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MICHIGAN H iARW^ CQM^flSSlON-/' '

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MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COMMISSION
A State Department of History and Archives
BULLETIN NO. 2
Suggestions for Local Historical Societies
and Writers in Michigan

PREPARED BY
GEORGE NEWMAN FULLER, Ph. D.
SECRETARY

WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO.. STATE PRINTERS
LANSING, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER, 1913

MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris ex officio
Clarence M. Burton, President Detroit
William L. Jenks, Vice President - Port Huron
^T. Rev. Monsignor O'Brien Kalamazoo
Edwin 0. Wood Flint
Lawton T. Hemans Mason
Claude H. Van Tyne, Ph. D. Ann Arbor
secretary
George Newman Fuller, Ph. D.

curator
Mrs. M. B. Ferrey

PREFACE
This bulletin aims to meet the request frequently
received at the office of the Commission to furnish
suggestions for the organization and work of the local
pioneer and historical societies.
It is no doubt true that the highest usefulness of
the local societies can be attained by working together
under the direction of the Commission, and to this
end some degree of uniformity in organization and
activities would be helpful. Attention is specially
invited to those points in the suggested constitution
and by-laws which bear upon relations between the
societies and the Commission. For instance, one of
the most helpful sources of information for the so
cieties is their mutual needs and experiences in dis
covering, collecting and preserving historical materials ;
this knowledge the Commission would gladly convey
to each society in its bulletins, but of course it can do
so only if it is kept duly informed. Questions about
means of securing the best results in particular local
fields will receive individual attention.
There is little need to suggest that a constitution
does not insure life in a society. The vitality of any
organization depends upon the intelligent interest and
work of its members. A half-dozen well-informed
and enthusiastic workers would be a fair substitute

8 preface
for the best constitution, and there are doubtless to be
found in every community of Michigan many more
than a half-dozen persons who are intelligently in
terested in collecting and preserving the records of
the common life.
To further aid these workers the Commission will
be glad to send its representatives, as occasions arise
to visit them and get into personal touch with the
officers and members of their societies. In the upper
peninsula Mr. A. L. Sawyer of Menominee is in special
charge of this work and organizers and officers of
societies there should correspond directly with him.
In the lower peninsula correspondence should be
directed to the Secretary of the Historical Commission,
who is also Secretary of the Pioneer and Historical
Society, and arrangements will , be made for a con
ference either with the Secretary or with the Curator
of the Museum, Mrs. M. B. Ferrey.

SUGGESTIONS FOR A CONSTITUTION'

Constitution of the 
County Historical Society
ARTICLE I
NAME
We, the undersigned persons, interested in the history
of  County, by these articles as
sociate ourselves under the name of The 
County Historical Society. ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1. Any person who is interested in the history
of this county and of the State of Michigan may be
come an associate and active member of this society
on payment of an entrance fee of fifty cents.
Sec. 2. Active membership may be retained after
the first year by the payment of fifty cents annual
dues. Sec. 3. Honorary or life membership, as a recog
nition of eminent service rendered to the society, may
I. The first draft of this constitution was prepared by Mr. A.
L. Sawyer of Menominee.

10 suggestions for a constitution
be conferred upon any of the society's members by a
vote of two-thirds of the members present at any
regular meeting, due notice having been given of the
intended action. ARTICLE III
purpose
The purpose of this society is to aid in the discovery,
collection and preservation of every variety of material
illustrative of the history of this county and of Mich
igan: such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda,
pioneer reminiscences, newspapers, account books,
school and church registers, commemorative addresses,
genealogies and biographies, photographs, pictures and
paintings, aboriginal relics, material objects illus
trating the life of pioneers, maps, histories and records
of the county and of its cities, towns, villages and
institutions. ARTICLE IV
depository
The depository of this society for all of its col
lections shall in the beginning be in the city (or village)
of  , but may be changed by
a majority vote of the members.
ARTICLE V
meetings
Sec. 1. The annual meeting of this society shall be

suggestions for a constitution U
held at  on the 
day of  in each year, at
 o'clock,  M.
Sec. 2. In case of failure to hold the meeting at
such time the same may be held at any time at such
place on ten days' notice, to be given by the president,
secretary, or by any five members of the society.
Sec. 3. Such notice may be given by publishing
the same in any newspaper printed and circulated in
this county at least ten days before such meeting, or
by sending a copy thereof by mail to each member of
the society to his post office address as the same shall
appear upon the records of the society.
Sec. 4. Special meetings may convene at any time
for any purpose upon notice given in like manner.
Sec. 5. A quorum for the transaction of business
at an annual or special meeting shall consist of at least
one-fifth of the enrolled active membership for the
year current.
Sec. 6. A majority vote of all present and voting
on any question shall control.
Sec. 7. Notice of all meetings of the societj'^ shall
be mailed to the Secretary of the Michigan Historical
Commission at the same time notice of such meeting
is given to the members of the society.
ARTICLE VI
officers
Sec. 1. The officers of the society shall be a Presi-

12 suggestions for a constitution
dent, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and His
torian. Sec. 2. These officers shall be elected at the annual
meeting each year, or in case of failure so to elect then
at any other regular meeting.
Sec. 3. All officers shall hold office for the period
of one year or for the remainder of the period of one
year from the date fixed for the annual meeting of the
year, and until their successors shall have been elected
and shall have duly qualified.
Sec. 4. The five officers so elected shall constitute
a Board of Directors who shall, as such Board, manage
the business of the society, subject to such regulations
and restrictions as may from time to time be pre
scribed or imposed by the society at any regular
meeting of its members.
Sec. 5. At each annual meeting the society shall
elect a Corresponding Secretary for each township of
the county, whose duty it shall be to report to the
Secretary such matters as may be of use to the society.
ARTICLE VII
duties
Sec. 1. The duties of the President, Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer, shall correspond to those
usually imposed upon such officers in societies of like
nature, and special duties may be imposed upon any
of them by the society or the Board of Directors.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Historian to take
proper care of all collections of the society, to aid and

suggestions for a constitution 13
counsel with historical writers among the members of
the society, to foster the historical spirit in the mem
bership at large, and to make frequent reports thereof,
and of the needs of the society, to the Secretary of
the Michigan Historical Commission.
ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 1. The regular meetings of the Board of Di
rectors shall be held on the first 
in January, April, July and October of each year, and
at such other times as may be provided in the by-laws.
Sec. 2. Special meetings of the Board may be held
at any time on three days' written notice by mail to
each Director, which notice may be given by either
the President or Secretary.
Sec. 3. At any meeting of the Board three members
shall constitute a quorum, but it shall require the
support of a majority of the full Board to carry a
motion or adopt a resolution.
Sec. 4. The President of the society shall act as
chairman of the Board and the Board shall convene at
his call. ARTICLE TX
DISPOSITION OF COLLECTIONS
Sec. 1. Upon the acquisition by the society of any
document or article of historical value, its disposition,
subject to any restriction placed thereon by its donor

14 SUGGESTIONS FOR A CONSTITUTION
or donors, shall be under the direction of the Board of
Directors. Sec. 2. In case any such document or article be not
preserved in the locality of the society, then the same
shall be tendered to the State of Michigan through
the Michigan Historical Commission, to be placed in
care of said Commission.
Sec. 3. In consideration of assistance proffered by
the Michigan Historical Commission in the prosecu
tion of the work of this society, and because of the
society's interest in the work of the Commission, it is
hereby provided that in case the society fails in three
consecutive years to have a quorum at its annual
meeting, which shall be interpreted as the cessation of
an effective working organization, then all articles and
things belonging to it shall become the property of the
State of Michigan, and, subject to the approval and
acceptance of the Michigan Historical Commission,
shall pass to the State and be in charge of said Com
mission. ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by a majority
vote of the members present at any annual meeting
or at a special meeting called for that purpose, notice
of such intended action having been given in each case
in writing to each member at least thirty days before
such meeting.

SUGGESTIONS FOR A CONSTITUTION 15
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF we have hereunto
set our hands and respective post office addresses on
the date set opposite our respective names.
NAME ADDRESS DATE

etc.

SUGGESTIONS FOR BY-LAWS

By-laws of the  County
Historical Society.
I
MEMBERSHIP
Editors of newspapers who give the society the ser
vice of their papers to record notices and reports of
meetings may, at the discretion of the society, be made
life members in the same manner as provided in the
constitution. On payment of $15, or on receipt of
papers or articles valued by the society at $15,
any person may become a life member of the society.
II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall represent and act for
the society during the interim between meetings of
the society, but any action of the Board may be re
scinded at any annual or special meeting of the society.
No indebtedness shall be incurred by the Board

SUGGESTIONS FOR BY-LAWS 17
greater than can be met by the unappropriated moneys
at the time in the hands of the Treasurer except by
specific authority of the society. Ill
TREASURER
The Treasurer shall disburse no funds of the society
except by order of the society or the Board of
Directors, and shall make to the society at its annual
meeting an itemized report of all moneys received and
disbursed during the year current. No bills shall be
paid by the Treasurer which are not signed by the
President of the society. IV
CURATOR
A Curator may be appointed by the society to
arrange, catalogue, and preserve the collections of the
society in accord with rules which the society shall
make. At the regular meeting of the society the
Curator shall make a report of all acquisitions made by
the society during the year current, and shall give such
information about each paper or thing as shall be deemed
of value. A like report shall be made of all papers
or things missing from the collection during the year.
These reports shall be transmitted by the Historian
of the society to the Secretary of the Michigan His
torical Commission.

18 SUGGESTIONS FOR BY-LAWS
V
ELECTIONS
The election of officers of the society shall be by
ballot unless otherwise decreed by majority of all
members present and voting. VI
STANDING COMMITTEES
The standing committees of this society shall be
 ¦ ¦ ¦ '
whose duties shall be as follows : 
VII
ORDER OF BUSINESS
At the annual meeting of the society the following
shall be the order of business: (1) Minutes of the
previous meeting; (2) Report of the secretary; (3)
Report of the treasurer; (4) Report of committees;
(5) Unfinished business; (6) Social recess; (7) Election
of officers; (8) New business; (9) Addresses and papers;
(10) Adjournment. VIII
SOCIAL
The society shall provide at its annual meeting for
a social gathering or picnic, to be held on a given date
and at a place to be decided from invitations extended
through the recording secretaries to the society by

SUGGESTIONS FOR BY-LAWS 19
members in the different townships of the county.
Suitable record of such informal meeting shall be made
and preserved. DELEGATES TO STATE SOCIETY
A delegate shall be chosen by the society from
among its officers to represent the society at the an
nual June meeting of the Michigan Pioneer and His
torical Society, the transportation of such delegate
to and from the place of meeting to be defrayed by the
local society. Such member shall attend carefully to
such instruction as may be given at such meeting
under the auspices of the State society, or of the
Michigan Historical Commission, concerning the work
of State and local historical societies and report thereon
to this society.

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
THE FUNCTION OF THE LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The difficulties encountered by almost all old com
munities when they have tried to reconstruct the life
of their early past is reason for a strong protest against
an opinion commonly voiced in new communities
that they are too young to have any history.
Of course no community is at any time too young
to have some past, and to have some record of that past
if only in the memories of the pioneers. It is exactly
the time to begin to keep records of the community
life when a community is young, for never again will
the opportunity be afforded to preserve them so
judiciously and completely. It is too true that the
present seems commonplace. It is generally true
that the individual has little concern for it excepting
as it ministers to his needs in the present or the im
mediate future. Under these conditions it is not easy
to cultivate the historical sense of seeing the present
from the viewpoint of the distant future. In this work
the service of the local historical society must supple
ment individual initiative.
THE ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY
In every present-day Michigan community there
exist the elements by means of which to effect an

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 21
awakening of the group mind to the social and civic
virtues of history. In all of them there are public-
spirited citizens of some culture and initiative. In
the popular mind there need but be a thorough con
viction that the community can never achieve its
highest welfare as a community, and hence the highest
welfare of every individual in it, except by acting upon
the knowledge of its past and of its relationships with
the larger environment of which it is a part. The
initial organization and work of the local historical
society is dependent primarily upon the intelligent,
persistent effort of the public-spirited citizens of the
community acting through the club, the lodge, the
school, the library, the church, the press, all of the
local business, social, civic and political organizations
of the community. POPULAR INTEREST IN " OLD THINGS"
There is an initial advantage in the popular general
interest in old things, that is, if they are old enough to
have ceased to be commonplace, an interest that is
often more than mere curiosity. Personal and family
pride in the possession of old objects is not uncommon.
The collecting instinct can very profitably be directed
through the local press towards the accumulation of
such objects, and the press is of course always glad to
start ideas and publish results that will interest its
readers. Interest in private collecting will lead natural
ly to group action by association of interests.

22 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
AROUSING AND DIRECTING POPULAR INTEREST IN
COLLECTING; START IN THE HOME
Naturally some things are more worthy of col
lecting than others, as suggested in Article III of the
constitution in this bulletin. A good starting point
is the home. Attics and basements would yield many
surprises doubtless even to their owners; a rainy day
could be spent very pleasantly exploring and in
ventorying these much neglected comers. Starting
in the home, there may be gathered a variety of useful
historical material in the shape of letters, diaries, ac
count books, scrap books, family records, genealogies
and photographs. Photographs furnish of course ex
cellent illustrations of persons, manners and customs.
' ' INTERVIEWING ' ' PIONEERS
An exceedingly pleasant entering wedge to develop
an interest in the life of the community is to interview
the old pioneers, a practice that will often prove as
profitable as pleasant. Especially school children can
be thus interested, and often through them their
families. The memories of pioneers, while sometimes
treacherous as to dates and persons, may yield items
of much value about early settlement, as illustrated in
the many reminiscences in the volumes of the Michigan
Pioneer and Historical Collections. There are few
means of arousing popular interest in Michigan's early
history equal to a few evenings spent in perusing the

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 23
accounts written by the pioneers for these volumes.^
RELICS OF THE INDUSTRIES
The farm, the shop, the mill, the tavern, are a few
of the places which contain objects that would aid the
imagination to reconstruct the past to the end of a
more profitable study and appreciation of the present.
A collection of such objects is especially valuable in
places where there have been radical changes, as from
lumbering or mining to agriculture, or where new in
dustries as dairying, beet-growing or fruit culture have
been added, or where there have been radical changes
in the methods of these industries.
MATERIALS RELATING TO CIVIC LIFE
Objects, pictures and drawings illustrating public
utilities such as ferries, bridges, drainage and sewer
ing, water supplies, fire protection, lighting, street
transportation, parking, military defense, jails, etc.,
are very instructive for good citizenship and hence
very worthy of preservation.
MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATERIALS
In another class of things to collect come the printed
materials. Especially worthy are all publications of
2. The first seven volumes are especially good for this purpose
and can be obtained from the Secretary of the Michigan Historical
Cotmnission at $1 per volume. They can be supplied gratis,
including transportation, to libraries in educational institutions
and Ranges containing 500 volumes. Temporary loans can be
made to the smaller libraries.

24 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
the local press, — newspapers, periodicals and journals,
public ordinances, reports of local clubs and organiza
tions, books or pamphlets written by local talent, and
clippings about the community issued from the out
side press. INDIAN RELICS
Interest is usually easy to arouse in archaeological
and ethnological remains. Scarcely a county in Mich
igan is without some evidence of Indian occupation.
Indian trails can still be traced in the newer counties.
In some cotmties rock carvings can be found. The
sites of Indian villages, planting grounds, battles and
graves can be identified in many. The romance sur
rounding the Indian is a very live culture bed in which
to nourish interest in locating these sites accurately.
There are probably in the State many unidentified
mounds and deposits of Indian tools and weapons.
Such interest might readily develop iiito concerted
action, not to open the mounds — ^which should be left
to the scientifically equipped archaeologist — ^but to
identify and preserve them and have them accurately
located by township and range on the atlas sheets of
the United States Geological Survey.
MARKING HISTORIC SITES AND CELEBRATING
ANNIVERSARIES
The appropriate marking of historic sites is another
activity in which local interest may easily be aroused.
There is no one thing that contributes more directly

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 25
to historic consciousness in a community than the
bestowal of honors upon the old landmarks. Besides
Indian sites some counties afford sites of furtrading
stations, of important military events during the
French and British occupation, and of many events
important to the locality and to the State since that
time. Every village and city should appropriately
mark the site of its first school, church and similar
important public institutions. A simple white stone
bearing an appropriate inscription is often adequate.
For the same reason, every community should prize
the opportunity to focus public attention and stir
anew the popular interest in local history afforded by
the recurrence of anniversaries of the significant events
that have taken place at these sites.
ALLIES OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: THE SCHOOL;
STORY-TELLING AND THEME-WRITING
School children especially will be interested in the
story of the Indian and in the collecting of Indian
relics of the neighborhood. The romance of early
Michigan in all of its phases will make a strong appeal
if vividly presented. Fortunate is the child whose
teacher is a skillful story-teller and loves to tell
stories to children. For such work the innocence and
fearsomeness of the aboriginal tribes, the heroic strug
gles of the early missionaries, the exploits of the voy-
ageur and the fur-trader, the glamour of the military
post and the mystery of wild nature in the back
ground form a maze of material. The life of the early

26 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
American settlers is little less romantic. The volumes
of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Collections
abound with this material from cover to cover, to be
had almost for the asking.
If the teacher is not specially skillful in telling the
story, let her read to the class for example from pages
399-408 in volume 28 "Reminiscences of pioneer life
in Oakland County" or the story of "The Dying
Pirate" found in pp. 524-526, the same volume. It
will be the very exceptional class that does not ask for
more, and it will be the exceptional child that does
not carry home to parents some accoimt of that story
as well as interest in the volumes from which it was
read or told.
Teachers can thus be strong factors in developing
that interest in the community life which leads
to the organizing of the local historical society.
In the upper grades teachers can use these materials
for EngUsh exercises; to write up correctly an inter
view with a pioneer would be a very practical exercise,
and from a number of interviews there could be woven
a tolerable historical sketch. Not only would this
correlation of the English and History work develop
skill in English and stimulate the spirit of historical
inquiry but it would lay the basis of an intelligent
patriotism which would be a source of strength for
the historical society later.

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 27
GROUP PRIDE IN THE STUDY OF FOREIGN ELEMENTS
OF THE POPULATION
A subject of much local interest in some com
munities is the foreign bom population, in the study
of which there may be utilized a certain group pride
which is often no small impulse to historical interest.
There are many important facts which school children
may gather that can be formed into readable sketches
of permanent worth; for instance, the date when
immigration began, the causes of emigration from the
old country, why Michigan was chosen, who the leaders
were and something about their qualities, the character
of the immigrants, experiences during the journey,
experiences in the new homes, relations with the native
Americans and contributions to the general welfare.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES AS CENTERS OF HISTORICAL
INTEREST
Usually in a community there is early formed some
club or organization based upon personal or social
relationships, like the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Ladies' Literary Club under whatever
name known, the G. A. R., etc. These bodies can
serve as centers of interest in local history, and where
that interest has been organized they have proven to
be its warmest promoters.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE LOCAL MUSEUM
The public library is a very natural ally of the in
cipient historical society. It has a large opportunity

28 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
to stimulate popular interest in local, state and na
tional history by calling attention to books of history.
Every Michigan public library, at least all that are
located at county seats, should have on reserved
shelves in the reading room and easily accessible at
least the important works bearing upon the history
of Michigan and the Old Northwest.
Besides furnishing historical books of reference, the
Library could well set apart one room to receive and
display such local collections as might be obtained
either by gift or loan from local collectors. The local
museum is coming to be recognized as a very legiti
mate extension of local library work, a relation very
thoughtfully expressed by Dr. G. Browne Goode in the
American Historical Association Papers III, 266, where
he says, "The museum cultivates the powers of ob
servation, and the casual visitor even makes discover
ies for himself, and, vinder the guidance of the labels,
forms his own impressions. In the library one studies
the impressions of others. The library is most useful
to the educated; the museum to educated and un
educated alike, to the masses as well as to the few,
and is a powerful stimulant to intellectual activity in
either class. The influence of a museum upon a com
munity is not as deep as that of the library, but ex
tends to a much larger number of people."
In view of the popular interest in a museum and of
its real value to the masses the local library might well
devote a part of the library funds to gathering and
maintaining such a collection, feeling assured that

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 29
what the people are interested in they will consent to
pay taxes to maintain. The interest of prominent
families is readily enlisted by getting them to deposit
loans in the museum, which in turn stimulates the
interest of others.
A good local collection is an important educational
supplement to the schools when visited by the pupils
in charge of their teachers and intelligently presented
to them. Popular lectures based on the exhibits,
delivered by suitable local talent, will prove always
a means of stimulating interest.
It is small argument against the local mu
seum that it is miscellaneous and comparatively
insignificant for the student of history beside books;
the same argument necessarily applies to all local
institutions. Indeed the local collection should be
kept typically local in character, its purpose being to
exemplify the fauna, flora, geology, archeology, furni
ture, utensils, books, weapons, dress, ornaments, etc.,
of the community. Much of this material will be lost
to the community unless the private collections are
solicited and placed thus in safe keeping. There
should be, undoubtedly, discrimination exercised as to
the articles accepted for such a public display, and on
the other hand rare objects needing fireproof housing,
also objects of state-wide importance, should be sent
to the state Museum in charge of the Historical Com
mission. In cities the public library should be able to afford
sufficient funds to make the museum artistically at-

30 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
tractive. Proper space, light, cleanliness and restful
colors are essential to the effectiveness of a museum.
Objects should be properly classified and arranged
according to their relationships, each with an appro
priate setting. Modem cases of steel and glass, with
glass shelving, should be used where possible. Printed
or typewritten labels should be placed on each object,
giving its name, donor and history. When the col
lection has grown to some size visitors appreciate
having a printed pamphlet containing brief accounts
of the different objects, classified and referred to by
number so that they can find at once objects in which
they are most interested. A museum so equipped may
serve for study, research and technical instruction as
well as for culture and amusement. The spirit thus
developed would work directly towards the support of
a live historical society.
METHODS OF PRESERVING CLIPPINGS AND MANUSCRIPTS
To the smaller libraries and to individual collectors
a word might be useful about the preservation of
printed and manuscript materials. For newspaper
clippings and fugitive sheets some variety of the scrap-
book method is common, but the scrapbook is not the
best to start with. Envelopes should be used, pre
ferably manila, size 3 by 5 inches; the clipping if large
should be folded carefully, placed in the envelope
without sealing, and the envelope should then be proper
ly labeled in the upper left comer with the name and
date of the paper from which the clipping was made.

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 31
A brief note should be made on the body of the en
velope indicating the nature of its contents. No
envelope should contain more than one item.
At first the envelopes should be^filed chronologically,
with a division card for each week. When a sufficient
number accumulate, say for a few months, it will be
possible to analyze the entries for general topics. It
is best not to make too many topics. Some of these
can be ascertained beforehand, for example "advertise
ments;" nothing more vividly reflects the evolution of
a given industry or business of a locality than a chron
ological Hst of advertisements for a series of years.
When the topics have been ascertained the envelopes
may then be filed topically, with the place of each
topic indicated by an appropriate index card. The
process is simple when the appropriate topics are
chosen. At the end of a given time, say a year, the contents
from each group may be taken out of the envelopes,
properly subclassified and entered in a scrapbook; and
for this purpose it is far the best to use the prepared
scrapbooks, which avoids the many disadvantages of
library paste. These can be bought at any well
equipped book store, and consist of gummed lines per
pendicular on the page to which when slightly moist
ened with a small brush the clippings will readily
and permanently adhere. The book when full can be
properly labeled, indexed, and placed with other books
on the library shelf. School children in the upper grades
are found to take a very lively interest in this form of

32 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
gathering materials of current interest for local, state
and national history. In libraries it is desirable to
have two copies of each newspaper, one for filing and
one for clipping.
Letters and other manuscripts which must be read
on both sides may be mounted on sheets of transparent
surgeon's plaster, or on architect's tracing paper.
The sheets can be cut to a convenient size, preferably
octavo, and when enough have accumulated they can
be paged, indexed, bound, and shelved like the scrap-
books. A common method of mounting manuscript
is to attach the margin to suitable leaves already
bound in a volume. Obviously this is not as flexible
a system as the former, but may answer very well
where the material is already completely gathered
and classified. SUGGESTIONS TO LOCAL HISTORICAL WRITERS
Often an interest in local history may be nourished
and made effective by attempting to write upon some
phase of the life of the community. Only the barest
suggestions of course could be offered here; one of the
very first would be the very subject of research which
the preceding pages have sketched. In the second
place the writer should seek to get some idea of the
nature of historical evidence, such as might be gained
from a book like Channing and Hart's "Guide to the
Study and Reading of American History," of which
a new edition has just been published,' or Small and
3. Ginn and Co., Boston, $2.00.

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 33
Vincent's "Introduction to the Study of Society."*
An extensive treatise on the subject is Langlois and
Seignobos' "Introduction to the Study of History,"
translated from the French.^
One of the chief canons of historical writing is accur
acy — accuracy in ascertaining the fact, in stating the
fact or conclusion, in copying, and in every phase of the
process. A statement "in print" is of course as likely
to be false as a statement made orally. Distinction
must be sharply drawn between original material and
secondary material. For every statement upon which
a conclusion is based a reference should be cited in a
footnote, either at the foot of the page or at the end
of the article or chapter; the citations in footnotes
enable the reader not only to check his writer but to
supplement the information on any given point, or to
draw his own conclusion from the facts given in the
original. Bias must be carefully guarded against, as
the truth is the only justification of any writing. A
writer is of course specially prone to bias who bases
his accounts upon the books of others without ques
tioning their authority. The relation of local history
to the larger history of the state and nation must not
be left out of view. Local history is of consequence
largely because of its place in the larger field. All
available maps bearing on the subject should be care
fully studied. The value of an article or book is much
4." American Book Co., New York, $1.80.
5. Henry Holt and Co., New York, $2.25.

34 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
enhanced when appropriately illustrated with maps,
drawings, photographs, etc.
It would not be of much value to suggest specific
topics to treat in writing local Michigan history, since
these would vary necessarily with the period, the
locality and the scope of the field. It might be useful
however to suggest the type of topics that it would be
most profitable to treat in general. The following
are offered: SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF A LARGE
SETTLEMENT AREA:
Why the area is, or is not, a unit of settlement
Stages of settlement — reasons
Sources of settlers— reasons
Causes of migration from the old homes
Reasons of settlers for choosing this area instead of
neighboring areas
Routes of immigration
Obstructions or facilities afforded by governmental
action
Description of new environment — comparison with the
old
Founding of first settlements
Obstacles met — ^how overcome
Chief checks and stimuli to further immigration
Rate of increase of population at different times —
reasons
Chief characteristics of the immigrants
Chief characteristics developed in the new community

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 35
Economic development — lumbering, mining, agricul
ture, grazing, dairying, fruit culture, manufacture,
transportation, trade, commerce, banking, etc.
Political history
Military history
Social progress
EducationReligion Comparison with neighboring areas
SUGGESTIONS FOR A SKETCH OF COUNTY HISTORY:
Causes of rate of growth in population
Environment Advantages Nearness to large centers of population
Attraction to immigrants
Markets and supply depots
Accessibility Rivers navigable for large boats
Streams navigable for small craft
Openings and unforested areas
Indian trails
Resources Climate
SurfaceDrainage
Water power
Soil
Products

36 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
Disadvantages
Comparison with neighboring environments
Disposition of the land
Indian treaties
Government surveys
Establishment of land districts and offices
Legislation affecting land sales
Administration of land sales
Speculation and high prices
Titles and litigation
Financial crises affecting the currency
Improvements of harbors, rivers, roads, canals, and
railroads
Economic, political, social, and religious traits of
settlers
Interactions of city and farm with industry and
trade
Factors operating in foreign countries to cause
emigration
Manufacturing and banking institutions
Amount of growth at different dates
Degree of organization
When surveyed and opened to settlement
When organized, as compared with neighbors
From what territory organized
Number of townships having given number of
settlers at given date
Number, size, location, and importance of settlements
When first settlement made
Most important settlements at a given date

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 37
Most important settlements in a given part of
county
New settlements of note made during a given time
Location relative to water or forest
Exceptions to usual location
Pioneer tendencies displayed by locations
' ' Paper cities ' '
Population Population of county at given dates
Center of population at given dates
Exceptional variations of population — reasons
Most populous areas — reasons
Amount of increase in a given period
Comparison of increases of population for different
periods
Industries Kinds of industries
Location of heavily timbered areas
Location of best farming districts
Date when all timbered land taken up
Proportional number of acres cultivated — location
Number of bushels of different grains raised in
given years
Property valuations, real and personal
Process of growth of population
Sources of population
Source of first settlers
Effect of certain lines of transportation
Effect of absence of certain facilities of trans
portation

38 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
Absence of a population element that might be
expected
In what ways sources are typical
Location Preferences shown for different environments —
reasons
Location of settlers from different native sources
*
Chief locations of foreign bom population
Proportions Predominant foreign population
When foreign population became important
Relative proportions of population from different
states
Relative proportions from other parts of same
state
Relationship of elements
Conflicts among elements
Forces tending to amalgamate elements
Relative tendencies to concentration
Extensions of the frontier
The fiUing-in process
Methods of founding settlements
Individual initiative
Informal partnerships
Stock companies
Social and religious colonies
Economic types
The hunter
The woodland farmer
The prairie farmer

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 39
The lumberman
The miner
Urban population
Proportions of these elements
Summary In what ways typical of the larger area
Irregularities of growth
Absence of usual and important characteristics
Comparison with immediately environing areas
Parts in which growth was exceptionally rapid —
reasons
Parts in which growth was exceptionally backward
—reasons
Periods in which growth was most rapid — reasons
Periods in which decline set in — reasons
Periods of steady or irregular growth
Comparative importance of county at different
dates
Relation of rate of growth to that of larger area
Distinctive contributions to the general welfare.
TYPES OF OUTLINES FOR SKETCH OF SETTLEMENT IN
TOWNSHIPS A
Key to early settlement of the township — recruits
from transients going to other places — ^illustrated by
a leading family of the township.
First spot to attract settlers — description of the
environment — motives of the settlers — sources of the
settlers — dates of first post office, store, frame house.

40 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK
village plat — significance of the name — source of later
settlers. An early abortive settlement in the township —
causes of failure.
First mills, if significant — importance of the first
grist mill and saw mill in early settlement.
Population of the township in the first authen,tic
census — limits of the township at that date — portion
of the township most densely settled ; reasons.

Highways of the township influencing early settle
ment — Indian trails and streams located with reference
to immigration.
Original topography of the township; timber land,
oak openings, small prairies, marsh — corhpared with
neighboring townships in attractiveness to settlers —
illustrated from early censuses.
Location of largest settlement — ^its essential local
influences — source of the settlers — routes of immigra
tion — other centers of settlement — citizenship of the
township as represented by the first township officers.
Early censuses. c
Population at the first authentic census — distribu
tion of this population — influence of topography and
highways — sources of population.
First settlement — importance for later settlement —
importance of the tavern and of pioneer hospitality in

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 41
early settlement — illustrations — influence of the lo
cation of a stage station in the township — compared
with the later influence of the first railroad station —
illustration of the influence of a railroad in disintegrat
ing an embryo village.
Comparison between the order in which land was
entered at the land office and the order followed by
actual settlement — location of ' ' boom towns ' ' — amount
of speculation compared with that in neighboring town
ships. D
Influence of the presence of Indians in checking im
migration to an otherwise attractive spot — ^how the
Indians came to be there — date at which the reserva
tion was ceded to the government — effect of cession
on growth of population — illustrated from censuses.
Main points of settlement — general direction in
which the frontier was extended.
Topography of the site of a future city given in some
detail. "Squatters" and their difficulties.
Struggle of contending localities for the coimty seat
— significance of the possession of the county in
stitutions to growth of settlement.
Important mills — effect of lumber supplies on settle
ment. Source, amount and distribution of population at
given censuses.

42 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK

Influence of Indian trail and oak openings on settle
ment of township — ^location and source of first settlers
— routes of immigration.
Effect of establishment of state road on settlement.
Censuses — distribution of population — centers of
densest settlement as indicated by location of first
schoolhouses. F
Influence of a line of communication shown by the
location of land entries for the first years — circum
stances modifying the inference from these entries.
Source of these first land purchasers — ^what pro
portion became actual settlers.
Original occupations of settlers — how modified by
the new environment.
Characteristics of a purely agricultural township —
natural growth and even distribution of population- —
slow formation of civic centers — influence of strong
personalities — distribution of institutions — influences
aside from environmental tending to produce and per
petuate such a community.
Censuses — source and distribution of population —
limits of township at given dates — comparative dates
of organization of neighboring townships.

Routes of immigration to the township — typical set
tlers.

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 43
Influence of scenery on settlement in lake region —
tendency of New Englanders to select spots reminding
them of home — tendency of settlers from the same
source to settle together — first settlers, date and source
of population.
Censuses — distribution and source of population at
different times.
Geological formations affecting settlement in the
township — surface, soil, springs, minerals, drainage,
timber, waterpower.
Position with reference to lines of communication —
illustration of excellent natural advantages offsetting
poor communication.
When organized — extent then — population — loca
tion of chief centers — source of population.
First settlement — influences and source of settlers.
First public improvements in the township — effect
on settlement.
First public institutions in the township — officers as
types of pioneers. H
Type of densely timbered and somewhat swampy
township — late settlement — first settlement centered
in one place, on open land — later settlements scattered.
Effect of scientific drainage on growth of township.
Saw, stave, heading and cooperage mills, in early
developement. Source of first settlers — influence of nearness to an
earlier settled county.

44 HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK

Type of densely forested township free from swamps
and with unusual water power, but not easily ac
cessible — mill sites early developed as nuclei of vil
lages, especially at junctions of streams.
First roads influenced by Indian trails — effect of
connection with large centers outside the county.
River transportation.
First settlement — important settlers — other centers.
Censuses — distribution and source of population at
different times. J
Type of township located near large settlement in
neighboring county with similar environment.
Influence of good communication in different parts
of township.
Early taverns as nuclei of villlages.
Minor settlement areas.
Censuses — distribution and source of population.
Growth compared with that of neighboring town
ships.

It is most true that the value of an article or book is
often vitiated by faulty organization, and experience
suggests that there are many persons who would like
to know some method of properly arranging their
material. A knowledge of certain mechanical aids

HINTS FOR PRACTICAL WORK 45
may put one in the way of using one's mental equip
ment to the best advantage. Individual writers have
in this matter worked out their own methods, adapt
ing to their needs whatever they have found of value
in the practice of other writers. The Secretary of the
Commission would be glad to give what help he can to
any one who feels the need of personal assistance in
this part of their work.

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