HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS MISSIONThe mission of the Michigan State Grange Historical Collection Committee is to collect, preserve and display, and otherwise disseminate knowledge, about those artifacts and manuscripts of historical significance which best represent the development and growth of the Michigan State Grange.
Dormant Grange records previously held at the Michigan State Grange headquarters have been catalogued and placed at the Michigan State University Library Archives and the University of Michigan Bentley Library for preservation. Records are available to those doing educational research, genealogy, and to interested Grange members. We continue our relationship with leaders at both universities.
Grange memorabilia and artifacts have also been placed with the Michigan State University Museum and the Michigan History Museum at the Michigan History Center.
Grange memorabilia and artifacts have also been placed with the Michigan State University Museum and the Michigan History Museum at the Michigan History Center.
We have recorded many Subordinate Grange histories and we continue to record others as we find them. If you write a history of your Grange for an anniversary or any other occasion, send us a copy to be included in your historical records.
Several hundred Grange Hall pictures have been identified, printed and location listed. We welcome the receipt of any Grange Hall pictures plus information regarding location.
The Past Masters notebooks in another project. The burial place of each deceased Past Master has been located, and pictures taken of the gravestones, including cemetery location. Historical information is included in the notebook about each Past Master.
When the State Grange Office closed, many pictures that were there were sent to the Bentley Library in Ann Arbor. Before they were sent, copies were made of many of them and they have been placed in plastic pages in notebooks. Naming people in the pictures and adding dates and locations is still needed for many of them. If you have a special picture from your Grange that you would like to have included in one of these books, send me a copy by mail or e-mail and I will see that it is included.
A digital database has been created, sorted by county that includes Grange Hall photos, as well as histories and other documents. It is planned to make this available to Michigan State University and University of Michigan.
A digital database has been created, sorted by county that includes Grange Hall photos, as well as histories and other documents. It is planned to make this available to Michigan State University and University of Michigan.
Any questions? Complete the form at the bottom of this page.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 GRANGE NEWS
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT
As I returned to better health this year, I worked on replying to e-mails and questions that come through the Michigan State Grange website and to the Michigan State Grange office regarding historical information. Jackie Bishop, daughter, helped respond to some of these e-mails. If we could find answers to their questions, we e-mailed the information found back to them. We also responded if we did not know the answers to their questions or do not have saved historical information. There seems to be increased interest in Grange materials – we averaged close to one inquiry per month this past year.
Jackie used information from the historical databases I have created for four Sesquicentennial
projects: 1) Powerpoint presentation of Michigan State Grange history at the Sesquicentennial Gala, 2)
History of the Michigan State Grange, with references to additional resources, 3) a map showing the
number of Granges in each county, and 4) application to the Historical Society of Michigan resulting
in a plaque honoring Michigan State Grange sesquicentennial.
I still spend some time sorting material and deciding what is the most important to save from material that comes to me during the year. More material as it is found will be sent to the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor where a lot of our historic records are preserved, and also to the Archives/Library at Michigan State University. Both places are glad to receive the material. This year, I delivered to Bentley Library several boxes of records the day of the Sesquicentennial Gala. Although not yet scheduled, the head of the Bentley Library wishes to view my museum materials and consider more ways that we can provide them material. Some material is still stored in my basement.
I welcome everyone to this Annual Session of the Michigan State Grange if I can be of any help to you, or answer any questions feel free to ask. I check my e-mails regularly, so this is the best form of communication.
I welcome everyone to this Annual Session of the Michigan State Grange if I can be of any help to you, or answer any questions feel free to ask. I check my e-mails regularly, so this is the best form of communication.
HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT