Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Levi Taft and Thacker Family Collection
UA.17.381
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator
- Taft, L. R., (Levi Rawson), 1859-
- Title
- Levi Taft and Thacker family collection
- ID
- UA.17.381
- Date
- 1899-1921, circa 1920-1930, 2007, 2012, undated
- Extent
- 0.6 Cubic feet 28 folders and 1 small box
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
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."
Biographical/Historical
This collection consists of items that are related to numerous members of the Levi Taft family. Levi Rawson Taft was born on August 22, 1859 in Mendon, Massachusetts. He received his B.S. from Amherst College in 1882 and a M.S. from the University of Missouri. Levi Taft moved to East Lansing in August 1888 and was Professor of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening and Superintendent of the Horticulture Department from 1888 to 1902. He resigned from Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) to become the State Superintendent of the State Farmers’ Institute and State Inspector of Orchards and Nurseries. In 1910, Taft organized and became president of the Eveline Fruit and Land Company north of East Jordan, Michigan. Taft wrote several books, filed a patent for a sour cherry, and developed various ways of spraying for diseases in orchards. A plaque on MSU’s campus commemorates his work in spraying orchards. He married Ella Maynard on June 10, 1883. Together, Levi and Ella had six children, four girls and two boys. All six children graduated from M.A.C. Levi Taft died on February 12, 1941 in Petoskey, Michigan.
Eduard Christian Lindemann was a son-in-law of Levi Taft. Lindemann married one of Levi’s daughters, Hazel, on August 29, 1912. Together, they had four children. He graduated from M.A.C. in 1911 and was involved in numerous activities, such as football, baseball, a Holcad editor, Hort. Club, and more. Lindemann went on to be a poet, writer, educator, and social reformer. He became a professor of Social Philosophy at the New York School of Social Work in 1924 and stayed there until his retirement in 1950. He died on April 13, 1953.
Thomas Leonard Thacker married Margaret Taft, who was a granddaughter of Levi Taft, on April 4, 1942. Thomas Thacker graduated from Michigan State in 1939 with a B.S. in agriculture. He was teaching agriculture at the East Jordan High School when he met his wife. They were married after Thacker enlisted in the Army Air Force, but before he was deployed to Europe. Together, they had four children.
Brian Taft Thacker is a son of Thomas Thacker and a great-grandson of Levi Taft.
Scope and Contents note
This collection consists of items from three members of the Levi Taft family. Included is a brief history of the descendants of the Levi Taft family and a history of Thomas Thacker's ROTC summer stories. Related to Levi Taft, there are numerous photos of him, his wife, and life on the campus of Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) at the turn of the century. Also included are minutes, a constitution, articles of incorporation and bylaws, treasurer's reports, a letter, and envelopes from the Eveline Fruit and Land Company. There are also some articles about Levi Taft and his work. Included are paper and digital version of images and captions of views of the Eveline Orchard.
In this collection as well are books written by Taft relatives and MSU alumni. The books are "College Characters and Essays" (about MSU) and "The Community" written by Eduard C. Lindemann. There are also two books by Thomas L. Thacker. His books are "Life on a Michigan Farm: Between the Great Wars" and "My Life with the 52 Fighter Group; Stories from WWII."
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections February 9, 2017
Conrad Hall888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu
Revision Description
Added electronic resource October 2016
Legal Status
Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Amherst College.
- East Jordan Fruit and Land Co., Inc. (East Lansing, Mich.)
- Eveline Fruit and Land Company.
- Michigan Agricultural College . Faculty.
Family Name(s)
- Thacker family
Genre(s)
- Annual reports
- Autobiographies
- Ephemera
- Family histories
- Letters (correspondence)
- Minutes (Records)
- Photographs
- Publications
Personal Name(s)
- Taft, L. R., (Levi Rawson), 1859-
- Thacker, Brian
- Woodbury, C. G., (Charles Goodrich), 1884-1971
Subject(s)
- Agricultural colleges -- Michigan
- Agriculture -- Experimentation
- Armed Forces
- College campuses -- Michigan -- East Lansing
- Farm life
- Students and war
- Universities and colleges -- Michigan -- East Lansing
Collection Inventory
Articles |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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"The Art and Science of Horticulture" from the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Serial undated |
5730 | 1 | ||
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"Levi Rawson Taft" by Marc Thomas from the Michigan History Magazine July/August 1990 |
5730 | 2 | ||
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"Two Great New U.S. Patent Cherries" from the Stark 125th Year Jubilee Book Circa 1933 |
5730 | 3 | ||
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Books |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
College Characters, Essays, and Verse by Eduard C. Lindemann Circa 1911 |
5730 | 4 | ||
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The Community by Eduard C. Lindeman 1921 |
5730 | 5 | ||
|
Life on a Michigan Farm: Between the Great Wars by Thomas L. Thacker 2007 |
5730 | 6 | ||
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My Life with the 52nd Fighter Group; Stories from WWII by Col. Thomas L. Thacker (Ret) 2012 |
5730 | 7 | ||
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| Box | Folder | |||
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East Jordan Fruit and Land Co. Inc. - Correspondence October 15, 1910 |
5730 | 8 | ||
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Eveline Fruit and Land Company. Meeting Minutes, Annual Reports, and Expenses 1910-1917 |
5730 | 9 | ||
In Memoriam |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Taft, Ella Maynard undated |
5730 | 10 | ||
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Taft, Levi Rawson February 12, 1941 |
5730 | 11 | ||
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| Box | Folder | |||
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International Envelopes Addressed to Levi Taft 1905-1938 |
5730 | 12 | ||
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Levi R. Taft Family and Descendents: Brief History and Genealogy June 2016 |
5730 | 13 | ||
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Old Eveline Orchards Views - Photocopies of Photos with Scans undated |
5730 | 14 | ||
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Thomas L. Thacker ROTC Summer Camp Stories undated |
5730 | 15 | ||
Photographs |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Amherst Graduating Class 1882 |
5730 | 16 | ||
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Amherst Reunion of the 1882 Class 1917, 1932 |
5730 | 17 | ||
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Descriptions of Prof. Levi Rawson Taft and Family Photos undated |
5730 | 18 | ||
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Faculty of MAC 1888, 1890 |
5730 | 19 | ||
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Levi Taft and Family at MAC Campus Circa 1900 |
5730 | 20 | ||
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Lindemann, Eduard and Doris 1913 |
5730 | 21 | ||
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MSC Campus Scences Circa 1939 |
5730 | 22 | ||
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Taft, Ella Maynard undated |
5730 | 23 | ||
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Taft, Hazel undated |
5730 | 24 | ||
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Taft, Levi R. 1882-1930, undated |
5730 | 25 | ||
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Taft, Levi and Ella undated |
5730 | 26 | ||
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Thomas L. Thacker ROTC Summer Camp Circa 1938, undated |
5730 | 27 | ||
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Medallions |
Box 5730 |
Box-folder 29 |
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American Pomological Society for Michigan Agricultural College South Haven Sub Station for Interesting Educational Exhibit 1899 |
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Exposition Universelle Internationale for Michigan Agricultural State Experiment Station 1900 |
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American Pomological Society for Michigan Agricultural College, Hort. Dept. Collection of Pears 1901 |
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Universale Exposition Commemorative Medal 1904 |
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Electronic Resources |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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Photo Scans of Levi R. Taft June 5, 2016 |
5730 | 28 | ||
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Old Eveline Orchard Views circa 1920-1930 |
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