Spring 2012 Volume 34 Little House on the Prairie Illustrations Obtained The Library has had the good illustrations neither excited readers fortune to add two original drawings nor proved to be particularly memorable. created by for the In 1947, when Harper and Brothers book, Little House on the Prairie, to decided to reissue the books in a the Francis and Mary Lois Molson revised format, children’s book editor Collection of Original Art Drawn Ursula Nordstrom sought out to Illustrate Children’s Books. These Williams to create new illustrations. wonderful pieces will augment the Williams, who had previously illustrated more than eighty works of art now Stuart Little for Harper (published in found in the collection. 1945), was clearly a rising star. Williams’s Williams, however, was worried. drawings also He lived in and was quite tell an inter- comfortable illustrating the New esting story York setting of Stuart Little, but he about the had never traveled west of the Hudson power of an River and felt he did not have the illustrator’s visual experience needed to illustrate work. When Wilder’s prairie classics. Quite simply, the eight orig- Williams did not know what prairies inal books looked like in a way that made him created in pencil, charcoal, and ink. in the series believe he could draw one for such Wilder was delighted with the were first an important commission. He finally results of Williams’s work. When the published accepted the job with the understanding Harper re-issue appeared in book- between 1932 and 1943, they were he would meet with Wilder to talk stores in the early 1950s, Williams’s illustrated by Helen Sewell. Although about her experiences and also travel simple yet powerful illustrations the books were very popular, Sewell’s extensively in Wilder’s Midwest. became icons of the American pioneer Williams’s original commission was experience. His drawings were of the In this issue ... to create eight Wilder family, but in a broader sense oil paintings they delineated what many pioneer New Exhibit Opened in Library . . 2 for each of the families looked like for children Library Lecture Series Endowed . .3 eight books, everywhere. New Staff Member at or sixty-four This acquisition was made Reference Desk...... 4 pictures in possible through funds provided by all, but cost the Francis and Mary Lois Molson Keeping Up with the Library Endowment, with additional funding via Our Blog ...... 4 considerations eventually led supplied through the Friends of the Acknowledgment of Donors . . 5 Harper to settle Libraries. A Final Word ...... 7 for illustrations  New Exhibit Opened in Library The Library’s newest exhibit, “A Delightful Destination: Little Traverse Bay at the Turn of the Century,” opened to the public at the end of February. This exhibit was curated by CMU History Department member Michael Federspiel. Mr. Federspiel discussed the remarkable transformation that occurred in Little Traverse Bay between 1875 and 1925 at the exhibit opening on February 29. In the 1870s Little Traverse Bay, like much of northern Michigan, was cutover timberland. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad (GR&I), in exchange for hundreds of However the GR&I, as well as per day, twelve per hour, thousands of acres of land, was thousands of individual entrepreneurs, or one every five minutes. rapidly laying track between Grand invented an idea that would take hold All sorts of enterprises were Rapids and Petoskey. The railroad’s and replace farming—“Up North.” launched to accommodate the tourists plan was to make money selling the The land might not be suitable for pouring out of the trains and from land to settlers who would engage agriculture, but it was a tourist’s the ships that arrived as well. By in farming and need the railroad to paradise. The air was clean and crisp. 1897 Petoskey offered visitors more both bring in supplies and take out The beaches were lovely. And soon than 1,300 guest rooms, mainly in harvested crops. However the GR&I the railroad, as well as steamships, seasonal hotels. Both natural and quickly realized this business model began to bring large numbers of artificial “attractions” were marketed was a problem—the land was barren. summer visitors to the area. It did not to tourists. Among the area’s natural The sandy, rocky, cutover timberland take long for vacationers to realize wonders was the Inland Water Route, was of limited agricultural value. The that because of “modern” transportation a 35-mile chain of lakes and rivers railroad’s original plan was not going they could reach this paradise from beginning in Oden and ending at the to work. Chicago, Detroit, or even St. Louis in mouth of the Cheboygan River. By a day or less. 1900 this waterway had more than And tourists thirty boats taking tourists on daily came by the sight-seeing excursions. thousands. In contrast to the natural wonders The first train of the Inland Water Route, the GR&I reached Petoskey invented “Wa-Ya-Ma-Mug.” A in 1873. In tourist destination constructed in 1906, between an unpopulated area along the line’s June 25 and tracks, Wa-Ya-Ma-Mug offered the September 30, usual range of activities, dining, 13,000 trains games, swimming, and so forth, but made stops in with a Native American theme. Petoskey— Tourists could sleep in a teepee, an average watch Native American artisans create of 134 trains handicrafts, and of course purchase these items in the inevitable gift shop. 2 However visitors were most likely to “Up North,” and the tourism come to Wa-Ya-Ma-Mug to see the industry associated with it, was Library Lecture site’s top attraction, the daily invented in Michigan. Michael Series Endowed “Hiawatha” play, which featured a Federspiel, and the exhibit he created, We’d like to share our gratitude Native American cast re-enacting a relates how this transformation to Eunice Sutherland Burgess, version of Longfellow’s epic poem. occurred. “A Delightful Destination” class of 1949, for her recent gift All this tourist activity required will run in the Clarke Library until to establish the David M. and the construction and maintenance the end of May, when, like so many Eunice Sutherland Burgess Library of an amazing infrastructure. others before it, the exhibit will go Endowment, which will significantly For example, in 1900 Detroit had “Up North” to be shown at the Harbor advance the Library’s lecture series. the largest local-transportation Springs History Museum during the During the academic year the infrastructure in the state; however, summer. Library presents four or five second place was held by Petoskey This exhibit was made possible in lectures each semester. The and the other communities near Little part by support from the Cindi J. and lecture series showcases presenters Traverse Bay, where local trains Kathryn R. Graham Endowment. and authors who are authorities visited stations all day and well into on areas in which the Library  the evening at 20- to 30-minute collects material. Subjects include: intervals and small ferries plied the • The history of and bay on regular schedules. informative presentations about Michigan • Authors and illustrators of children’s books or individuals knowledgeable in these fields • Michigan fiction authors or authors who have written works of fiction set in Michigan On occasion, and with additional private support, the Library has also sponsored presentations by nationally prominent authors who have written on historical subjects, such as David McCullough and Richard Norton Smith. The Burgess Endowment’s particular emphasis will be to support authors, scholars, and storytellers who focus on the enduring art of story. The Burgess Endowment is the second endowment to underwrite the Library’s speaker series. It joins the John and Audrey Cumming Endowment, which supports presentations on topics regarding Michigan history and children’s literature. 

www.clarke.cmich.edu 3 New Staff Member at Reference Desk

It was with great sadness that riends regular users of the Library, as well as of the Libraries the staff, bid farewell to Susan Powers, F who had served as reference assistant As a member of the CMU The Libraries provide tech- from 2008 to 2011. Ms. Powers Friends of the Libraries, through nologically advanced resources to successfully applied for a position in your gifts of support, you will receive: support the University’s goals and the University Library, and she is now n invitations to Library- ambitions for ongoing success and the coordinator of its Documents on prominence. Demand Office. We wish her well, sponsored general events and to special Friends Private support enables us to knowing that she will bring the same strengthen collections and services professionalism and attention to events, such as the annual for all and fosters the Libraries’ detail to her new position that she speaker-luncheon, receptions, chief priority, which is to preserve exhibited in dealing with our patrons and presentations the past while at the same time while she was employed in the Clarke. n informative communications embracing and implementing new Bryan Whitledge is our new regarding current Library learning and research technologies reference assistant. Bryan is a recent projects and future goals graduate of the University of Illinois for the future. School of Library and Information n behind-the-scenes Library Please consider making a gift Science. While he was a student at tours and allow us to call you a “Friend” Illinois, he worked extensively within of the CMU Libraries. the university’s special collections and n the satisfaction of supporting A form is located on the back archives unit. We are delighted to the services and collections page of this newsletter for your welcome Bryan to the Clarke Library of the Park Library convenience.  staff.  Keeping Up with the Library via Our Blog To learn more about the Library and its many activities, we hope you will subscribe to the Library’s blog. Updated at least weekly, the blog is a source of information about events sponsored by the Library, new material we have received, and stories too good not to share. We hope you will subscribe. Postings can be delivered to you via RSS feeds or through email subscription. Please take a second to look at the subscription options on the right side of the News and Notes site (www.clarkehistoricallibrary.org). If you already subscribe to the Clarke Historical Library blog, please www.clarkehistoricallibrary.org resubscribe using our new options.  4 ThankDuring calendar You! year 2011 the Library was generously supported by a large number of individuals who donated either material to the Library or enhanced the Library’s work through financial support. We are deeply appreciative of this help, and thank all those listed below. Financial Supporters Kay Marie Allen, Dewitt J. Hudson and Ann Keenan, Mt. Pleasant American Chemical Society, Midland Roy and Joan Klopcic, Mt. Pleasant Catherine L. Angell, Austin, TX Ulana Klymshyn, Mt. Pleasant J. John Archer, Dublin, CA Charles W. Knapp, Traverse City Geoffrey and Hatha Bartlett, Mt. Pleasant Dr. Robert C. Knapp, Oakland, CA Martha Bigelow, Mt. Pleasant Catherine A. Larson, Kalamazoo Valerie and Frank Boles, Mt. Pleasant Bernice Lirones, Flint James and Janet Bruss, Harper Woods John H. Logie, Grand Rapids William T. Bulger, Mt. Pleasant Elizabeth Louise Loll, Bay City Eunice A. Burgess, Mt. Pleasant David and Loretta Lopez, Mt. Pleasant Karen Chapman, Puyallup, WA Dr. Edward T. Marquardt, Mt. Pleasant Virginia S. Chase, Alma Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Meister, Royal Oak Christa Clare, Mt. Pleasant Michigan Business Education Association Susan L. and Robert W. Clarke, Harbor Springs Samantha Minnis, Mt. Pleasant Ann L. Craig, Cass City Clara Lee Moodie, Mt. Pleasant Sandra Bell Croll, Harbor Springs Thomas J. and Gail A. Moore, Mt. Pleasant John and Audrey Cumming, Mt. Pleasant Betsy Susan Morgan, Burr Oak Peter Cummings, Las Vegas, NV Mary Ann Mott, Big Rapids Sally J. Cutler, Imlay City Mt. Pleasant Area Historical Society Jennifer and Dan Digmann, Mt. Pleasant Catherine and Alexander Murray, Mt. Pleasant Janice and David Dressel, East Lansing Randall and Myra Norton, Freeland Marydeana Duckworth, Alma Patricia and Jeffrey Pickler, Mt. Pleasant Tom and Penny Endres, Mt. Pleasant Susan Powers, Mt. Pleasant Claudia A. Eschelbach, Groveport, OH Alan and Arlene Quick, Mt. Pleasant Michael and Mary Federspiel, Midland Joyce and John Riddick, Mt. Pleasant Tanya M. Fox, Coleman Gretchen E. Robert, Holland JS Fry Consulting, Plymouth Jeffrey Ruterbusch, Middleburg, FL James S. Fry, Plymouth Susan Irene Sadenwater, Freeland William J. Gates, Longwood, FL Salem-South Lyon District Library Sidney and Mary Graham, Mt. Pleasant David and Joyce Salisbury, Blanchard John and Carol Grossa, Mt. Pleasant Edward and Barbara Schultz, Clare Kimberly Hagerty, St. Louis Dr. Richard D. and Patricia L. Seiter, Ponte Vedra, FL Mr. & Mrs. Lon Hazelwood, Zephyr Hills, FL Shepherd Area Historical Society

Ed and Ruth Helwig, Mt. Pleasant Martha L. Smith, Mt. Pleasant Laurine Haggert Hook, Golden, CO Betty Lee Snow, Cheboygan‘ Eileen Jennings, Mt. Pleasant Ronald Jon Springsteen 83, Sheridan James Jones, Mt. Pleasant Gilbert and Kay Starks, Mt. Pleasant Christa Kamenetsky, Mt. Pleasant Betty Stephenson, Mt. Pleasant Continued on Page 6

www.clarke.cmich.edu 5 Financial Supporters Michael Federspiel, Midland Continued from Page 5 Patricia J. Fox, Mt. Pleasant Ethel Gallagher, Mt. Pleasant Kathy Swem, Fishers, IN Kim Garber, Mt. Pleasant Dennis J. Thavenet, Mt. Pleasant Kyle Garver, Clare Don and Ruth Volz, Mt. Pleasant Anne Gochenour, Mt. Pleasant Gretchen and John Weatherford, Mt. Pleasant Gordon Graham, Dillon, MT Denise Webster, Mt. Pleasant Patrick Graham, Mt. Pleasant Jack and Mary Lou Westbrook, Mt. Pleasant Dale Greve, St. Charles Virginia Wilbur, Petoskey Amanda Griswold, Holland Linda L. Wilcox, Fennville Pamela Grudzien, Mt. Pleasant Eugene Woodward, Midland James Hansen, Weeki Wachee, FL Material Donors in 2011 Dave Harrell, Ann Arbor Craig Hart, Mt. Pleasant Anne Alton, Mt. Pleasant Ruth Helwig, Mt. Pleasant S. John Archer, Dublin, CA Nicholas and Mary Hevron, Rochester Hills David Balfour, Northville Polly Hoyt, Mt. Pleasant Bob Banta, Mt. Pleasant Charles Hyde, Royal Oak LeRoy Barnett, Grand Ledge Tom Idema, Mt. Pleasant Valerie Boles, Mt. Pleasant Holly Irwin, Indianapolis, IN Jim Bouck, Melbourne, FL Alice Jenicke, Mt. Pleasant Herb and Jan Brinkman, Roscommon Richard Juday, Mt. Pleasant Anna Bristol, Norwalk, OH Mark Keller, Caro Edwin Brown, Staunton, VA Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly, Mt. Pleasant Roy Burlington, Mt. Pleasant Ulana Klymshyn, Mt. Pleasant Richard Burns, Rolling Hills Estates, CA Jerome Kole, Cape Coral, FL Kevin Bruneel, Bangor, ME Robert Kohrman, Mt. Pleasant Christine Byron, Grand Rapids Mary Kral, Dousman, WI Kevin and Elizabeth Campbell, Midland Donna Lauritzen, Jurupa Valley, CA Bill Castanier, Lansing Evelyn Leasher, Blanchard James Challancin, Ishpeming Jill Ley, Mt. Pleasant Virginia Chase, Alma Alice Littlefield, Omena Christa Clare, Mt. Pleasant John H. Logie, Grand Rapids CM Life, Mt. Pleasant Richard Maltby, Midland Sandra B. Croll, Harbor Springs John Marsh, Marshall Karen Coller-Currell, Mayville Marian Matyn, Clare Mary Jo Davis, Mt. Pleasant Kris McKee, Traverse City Marcia Dilling, Midland Jackie Michels, Harrison Wendell Dilling, Midland Gerald Micketti, Traverse City Pamela Dosenberry, Mt. Pleasant Dick Moehl, Mackinaw City Marydeana Duckworth, Alma Philip Moore, Grand Ledge Jeff and Cam Ellis, Mt. Pleasant Tom Moore, Mt. Pleasant Tom Endres, Mt. Pleasant Jacob Myenhuis, Holland Dennis Fay, Levering Donald Nagler, Mt. Pleasant Ruth Felter, Mt. Pleasant Gerald Neight, Oscoda

6 Nottawa Township Government, Isabella County Gary Skory, Midland Bruce Pape, Mt. Pleasant Bill Sowle, Mt. Pleasant James Parker, Whitmore Lake Gil Starks, Mt. Pleasant Amy Pifer, Blanchard Tom Stewart, Mt. Pleasant Andrea Plude, Mt. Pleasant Peg Siciliano, Traverse City Ron Primeau, Mt. Pleasant Ed Surovell, Ann Arbor Eric Brodie-Przkop, Mt. Pleasant Rosemary Thornton, Norfolk, VA William Reader, Mt. Pleasant Dale Topping, Ft. Myers, FL Steven Redder, Mt. Pleasant Clarence Tuma, Mt. Pleasant John Ringleberg, Clare Jack Westbrook, Mt. Pleasant Tom Rohrer, Mt. Pleasant Pat Wilmot, Shepherd M. David Samples, Brooklyn, NY Val Wolters, Mt. Pleasant Carol Sanford, Sanford Jennifer Wood, Marshall David Schock, Grand Haven Sandra Wood, Mt. Pleasant Sharon Scott, Clinton Mary Lou Yardley, Mt. Pleasant Sandra Seaton, Mt. Pleasant Richard Seiter, Ponte Vedra, FL 

A Final Word What Would Be the Consequences and the history of CMU itself. Excellence is obviously something for the University If Your Unit Supporting research is a core objective demonstrated, not proclaimed, but Were Eliminated? in the Clarke Library and in virtually I believe the Clarke’s endeavors have I had the “opportunity” to answer every special collection library repeatedly been excellent. And that this question as part of a recently nationwide. excellence aids CMU in achieving concluded Provost’s review of Special collection libraries not national prominence. One of the academic units, as did every other only foster research but at their best surest indicators of a university’s departmental administrator on campus. they advance the creative process in prominence is the strength of Despite the ominous tone, the many ways. At the Clarke an active its library resources – the intellectual question was truly an opportunity to exhibits program, a regular series of center that holds together the core explain the importance of a special speakers, and support for the schol- curriculum and enables the research collection library on the CMU campus. arly journal, The Michigan Historical and creative activity of both faculty The vision statement adopted by Review, all create opportunities and students. The Library’s excellence CMU’s trustees states that the institution through which creativity is stimulated is a what makes the Clarke important “will be a nationally prominent and advanced. for CMU. university known for integrity, academic Public service is also part of our The consequences for CMU if excellence, research and creative mission. The same programs that the Clarke were eliminated? CMU activity, and public service.” A special stimulate creativity, exhibits, speakers, would be a very different school and collections library is integral to this and the journal, also serve a broader the vision statement of the trustees vision. public good. Each component is a would be at least diminished and Research, creative activity, public way through which the public directly perhaps become simply empty rhetoric. service, and excellence are enabled by benefits from the existence of the It’s really that simple. a special collection library. The Clarke Library. collections found in the Clarke Library Finally there is the matter of Frank Boles are fundamental in supporting deep excellence, and how the Clarke Library  and thoughtful research on state and is linked to the University’s goal of regional history, children’s literature, achieving national prominence. www.clarke.cmich.edu 7 The CMU Friends of the Libraries Effective March 1, 2011, the minimum annual is a membership organization that donation to become a member of the Friends of riends supports, through financial and other the Libraries will be a single gift of $75.00. F of the Libraries gifts, the programs of the Charles V. Park Library, home to the University Library, the Clarke Historical Library, and Off- _____$75-149 Fellow Campus Library Services. _____$150-249 Benefactor Clarke Library Board of Governors _____$250-499 Heritage Friend Donor recognition on a chair John H. Logie, chairman (2010-2014) Frank Boles (library director, ex officio) _____$500-999 Legacy Friend Norman E. Clarke, III (family representative) Donor recognition on a table Susan Clarke (2007-2011) Sandra B. Croll (2008-2012) _____$1,000 Visionary Circle Michael R. Federspiel (2009-2013) Donor recognition on a study carrel, computer Mitchell Hall (chair, dept. of history, ex officio) carrel, open book stack, or room Thomas Moore (dean of libraries, ex officio) George Ross (president, CMU, ex officio) Apply my contribution to: (check one only) Kenneth Winter (2011-2015) _____ Clarke Historical Library Ormond S. Danford, emeritus member  _____ University Library Clarke Library Staff (Off- Campus Library Services is supported through the University Library) Frank Boles, director Christa Clare, administrative & acquisitions specialist _____ Use my gift where most needed in either the John Fierst, reference librarian University Library or the Clarke Historical Tanya Fox, catalog database specialist Library Kim Hagerty, microform services specialist Marian Matyn, archivist _____ This is a joint gift. Please also credit: Pat Thelen, scanning specialist Bryan Whitledge, reference assistant ______ Newsletter Staff Name______Frank Boles, editor Mary Ward Graham, copyeditor Address______Amy L. Motz, layout & design  ______Published by the Clarke Library Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859 City______phone (989) 774-3352; fax (989) 774-2160 email: [email protected]; Internet: www.clarke.cmich.edu State & Zip______Central Michigan University, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community (see www.cmich.edu/aaeo.html). Printed by CMU Printing Services

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE P A I D Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 Permit No. 93 Clarke Historical Library Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED