Stebbins Family Papers
00014

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Stebbins family, (Cortland Bliss Stebbins,1812-1901)
Title
Stebbins family papers
ID
00014
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1821-1940
Date [inclusive]
1741-1976
Extent
2.33 Cubic feet 44 volumes in box 3
Language
English

Preferred Citation note

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

The Stebbins family has resided in Michigan since 1837 when Cortland Bliss Stebbins moved to Palmyra, Michigan, from Vermont where he had been a cabinetmaker and part-time journalist. In 1843 Stebbins moved to Adrian, Michigan where he was also a cabinetmaker as well as editor of the Adrian Michigan Expositor. He was the first editor in the country to suggest Millard Fillmore for President, and after Fillmore became President on the death of Zachary Taylor in 1849, Stebbins was appointed Special Agent for the Post Office Department. His appointment lasted until Fillmore's term ended in 1852. Stebbins then operated a store in Adrian until 1857, when he moved to Lansing and became editor of the  Lansing Republican. The next year Stebbins became an officer in the Michigan Department of Public Instruction, a position he held until 1878. He wrote much poetry and prose on a variety of subjects including temperance, politics, education, history, and religion.

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Scope and Contents note

A manuscript copy of Stebbins' book A History of Plymouth Church (of Lansing) written in 1893 is included. Stebbins compiled an autobiography entitled  Sketches of My Life, which he was completing at his death in 1901. A copy of the text is included, as well as his diaries, account books and newspaper clippings on railroads.

Other materials in the papers are those of his children Arthur C. and Bliss Stebbins and Susan Stebbins Stark. Susan's papers consist of a biography of her father which she wrote and correspondence (1925, 1928) concerning a European trip. Arthur's materials are newspaper clippings about himself; Bliss' materials consist of correspondence and newspaper clippings about his European trip in 1910-1911. Newspaper articles by Arthur's son Francis R. Stebbins are also included.

The remainder of the papers consist of Mrs. C. B. Stebbins account books (1849-1856, 1884-1888), essays and notes written by unknown individuals, and writs for debt collection issued in England (1741) and Vermont (1821).

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

 Box 3 was split up because the box was too full and legal sized documents were inappropriatly foldered in this box. Volumes remain in box 3, Writings are now in box 5 - WM September 2000

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University. Literary Rights: Dedicated to the public (HC 00308).

Conditions Governing Use note

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Custodial History

Gift of Mrs. Francis Stebbins, C. Rowland Stebbins.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

  • Account books
  • Autobiographies
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Diaries
  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Poetry
  • Scrapbooks

Geographic Name(s)

  • Adrian (Mich.)
  • Lansing (Mich.)
  • Michigan -- Politics and government
  • Palmyra (Mich.)

Personal Name(s)

  • Stark, Susan Stebbins, 1863-
  • Stebbins, Arthur C., (Arthur Cortland), 1860-
  • Stebbins, Bliss, 1865-
  • Stebbins, Cortland Bliss, 1812-1901

Subject(s)

  • Education, Primary -- Michigan -- Lansing
  • Education, Secondary -- Michigan -- Lansing
  • Journalists
  • Railroads

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Collection Inventory

Papers 

Scope and Contents note
Box

Correspondence - General 

 1
Box Folder

 1823-1833 

 1 1

 1834-1838 

 1 2

 1840-1852 

 1 3

 1853-1859 

 1 4

 1860-1865 

 1 5

 1866-1867 

 1 6

 1868-1869 

 1 7

 1870-1872 

 1 8

 1873-1877 

 1 9

 1878-1879 

 1 10

 1880-1886 

 1 11

 1887-1890 

 1 12

 1891-1895 

 1 13

 1869-1897 

 1 14

 1898-1901 

 1 15

 1910 

 1 16

 1911 

 1 17

 March-May 1925 

 1 18

 June-November 1925 

 1 19

 1928 

 1 20

 1931-1940, undated 

 1 21
Box Folder

Receipts 1821-1886 

 1 22

Legal Documents - Land Contracts, Units Indentures 1741, 1821, 1827, 1851-1864 

 1 23
Box

Poetry - C.B. Stebbins 

 1
Box Folder

 1853, 1856, 1860 

 1 24

 Undated 

 1 25

 Undated 

 1 26

 Undated 

 2 1-2

Writings - C.B. Stebbins 

 2
Box

Autobiography - Sketches of My Life 

 2
Box Folder

Part 1 1901 

 2 3

Part 2 1901 

 2 4

Part 3 1901 

 2 5

Part 4 1901 

 2 6

Part 1901 

 2 7

Part 6 undated 

 2 8
Box Folder

Stebbins Family 1888, 1894, undated 

 2 9

Education - Lansing Schools 1873, 1881?, 1893, undated 

 2 10

Education - General 1860, undated 

 2 11

Historical undated 

 2 12

Religious - Plymouth Church 1893 

 2 13

Religious - Plymouth Church 1881, undated 

 2 14

Political - "The Protective Tariff" 1844 

 2 15

Political undated 

 2 16-17

Temperance 1835, 1874, undated 

 2 18-19

General April 17, 1833 

 2 20

General undated 

 2 21-22

Writings 

 3
Box Folder

Susan Stebbins Stark - Biography of C.B. Stebbins undated 

 5 1
Box

Author Unknown 

 3
Box Folder

Biography of Louis Agassiz undated 

 5 2

Biography of Edward the Confessor and Harold undated 

 5 3

Biography of John Finch, Lord Chancellor for Charles I undated 

 5 4

Biography of Thomas Gray undated 

 5 5

"Notes on Travel" undated 

 5 6

Miscellaneous undated 

 5 7
Box Folder

Insurance Policy February 11, 1885 

 5 8

Newspapers Clippings 

 3
Box Folder

Articles by C.B. Stebbins 1855-1856, undated 

 5 9

Articles about C. B. Stebbins 1976, undated 

 5 10

Articles by Francis R. Stebbins undated 

 5 11

Articles by Bliss Stebbins 1910 

 5 12

Articles about Arthur Stebbins undated 

 5 13

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Volumes 
Box

Volumes 1-32: Account Books - C.B. Stebbins 1857, 1859-1899 

 3

Volumes 33-34: Account Books - Eliza Smith Stebbins 1849-1856, 1884-1888, undated 

 4

Volume 35: Diary - C.B. Stebbins 1836 

 4

Volume 36: Journal - C.B. Stebbins - Post 1850-1852 

 4

Volume 37 Clippings on Railroads 1956, undated 

 4

Volume 38 Clippings on Michigan Public Schools 1887? 

 4

Volume 39 Michigan School Report 1869 

 4

Volumes 40 - 41 Clippings on Michigan Schools and Politics 1862 - 1864, Undated 

 4

Volume 42 Clippings - Stebbins Lectures and Poems 1856, Undated 

 4

Volumes 43 - 44 Clippings - Stebbins Stories and Poems 1835, Undated 

 4

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Scrapbook 
Box Folder

Scrapbook 169: Postcard album of Lansing 1907 

 5 14

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