James Taylor Papers
00026

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Taylor, James
Title
James Taylor papers
ID
00026
Date [inclusive]
1855-1900
Extent
1.5 Cubic feet 3 boxes
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."

Return to Table of Contents »

Biographical/Historical

James Taylor was born in August 5, 1836 in Yorkshire, England. In 1842 the Taylor family emigrated to the United States settling in Livingston County, Michigan. Taylor soon found great opportunities in education. He finished a course at Cochran's Business Institute at the age of twenty. He was a member of Michigan Agricultural College's first class in 1857 and later graduated from the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. After dividing his time between teaching and farm labor for three years, Taylor entered the general store business with his brother-in-law, Alexander H. Benedict. In 1868 he sold out his share of the business and moved to Chelsea, Michigan where he engaged in the purchase of farm produce and the sale of agriculture implements for many years. Taylor was married on July 4, 1864 to Mariette Benedict who died on May 28, 1893. Four years later, on May 5, 1897, he was remarried to Mrs. Mary Potter. Taylor died on August 7, 1916 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Return to Table of Contents »

Scope and Contents of the Papers

The James Taylor papers include correspondence, receipts, and other materials dealing with his business and personal activities. Throughout the correspondence there are numerous letters concerning education, particularly at the college level. One letter, dated February 26, 1865 gives a good account of academic life at the University of Michigan. The collection also contains personal correspondence about life in general. Most of the receipts pertain to Taylor's agricultural implement business and his dealings with other companies. Of particular interest in the miscellaneous materials is an excellent genealogy of the Taylor family which was written in 1942.

Return to Table of Contents »

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

  December 2000

Conditions Governing Access note

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

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. Charles Schlacks, transferred by the MSU Museum.

Return to Table of Contents »

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Ann Arbor Union High School.
  • Eastern Michigan University.
  • Griffin and Rice Wagon and Carriage Company.
  • Hillsdale College.
  • Michigan Agricultural College.
  • Nichols and Shepard Company (Battle Creek, Mich.).
  • University of Michigan. Law School.

Genre(s)

  • Account books
  • Genealogies (histories)

Geographic Name(s)

  • Ann Arbor (Mich.)
  • Chelsea (Mich.)
  • Hillsdale (Mich.)
  • Lansing (Mich.)
  • Unadilla (Mich.)
  • Ypsilanti (Mich.)

Personal Name(s)

  • Schlacks, Charles, Mrs.
  • Taylor, James

Subject(s)

  • Church property -- Taxation -- United States
  • Education, Higher
  • Education, Higher -- Costs
  • Flow of funds
  • Genealogy
  • General stores
  • Hardware stores
  • Ships -- Passenger lists
  • Teachers -- Certification
  • Teachers -- Training of

Return to Table of Contents »

Collection Inventory

Papers 

Scope and Contents note
Box

Correspondence 

 1
Box Folder

 1855-1859 

 1 1

 1860-1865 

 1 2

 1866-1869 

 1 3

 1870-1875 

 1 4

 1876-June 1877 

 1 5

 July-December 1877 

 1 6

 January-June 1878 

 1 7

 July-December 1878 

 1 8

 January-June 1878 

 1 9

 July-December 1878 

 1 10

 1880-1884 

 1 11

 1885-1887 

 1 12

 February-June 1888 

 1 13

 July-December 1888 

 1 14

 1889 

 1 15

 1890 

 1 16

 1891 

 1 17

 1892 

 1 18

 January-June 1893 

 1 19

 July-December 1893 

 1 20

 January-June 1894 

 1 21

 July-December 1894 

 1 22

 1895 

 1 23

 1896 

 1 24

 1897 

 1 25

 1898 

 1 26

 1899 

 1 27

 1900 

 1 28

 Undated 

 1 29

Envelopes 

 1 30

Envelopes 

 2 18-19

Envelopes 

 3 1-6

Receipts 

 2
Box Folder

 1858-1876 

 2 1

 1877 

 2 2

March-July 1878 

 2 3

 August-December 1878 

 2 4

 March-June 1879 

 2 5

 July-October 1879 

 2 6

 1888-1894 

 2 7

 1895-1899 

 2 8
Box Folder

Teaching Certificates for Members of Taylor Family 1857-1863 

 2 9

Memorandum of Agreement with Nichols and Shepard Company January 23, 1869 

 2 10

Commencement Program for University of Michigan Law School March 23, 1881 

 2 11

Pamphlet "Taxation of Church Property" October 1881 

 2 12

Program for Ann Arbor High School Exhibition of Rhetorical Elocution Class June 9, 1882 

 2 13

Passenger list for R.M.S.Teutonic September 3, 1890 

 2 14

Notebook of expenses undated 

 2 15

Brochure of Griffin and Rice Wagon and Carriage Company undated 

 2 16

Genealogy of the Taylor families 1942 

 2 17

Return to Table of Contents »

Volumes 
Box Folder

Volume 1: Record of Expenses 1856 

 2 20

Volume 2: Record of Expenses 1858-1859 

 2 21

Return to Table of Contents »