sharon: Old Mission Peninsula; Nurse; Veteran.
Solomonson, Violet: Grand Traverse County, telephone operator on
Old Mission for 56 years.
Wunsch, Anna: Grand Traverse County, journalist, teacher,
Peninsula cherry farming.
Periodicals [series]:
Box 1
Newspaper clippings, 2014, 2021
Photographs [series]:
Box 1
Various subjects, undated
Published Works [series]:
Box 1
“A Century of Service: The People and Places on Old Mission Peninsula,”
published by Peninsula Telephone Company, Jack and Vi
Solomonson, 2008 (note: an addendum to the volume is a single
sheet of paper tucked in the front that shows photographs identified
or corrected after the volume was published)
Box 1
Old Traverse City, by Gull Gallery, 1973.
Box 1
“Pilgrims of the Night”, by Frederick William Faber, 1884; previously
owned by (Martha) Belle Reese of Old Mission, illustrated copy of
the poem
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 7
Box 1
“Memories Hidden, Memories Found”, by Julianne Meyer and Walter
Johnson, 1995
Box 1
“Reflections of Yesterday,” by Julianne Meyer, 1988
Box 3
“Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan :
embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, together with interesting reminiscences”, by Sprague, Elvin L., 1903.
Box 4 “A Doctor’s Memories”, by Victor C. Vaughan, 1926, The Bobbs-Merrill
Company, Indianapolis
Reminiscences [series]:
Box 1
Various authors, dates and subjects, including but not limited to:
-
History of OMP, by Fida Tompkins Myers
Parmalee Family History, by John Marshall
Writings of Williams Holdsworth and his daughter Clementine, by
Julianne Meyer
Margaret (Menauch) Wilson, by Helen Wilson Vogel
John Kroupa, by Lola Zaremba
Marion Island, by Ngnetta Kroupa
Archie, by George McManus
Early development of Cherry Industry, by Lola Zaremba
Early Development of Processing & Marketing, by Lola Zaremba
Notable Women of the Old Mission: A Sampler, by Karen Reiser
Victor Vaughan presentation given to OMPHS, by Tom Dalluge
Box 1
S.E. Wait Memorial souvenir pamphlet, 21 July 1922
Box 1
“Certain Memories of Old Mission, Michigan,” by David Jones, 1984
Box 1
“Old Mission Post Office”, by Helen DeVol, March 1988
Box 1
“Memories Hidden, Memories Found,” by Julianne Meyer and Walter
Johnson, 1995 (Unpublished edition, contains some better copies
of photographs than the photocopied, published edition.
Addendums include corrected copies of Louise N. Pratt’s “History of Old Mission,” Molly Sobkowski’s “History of the Old Mission
Peninsula,” and interviews with Molly Levin and Helen Altenburg.)
Box 1 Holman Family History – Powerpoint presentation of “A 7 Generation Farm Family on Old Mission Peninsula, 1856 – Present”. This information was provided by Georgia and Laurie Holman and was presented on May 20, 2022 at a Peninsula Community Library Local History Talk.
Box 1 Once Upon a Peninsula Coloring Book
Box 5 Pratt Family History
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 1
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Title: Peninsula Family History records
Inclusive dates: 1856-2022
Bulk dates:1987-1994
Extent: 4.25 linear feet, 1 oversize folder
Call number: LHC 008 Pcl
Language: Material is in English
Acquisition: Various
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Box 1
A-V Material: Box 2
Digital Material: None.
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Copyright for oral histories held by creators.
Processed By: Amy Barritt, 2013, 2014, 2017, Mary Morgan, 2020, 2021, 2022, Ted Arnold 2022
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 2
Abstract
The Peninsula Family History records include records created by, or collected by,
Township residents to formalize the history of the township and the people that have
lived there. Series in the collection are: Oral Histories, Periodicals, Photographs,
Published Works, Reminiscences.
History
The settlement at Old Mission was founded in May 1839 by Reverend Peter Dougherty
and Reverend John Fleming, and was the first European settlement in the Grand
Traverse Bay region. In addition to the mission, the settlers founded a school there, and
developed peaceful relations with the native population, consisting of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians, living in and around the harbor.
As word spread of the excellent growing conditions in the area, and roads were
extended northward, white settlers move to the area. In 1853, the Peninsula Township
was formally organized. On May 20, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the
Homestead Act into law. The act, which took effect January 1, 1863, granted 160 acres
of unappropriated public lands to anyone who paid a small filing fee and agreed to work
on the land and improve it, including by building a residence, over a five-year period. In
the spring of 1874, the Indian reserves were opened to homesteaders, bringing more
settlers to the area. With this growth, seven distinct unincorporated communities were
established. Each boasted a one-room schoolhouse and were placed such that no child
had to walk further than a reasonable difference (approximately 1.5 miles) to attend
classes there. (In 1955 a bond was passed to consolidate into one school).
The communities were all rural farming communities, growing a variety of fruits,
predominantly apples. Organizations, such as the Grange and Woman’s Clubs, and the
volunteer fire department, were significant in building a sense of community. Resort
communities also grew, including the Neahtawanta Resort Association (Bowers
Harbor), the Old Mission Beach Resort, and the Illini Cottagers Association.
In 1905, cherries became the fruit of choice. In 1974 the first 35 acres of vines were
planted for growing grapes specifically for wine making. Wineries, cherry and apple
orchards and other agricultural ventures continue to be essential for sustaining and
growing the community. Although the center of commerce has shifted to Traverse City
at the base of the Peninsula, the area continues to be a tourist destination for its
beautiful landscape and farms.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 3
Scope and Content Note
Oral Histories consists of four cassette tapes recorded at Old Mission Historical
Society (OMHS) events held in 1987, and a series of oral histories, recorded OMHS
events, and short histories, all produced by local historian and OMHS member, Ken
Weaver.
Also this collection contains a subset of transcribed women’s oral histories, specific to
the Peninsula that were obtained via the Women’s History Project of Northwest
Michigan (WHPNM), a 501c3 which was begun in Traverse City, Michigan (2000-2019).
It was a membership organization led by a Board of Directors. Its mission was to
preserve and recognize the contributions of women to their families and communities in
northwest lower Michigan. These recollections offer insights into women’s domestic and
professional lives covering much of the 20th century. The complete collection of
oral/written histories resides in the archives at the main branch of the Traverse Area
District Library (TADL).
Periodicals is a scattered collection of periodicals that mention some aspect of Old
Mission Peninsula life and Grand Traverse County. Most of these have been collected
by the Peninsula Community Library staff, and are locally published.
Photographs include a small collection of largely unidentified and undated images.
Published Works include written accounts by Old Mission Peninsula residents about
their lives on the Peninsula. Various authors, dates and subjects are represented.
Remininscences include unpublished written accounts by Old Mission Peninsula
residents about their lives on the Peninsula. Various authors, dates and subjects are
represented.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 4
Container No.
Description
Oral Histories [series]:
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Historic Society”, 18 November 1987
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Sesquicentennial Party”, 26 January 1987
(cassette tape, Note: “Historical Group and Children with
questions”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Library’s Historical Meeting”, 23 April 1987
(cassette tape, Note: “Tape made during one hour session with 25
oldtimers attending”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Lester Buchan reciting poems”, recorded
December 1987 (cassette tape, Note: “Mr. Buchan was 96 years
old”)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Oldtimer’s Night, lecture by Dr. Joanne
Westphal, Michigan State University, Landscape Architecture”,
16 October 1998 (video cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Axel Ostlund, 26 October 1993”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Fred Dohm, 26
September 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Helen Altenburg, 19 November 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Molly Levin, 22 September 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Marty Hyslop and Dr. Elizabeth Potter,
2 September 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer,
”Jim Wilson, 9 August 1994” (cassette tape)
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 5
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Marty Hyslop and
Elizabeth Potter, 29 August 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”Lardie Hess Tape,
Delano Lardie, 1988” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer, ”William Duckwitz on
Neahtawana, 17 October 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Ida Bee, 7 October 1993” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer for Old Mission Historical
Society, ”Oakley Lardie, 2 May 1994” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Old Mission Historical Society, “Bud Kroupa, 3 November 1993”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
“Interview with Maurice DeGraw, 21 September 1994,
at his home 13117 Bluff Rd.,” (cassette tape)
Box 2
Interview by Walter Johnson and Julianne Meyer “Marguerite Swaney
Bartlett, 27 July 1994, at the Bartlett hideaway in Bluff”
(cassette tape)
Box 2
Ken Weaver interviewing Ross Richardson, “The Search for the
Westmoreland” (restricted use, please get Weaver’s permission to
publish) (compact disc)
Box 2
Ken Weaver interviewing Ross Richardson, “Shipwrecks of Sleeping Bear
Point” (restricted use, please get Weaver’s permission to publish)
(compact disc)
Volume 1
Transcribed oral histories from the Women’s History Project of Northwest
Michigan
-
DeVol, Helen: Grand Traverse County, Old Mission cherries
Dodd, Margaret: Grand Traverse County, politician/mayor of TC, from Scotland, teacher, Red Cross worker.
Herkner, Lynda: Old Mission History, Real Estate, Creative Arts.
Hicks, Michele M.: Old Mission Peninsula History, National Forest
Service Volunteer, Traverse City Senior Center.
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 6
-
-
Hyslop, Martie: Grand Traverse County, homemaker, family resort on
Old Mission.
Johnson, Mary: Grand Traverse County, nurse, cherry farm owner,
Peninsula historian, music teacher.
Levin, Molly: Grand Traverse County, rural homemaker, local
historian, and cherry farm wife.
Lyon, Mary: Old Mission Peninsula; Cherry Farmer on Centennial
Farm; Catholic Faith; Volunteer extraordinaire.
McDermott, Dorothy: Old Mission Peninsula History, Crocheting.
Mericle, Rebecca: Grand Traverse County, NMC librarian, Inuit art.
Milliken, Helen: Grand Traverse County, First Lady of Michigan 196983, worked on passage of Equal Rights Amendment and other
women's issues, environmental issues, gardening.
Olson, Sharon: Old Mission Peninsula; Nurse; Veteran.
Solomonson, Violet: Grand Traverse County, telephone operator on
Old Mission for 56 years.
Wunsch, Anna: Grand Traverse County, journalist, teacher,
Peninsula cherry farming.
Periodicals [series]:
Box 1
Newspaper clippings, 2014, 2021
Photographs [series]:
Box 1
Various subjects, undated
Published Works [series]:
Box 1
“A Century of Service: The People and Places on Old Mission Peninsula,”
published by Peninsula Telephone Company, Jack and Vi
Solomonson, 2008 (note: an addendum to the volume is a single
sheet of paper tucked in the front that shows photographs identified
or corrected after the volume was published)
Box 1
Old Traverse City, by Gull Gallery, 1973.
Box 1
“Pilgrims of the Night”, by Frederick William Faber, 1884; previously
owned by (Martha) Belle Reese of Old Mission, illustrated copy of
the poem
Peninsula Community Library
Local History Collections
Peninsula Family History Records, 7
Box 1
“Memories Hidden, Memories Found”, by Julianne Meyer and Walter
Johnson, 1995
Box 1
“Reflections of Yesterday,” by Julianne Meyer, 1988
Box 3
“Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan :
embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions, together with interesting reminiscences”, by Sprague, Elvin L., 1903.
Box 4 “A Doctor’s Memories”, by Victor C. Vaughan, 1926, The Bobbs-Merrill
Company, Indianapolis
Reminiscences [series]:
Box 1
Various authors, dates and subjects, including but not limited to:
-
History of OMP, by Fida Tompkins Myers
Parmalee Family History, by John Marshall
Writings of Williams Holdsworth and his daughter Clementine, by
Julianne Meyer
Margaret (Menauch) Wilson, by Helen Wilson Vogel
John Kroupa, by Lola Zaremba
Marion Island, by Ngnetta Kroupa
Archie, by George McManus
Early development of Cherry Industry, by Lola Zaremba
Early Development of Processing & Marketing, by Lola Zaremba
Notable Women of the Old Mission: A Sampler, by Karen Reiser
Victor Vaughan presentation given to OMPHS, by Tom Dalluge
Box 1
S.E. Wait Memorial souvenir pamphlet, 21 July 1922
Box 1
“Certain Memories of Old Mission, Michigan,” by David Jones, 1984
Box 1
“Old Mission Post Office”, by Helen DeVol, March 1988
Box 1
“Memories Hidden, Memories Found,” by Julianne Meyer and Walter
Johnson, 1995 (Unpublished edition, contains some better copies
of photographs than the photocopied, published edition.
Addendums include corrected copies of Louise N. Pratt’s “History of Old Mission,” Molly Sobkowski’s “History of the Old Mission
Peninsula,” and interviews with Molly Levin and Helen Altenburg.)
Box 1 Holman Family History – Powerpoint presentation of “A 7 Generation Farm Family on Old Mission Peninsula, 1856 – Present”. This information was provided by Georgia and Laurie Holman and was presented on May 20, 2022 at a Peninsula Community Library Local History Talk.
Box 1 Once Upon a Peninsula Coloring Book
Box 5 Pratt Family History
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