The McDonald papers contain personal and business papers collected by James Henry McDonald and by his wife Christine Jewell McDonald. The collection includes correspondence, ledgers, genealogical material and family histories, business records and photographs. Topics and activities documented in the collection include James McDonald's education at the University of Michigan and law practice in Detroit; genealogy of the McDonald, Hallock, McLellan and Jewell families; business papers of William Jewell, including some relating to his founding of the Detroit Business University in 1864; correspondence of Emma Jewell's life as a Christian Scientist; Ogden Jewell's experience as a University of Michigan Student and his enlistment in the Spanish-American War; and correspondence of Christie Jewell concerning her activities in the Democratic party, including a term a vice-chair of the state Democratic Party Central Committee in 1937-1938.
The collection contains five series: McDonald Family, the Martha Wells McLellan Family, Christine Jewell Family, Miscellaneous Files, and Photographs.
The McDonald / McLellan / Jewell family collection relates primarily to the activities of James Henry McDonald, his second wife Martha Wells McLellan and her family, and his third wife Christine Jewell and her family.
James Henry McDonald (1853-1934) was a Detroit lawyer. He was educated at the University of Michigan, receiving his B.A. from the Department of Literature, Science & the Arts in 1876 and his LL.B. from the Law Department in 1878. Throughout his life, he remained involved with University events and helping to coordinate his class reunions.
James McDonald was married three times. His first wife, Martha Ireton, died suddenly in 1889. They had one daughter together, Martha Ireton McDonald. James later married Martha Wells McLellan. Together they had three daughters, Mary McLellan McDonald (Harris), Elizabeth Ann McDonald (Smith), and Margaret McDonald (Parr). Martha McLellan passed away in 1900 leaving extensive land holdings in Detroit, particularly along Cass Avenue and Woodward Avenue. The distribution of these lands among the children became a long-standing debate in the family.
Christine Jewell became James's third wife. Christine was an active Democrat and increasingly became involved with politics. She worked her way through the party to the position of vice chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1937. She spent a large portion of time in Washington, D.C. and became well known among political figures. She was also heavily involved in the Daughters of the American Revolution and held various positions within the organization. She was also an avid genealogist, compiling histories and collecting materials about the Jewell family, the McDonalds, and the families of McDonald's other wives.
Christine's father was William Franklin Jewell, a successful Detroit businessman. After working in other faculty positions around the city, he founded the Detroit Business University in 1864. As president, he became a highly esteemed professional. He was involved with many Detroit activities including the Banker's Club, the Municipal League of Detroit, and was a member of the Church of Our Father, Universalist.
James McDonald retired in 1928. He and Christine moved to their country estate, Glencoe Hills, in Ypsilanti. He passed away in 1934.
