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A collection of historical booklets on the history African Americans in Battle Creek and Calhoun County, Michigan, compiled by historian Frank R. Brown. Subjects include African-American churches, education, sororities, fraternities, and social clubs, minority-owned businesses, women’s sports, and the arts. Also includes histories of Battle Creek chapters of the NAACP and the Urban League Guild.

The Frank R. Brown papers consist of histories on a range of topics related to African American cultural, civic, and commercial life in and around Battle Creek, Michigan. The materials were compiled by Frank R. Brown, some with the help of members of the Black Heritage Committee, based at Mt. Zion AME Church. The histories include brief narratives written by Brown; photocopies of clippings, newsletters, and other documents; photographs; and occasional letters to Brown and others. Subjects include general histories of African Americans in Battle Creek, churches, education, social clubs, sports, the arts, minority-owned businesses, the Battle Creek branch of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, and the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Sojourner Truth's birth. The church histories document the Fourth Episcopal District of the AME Church, the AME Church in Marshall Michigan, and a number of African-American churches in Battle Creek. Also included are histories of the Battle Creek chapter of the NAACP, the Southwestern Michigan Urban League Guild, and several Urban League programs, newsletters, and pamphlets. The histories have been arranged into three series: Black Heritage Committee Histories; "Old World Background, New World Experiences" Histories; and Miscellaneous Histories and Related Items.

Interracial, non-profit, non-partisan community service organization in Battle Creek, Michigan (formerly Battle Creek Area Urban League) founded in 1966 and affiliated with the National Urban League. Series include: History, Administration, Correspondence, Reports, Meetings, Programs, Community Memberships, Public Relations, Events, Battle Creek Area Urban League Guild, and Visual, Audio, and Digital Materials.

The records of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League span the years 1962-2007. The League's mission of providing and administering services for minorities and the disadvantaged, as well as internal operations, are reflected in the records, which consist mainly of administrative and program materials, correspondence, minutes, reports and proposals. While the years represented incorporate tenures of numerous executive directors, the records most fully document leadership provided by Benjamin Richmond (1982-1987) and Joyce Brown (1988-1992).

The Southwestern Michigan Urban League Records are relevant to the study of the administration of African American social service organizations, especially Urban Leagues, within the context of particular communities. The collection is strong in illuminating the effectiveness of collaboration -- civic, business and educational groups addressing interrelated community issues. Both Richmond and Brown maintained high profiles on numerous boards and committees working in Battle Creek to solve social problems and promote economic development.