Charles A. Sink Papers, 1900-1996
21 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 2.22 GB
21 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 2.22 GB
4 linear feet
Records in this collection document Dan DeGrow's tenure in the Michigan legislature, spanning from 1981 to 2002. The collection consists of four series of hardbound volumes: Press Releases, Columns, Press Clips, and Miscellaneous.
19.75 linear feet (in 20 boxes) — 1 oversize folder
The Brater collection consists of eight series: Environment and Natural Resources, Mental Health, Judiciary, Other Policy Files, Legislative Files, Subject Files, News Clippings, and Other Office Files. The collection's strength lies in its documentation of Brater's activities in the areas of environmental issues and mental illness treatment programs as a member of the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives.
1.75 linear feet
The George C. Steeh papers are divided into five series: Biographical / Personal; Legislative / Political Files; Constituent Correspondence; Other Activities and Macomb County Circuit Court.
5 linear feet
The George Wahr Sallade papers, although limited in quantity (five linear feet), are of interest to the researcher of Michigan politics in the post-World War II era. They can be used to gather information on the "Young Turks," a group that in the 1950s foreshadowed the more moderate nature of the Michigan Republican party of the 1960s and 1970s. They provide insight into issues that were of concern to the Washtenaw County and Second Congressional District Democratic parties - including Vietnam, race, party reform, and the economy - in the troubled years of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The ideological positions of the two local parties, relative to the state party as a whole, can be determined by comparing the resolutions they passed with those of the state party and its platform. Finally Sallade's campaign files can be used to determine the issues of concern to the local electorate in the years in which he ran for public office. His 1968-1972 campaigns are fairly well documented from an issue standpoint (particularly his 1972 race for county prosecutor), and, therefore, can be used to determine whether and to what extent national events affected the conduct of state and county races. Sallade's papers should be supplemented by use of the Detroit News - Lansing Bureau index; the papers of Governor G. Mennen Williams; and those of the state central committees of the Michigan Democratic and Republican parties. All of these are at the Michigan Historical Collections. The Collections also has a complete run of both Good Morning Michigan and "Michigan Around and About."
The Sallade papers have been arranged in three series: Personal; Political: and Photographs.
435 linear feet — 1 oversize folder — 1.25 GB (online)
The John Engler papers are the most important source available for the study of Michigan's state government from 1991 to 2002. The collection is particularly strong on the topics of welfare and school funding reform, state government reorganization and the rising impact of the National Governors' Association in state and national politics. Engler's efforts to attract commerce to Michigan are also well-documented. The materials are arranged into two main subgroups: Pre-gubernatorial Papers and Gubernatorial Papers. The bulk of the material relates to Engler's gubernatorial career, therefore, the analysis that follows focuses primarily on this subgroup.
The materials in the "Gubernatorial Papers" subgroup are arranged according to the offices and subdivisions of the governor's office that created them. This means that the governor's speeches and press releases, for example, may be found within a grouping or "series" called "Communications Division," within the "Gubernatorial" subgroup, while legislative histories for various public acts may be found within the "Legislative Affairs" series.
While some kinds of documents were produced uniquely by one division, other kinds were produced in several divisions of the governor's office. The governor's correspondence, for example, was drafted and approved by several different staff members. Letters to important business and political leaders may be found within the "Executive Office" series, the "State Government Affairs" series, and the "Washington DC Office" series in particular. There no comprehensive chronological correspondence file.
In using the collection, the researcher should think functionally and ask who would have created the information sought. For example, the policy advisors in the State Government Affairs Division created individual topical files which gathered together correspondence and research materials to support briefing memoranda which they presented to the governor, while the speechwriters in the Communications Division often gathered different types of materials to help them shape the presentation of the same policies to the public.
1 linear foot — 1 oversize folder
This collection primarily focuses on Berman's political career during her tenure with the Michigan House of Representatives from 1982 to 1996. Biographical materials include an audio interview of Berman discussing her experience as a delegate to the 1976 Democratic National Convention, materials pertaining to her book The Only Boobs in the House Are Men: A Veteran Woman Legislator Lifts the Lid on Politics Macho Style, photographs, and numerous articles highlighting her career, as well as women in politics.
The collection also includes correspondence, publications, reports, speeches, and other materials primarily focusing on civil rights, education reform, election law, fiscal concerns, and women's health and reproductive rights. Of particular note are materials pertaining to the death penalty and assisted suicide; the performance, curriculum, and operation of charter schools; legislative redistricting; voter registration and campaign finance reform; financial mismanagement at the House Fiscal Agency; the Balanced Budget Amendment; and issues surrounding women's health and reproductive rights including the legalization of abortion and related issues surrounding informed and parental consent.
Other materials in the collection touch upon issues surrounding informed consent for breast cancer treatment options, the accreditation of mammography facilities in Michigan, flag burning, and family values, including materials focusing on the Michigan Department of Social Service's (DSS) attempt to reunite incest victims with their offenders.
12 linear feet
The Paul C. Hillegonds collection concerns the political and legislative career of Paul Hillegonds, a long-term member of the Michigan House of Representatives from western Michigan. The collection documents Hillegonds' campaigns for office and his activities within the state Republican Party as well as his duties within the legislature and his interest in certain key pieces of legislation.
67 linear feet
The Perry Bullard papers document his twenty year career in the Michigan House of Representatives, especially as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The collection includes both Bullard files and files maintained by members of his staff. The files document the passage of acts (or failure of bills) through correspondence, staff memoranda, communications from constituents and lobbying groups, and all manner of background and printed material. The series in the collection are Correspondence; Legislative Files; House Judiciary Committee files; Topical Files; Political and Campaign materials; Publicity, Speeches, Clippings; and Personal Materials.