Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Chronological File represents the basic records of the collection. Arranged by academic year, it consists primarily of printed concert programs, newspaper clippings and other publicity material, occasional financial records (generally summary statements of club finances for an academic year), details regarding tours (particularly the annual spring tour), and minutes. Many posters were included in the Chronological File. Unfolded posters have been housed separately in an oversized folder. This series contains four individual documents of particular note. A fifteen page club history written by John Payne is found in 1958-1959. Narrative logs of the club's international trips in 1955, 1959 and 1967 were maintained and are filed in the appropriate years. Chronological File materials from 1886-1969 have been scanned and these digital versions may be found in the Bentley Library's digital repository.

The 2012 additions to the Chronological Files series include digitized images of content in the first two boxes of the series, spanning the years 1886-1969. Glee Club members scanned this content as part of an organizational project in 2011. Digital versions of Laudes, the official newsletter of the Men's Glee Club, were also part of the addition. These newsletters were published biannually and span the years 2000-2011 (with the Fall 2009 issue missing from the accession). Both the original and digital copies have been retained.[BHL deposit ID: 87250_0002]

The Chronological Files series consists of duplicate carbons of all of Staebler's outgoing correspondence. This chronological file dates from September 1949 through 1970.

The Chronological Files cover the years 1968-1985 and contain such materials as correspondence, memos, reports, application forms and meeting minutes. The files do include some materials from the parent committee, the R.P.C., as well as from related committees such as the Radioactive Drug Research Committee. These files then serve as reference files for the Subcommittee as well as the official record of internal activity. The researcher should note that the Chronological files contain kinds of materials, like application forms and minutes, which are also found in other series.

The Chronological (1969-1997) series contains correspondence, memos, event publicity, legal and financial documents, and clippings concerning LASED

The bulk of the Smith collection - the Chronological Series - has been arranged first by years, and then alphabetically within the year, so that except for the earlier years when groups of materials have been brought together, an alphabetical series exists for each year from 1943 to 1976. The amount of material for each year varies depending upon Smith's activities, but usually averages 3 to 4 linear feet. Inexplicably, the files for 1966 and 1967 are fragmentary, and may have been destroyed or mislaid. This series includes all types of materials, but consists primarily of correspondence. The file headings used are the names of individuals with whom Smith corresponded, organizations and issues in which he was interested, and places where Smith and his organization held meetings. There is also a miscellaneous folder for each letter of the alphabet.

The subjects covered in the Chronological Series reflect Smith's own interests and activities. In general terms, the files concern the relationship between Smith and his ideological supporters, between Smith and his staff, attorneys, and those responsible for meeting arrangements and for the publication and distribution of the Cross and the Flag and other newsletters. Of special note are exchanges of letters between Smith and the many individuals who held contrary views.

The Chronological Series is particularly valuable for information that it provides about the informal network and linkages among conservative organizations and individuals. Smith corresponded widely, and he and his staff collected material on the work of other conservatives, abroad as well as in the United States. Some of these individuals became closely associated with Smith and his work, speaking at his rallies or writing for the Cross and the Flag. Others started out with the Smith organization, then split off for ideological reasons or personal differences with Smith. Because Smith was a national figure, his files document conservative and anti-Zionist causes in many regions of the country and over a fairly broad period of time, 1940-1976. Correspondents and organizations represented in the collection include: George W. Armstrong (head of the Judge Armstrong Foundation for the furtherance of a unified anti-Semitic movement), John O. Beaty (university teacher and author of The Iron Curtain over America), Mrs. Catherine Brown (head of the National Blue Star Mothers of America), Elizabeth Dilling (anti-Communist crusader and director of the Patriotic Research Bureau), Myron C. Fagan (national director of the anti-Communist, Cinema Educational Guild), Kenneth Goff (pastor and head of various anti-Communist organizations in Colorado), Norman Jaques (Canadian M.P. and supporter of Smith and his work), Frederick Kister (director of the Christian Veterans of America), Conde McGinley (editor of anti-Communist newspaper, Common Sense), Leland Marion (pastor, and candidate for governor of Michigan in 1944 on the America First ticket), Jonathan E. Perkins (Los Angeles pastor and supporter of Smith), Harvey H. Springer (Colorado pastor and editor of Western Voice), Jack B. Tenney (California state senator and candidate for vice-president on the Christian National Party ticket in 1952), Rev. A. W. Terminiello ("Father Coughlin of the South," secretary of the Union of Christian Crusaders), Gerald P. Winrod (prominent pastor and publisher of Christian, anti Communist journal, The Defender).

In addition, the Smith correspondence files contain letters from significant individuals who had no direct ties to Smith buy were responding to queries from Smith, or who were seeking Smith's advice. Smith sometimes initiated correspondence with individuals, either to castigate or compliment them, or just to spread his own views more broadly. Such correspondence is usually not extensive, but the letters are always of interest. Such correspondents include: H.L. Mencken, William F. Buckley, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Robert Welch, George Lincoln Rockwell, Westbrook Pegler, George Sokolsky, Arthur Vandenberg, and Ernest Liebold (secretary to Henry Ford).

The Chronological series (2 linear feet; 1963-1972) consists of copies of memoranda sent to Romney (first as governor, then as cabinet secretary) and letters received and responses sent. This latter type of document includes those letters that Applegate wrote but that went out under Romney's name and copies of letters that Applegate received for his information.

The Chronological Files consist of folders arranged by year from 1929 to 2017. Materials found in these folders may contain founding documents, by-laws, correspondence, project files, board meeting agendas and minutes, financial statements, and conference files for the Owosso area, Zonta District, and the Zonta International Conference files.

The Chronological Files series (7.4 linear feet) is comprised primarily of meeting minutes, correspondence, announcements of upcoming events, and newspaper clippings which document the history of the organization, its activities, and socio-political concerns, from 1966-2010. Also included in this series is the organization's Constitution and By-Laws.

The Chronological series emphasizes Maddy and the Camp until 1966. It is divided into several subseries: Maddy biography, Camp history, Camp files, 1935-1945, Camp files, 1945-1966, and Special correspondence. The first two subseries provide documentation for the earliest years. The series is supplemented by the Subject series which is especially useful for Camp operations and the founding of the Academy.