The Benjamin F. Graves papers consist of family correspondence concerning life in Battle Creek, Michigan, student life of H. B. Graves at the University of Michigan, 1879-1882, Kansas land speculation, 1883-1885, the Spanish-American War and legal affairs; personal journals and circuit court and Michigan Supreme Court record books of B. F. Graves; and correspondence of Henry B. Graves and Ann Lapham Graves. The collection has been arranged by name of individual family member: Benjamin F. Graves; Lapham family; Henry B. Graves; and Miscellaneous.
The correspondence of Benjamin F. Graves includes letters from Henry B. Brown, December 26, 1890; Julius C. Burrows, March 17, 1869; James V. Campbell, 1858-1883; Isaac P. Christiancy, June 1868, November and December 1862, February 1873, August 1877; Thomas M. Cooley (throughout); Donald M. Dickinson, undated and December 1883; Alpheus Felch, December 1894; and John W. Longyear, April 1864 and March 1865.
Benjamin F. Graves was born in Rochester, New York on October 18, 1817. In 1837, he commenced the study of law and in 1841 he was admitted to the New York Bar. In 1843, he moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he practiced law. In 1857, he was appointed judge of the fifth circuit to fill a vacancy (and also serving for a short time as a member of the Supreme Court under the old system). When his term as appointed judge expired, Graves won election to continue as circuit court judge. He resigned in 1866 because of illness, but in 1867, he won election as Justice of the Supreme Court. He was reelected in 1875 then stepped down in 1884 at the completion of his term
Ann Lapham Graves was a Battle Creek, Michigan educator and civic leader.
Henry B. Graves, the son of Benjamin F. Graves and Ann Lapham Graves, attended the University of Michigan, 1878-1882, later becoming a Detroit attorney.
