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New York attorney and business executive. Papers relating to the publication of his book, Michigan and the Cleveland Era; correspondence concerning University of Michigan alumni affairs and his interest in the Michigan Historical Collections; legal materials and memorabilia concerning work as general counsel of the National Biscuit Company, and as president of the American Sugar Refining Company.

The Earl D. Babst collection consists of twenty-three linear feet of papers received from Mr. Babst, and after his death, from members of his family, mainly Mrs. George P. Bent 2d. Covering the period 1899-1967, the collection is evenly divided between Babst's University of Michigan activities and his business and legal interests. The series in the collection are: Michigan and the Cleveland Era; University of Michigan activities and alumni affairs; Other activities and interests; American Sugar Refining Company; National Biscuit Company; and Miscellaneous.

The University of Michigan portion of the collection relates primarily to the research for, distribution of, and acknowledgment of the Michigan and the Cleveland Era book, Babst's participation in University of Michigan alumni activities, notably as member of the Senior Advisory Council of the University Club of New York, and his commitment to and generous support of the work of the Michigan Historical Collections.

The portion of the collection relating to Babst's business and legal interests consists of memorabilia and legal documentation accruing as a result of his work with the National Biscuit Company and the American Sugar Refining Company. Also of interest are volumes compiled by Babst relating to a U.S. Senate investigation of sugar shortages in the United States in 1918.

Grand Rapids, Michigan family, involved in furniture making and other businesses, also active in local state and Republican Party politics and businessmen's associations. Papers include family papers and correspondence, business records, scrapbooks and visual materials.

The Sligh family collection consists of the personal and business papers of the four generations of Slighs mentioned in the biographical introduction: James W. Sligh, Charles R. Sligh, Charles R. Sligh, Jr., and Robert L. Sligh. Although there is some overlap, the files have been arranged into seven series, one for each of these three Slighs, one for the Sligh Furniture Company and related family businesses, and one each for Newspaper clippings and Scrapbooks, and Visual Materials.