Office of the President. Frank Stewart Kedzie Papers
UA.2.1.8

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Kedzie, Frank Stewart
Title
Frank Stewart Kedzie papers
ID
UA.2.1.8
Date [inclusive]
1855-1995
Extent
7.0 Cubic feet
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."

Return to Table of Contents »

Biographical Note

Frank Stewart Kedzie (1857-1935) was born May 12, 1857, in Vermontville, Michigan. Over the course of his long career at the Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State Univeristy), Professor Kedzie acquired an intimate knowledge of the institution's history. As the son of Dr. Robert Clark Kedzie, a professor of Chemistry at M.A.C, Frank was raised on Faculty Row. He attended M.A.C. and graduated in 1877 with a B.S. in Agriculture. Subsequently, he studied medicine with a Lansing physician. In 1880, when Frank's brother, Robert, resigned as assistant in Chemistry, Frank returned to M.A.C. and assumed the position under his father. Soon he began lecturing, and to his students became affectionately known as "Uncle Frank.” Furthering his education, Frank gained a Masters degree and studied at the Friedreich Wilhelm University in Berlin, Germany, circa 1889-1890. In 1902, following his father's retirement, Frank Kedzie was appointed head of the Chemistry department. In 1912, the College conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Science upon him.

In 1916, Professor Kedzie was appointed president of M.A.C. During his term, Kedzie continued to teach albeit on an abbreviated schedule. He also began to promote numerous alumni activities. Significant among these was the development of private financial support for the construction of new campus buildings. His initiation of these activities was to culminate in the construction of three buildings: the Ransom E. Olds Hall of Engineering (1916), the Union Building (1924), and Beaumont Tower (1929).

In 1921, Kedzie resigned as president. The College had not witnessed the anticipated post-war growth in enrollment. It was believed that a new curriculum developed to suit changing educational needs and demands (and new leadership to implement it) was needed. In that same year, 1921, the Division of Applied Science was created, to which Dr. Kedzie was appointed dean. From 1925-1927, Kedzie concurrently served as dean and chairman of the Committee on Historical Materials. Upon Kedzie's resignation as dean in 1927, he was offered the newly funded position of College Historian. Correspondence with President Kenyon L. Butterfield documents Kedzie's changing relationship with M.S.U.

Professor Kedzie was dissatisfied with Dr. Beal's "History of the Michigan Agricultural College" (1915) and had plans to rewrite it. President Butterfield was also anxious for a history of the College to be written for the upcoming 75th anniversary of M.A.C. Accordingly, Kedzie put forth a great deal of effort collecting historical information from alumni about their college experiences, and had written, over the years, various short essays to friends on matters related to College history and traditions.

Frank Kedzie's history was not to be completed. Due to a conflict of opinion with President Robert Shaw, he was dismissed from the position of College Historian and the post was dissolved by the State Board of Agriculture in 1932. He died three years later, on January 5, 1935, leaving a $50,000 bequest to the college for the purchase of chemistry books.

Aside from his college affairs, Frank Kedzie played an active role in the development of the Michigan sugar-beet industry, as did his father. He published in many magazines on both historical and agricultural related topics; including the Michigan Historical Magazine, the Michigan Farmer and the M.A.C. Record. Frank Kedzie married Kate Marvin of Lansing, an accomplished music teacher, in 1885. Though the couple had no children, they raised many animals being especially fond of thoroughbred horses and pedigreed dogs.

Return to Table of Contents »

Scope and Contents note

The collection has been maintained in its original order; alphabetically within a chronological framework. The overall arrangement has been divided into three main series: Correspondence, Subject Files, and Alumni Catalogue (1927). There are also miscellaneous materials, oversize, scrapbooks, and photographs.

The Correspondence series consists of personal and professional correspondence between Frank S. Kedzie and colleagues, circa 1901-1933. Significant among the early papers are documents concerning the settlement of his father's estate. Professionally related correspondence includes exchange with: John Beaumont on the establishment and dedication of Beaumont Tower in 1929; with Charles W. Garfield, member of the State Board of Agriculture (1887-1899), on the establishment of a bronze memorial tablet commemorating Dr. Manly Miles, first Professor of Practical Agriculture; with Henry A. Haigh, class of 1878, on Kedzie's involvement in the establishment of the sugar-beet industry in Michigan; and with President Robert Shaw regarding Kedzie's dismissal in 1932. The correspondence from John Beaumont from 1928 includes a list of the items placed in the cornerstone of Beaumont Tower.

The Subject Files series covers a broad array of topics. There are documents concerning matters of college administration such as: handwritten minutes of faculty meetings; party request slips by various organizations for permission to use campus buildings; student medical excuses from class attendance; and papers relating to college expenditures. There are also materials pertaining to Kedzie's career as college historian, that include: essays written by Kedzie on the history of M.A.C.; rosters of students and faculty involved in the military service; and information on the first Patriarch’s Dinner (1929), which Kedzie initiated. Also found in this series are papers regarding Kedzie's personal life, including: information on Kedzie's dogs and horses; two photograph albums of the Kedzie-Marvin family, and; two volumes of the Marvin family bible, one of which includes a family record.

The Alumni Catalogue series (1927) consists of letters from Kedzie to alumni of M.A.C.(now Michigan State University) requesting personal information for inclusion in an updated Alumni Catalogue.

Return to Table of Contents »

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections April 1991

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

Revision Description

  May 2018

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status note

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

Conditions Governing Use

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

Custodial History

Gifts of Madison Kuhn, Ralph W. Lewis, Frederic B. Dutton, and Margaret Plant Thorp.

Return to Table of Contents »

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Michigan Agricultural College.

Genre(s)

  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Scrapbooks

Personal Name(s)

  • Hibbard, Rufus Percival, 1875-
  • Kedzie, Kate Marvin
  • Kedzie, R. C., (Robert Clark), 1823-1902

Subject(s)

  • Botany
  • College presidents
  • College teachers
  • Plant physiology
  • Sugar beet industry -- Michigan

Return to Table of Contents »

Collection Inventory

Correspondence 
Box Folder

A-Z 1901-1903 

 894 7

 1914 

 5891 2

 1915 
Box Folder

A 

 892 1

B 

 892 2

C 

 892 3

D 

 892 4

E 

 892 5

F 

 892 6

G 

 892 7

H 

 892 8

I, J 

 892 9

K 

 892 10

L, M 

 892 11

N, O, P 

 892 12

Q, R 

 892 13

S 

 892 14

T, U, V 

 892 15

W, X, Y, Z 

 892 16

 1916 
Box Folder

A 

 892 17

B -- January-March 

 892 18

B -- April-June 

 892 19

B -- July-September 

 892 20

B -- October-December 

 892 21

C, D 

 892 22

E, F 

 892 23

G 

 892 24

H 

 892 25-26

I, J 

 892 27

K 

 892 28

L -- January – March 

 892 29

L --April – June 

 892 30

L -- July – September 

 892 31

L -- October – December 

 892 32

M -- January – March 

 892 33

M -- April – June 

 892 34

M -- July – September 

 892 35

M – October - December 

 892 36

N 

 892 37

O, P 

 892 38

Q, R 

 892 39

S -- January-March 

 892 40

S -- April-June 

 892 41

S -- July-September 

 892 42

S -- October-December 

 892 43

T, U, V 

 892 44

W 

 892 45

X, Y, Z 

 892 46

 1917 
Box Folder

A 

 892 47

B -- January-March 

 892 48

B -- April-June 

 892 49

B -- July-September 

 892 50

B -- October-December 

 892 51

C 

 892 52

D 

 892 53

E 

 892 54

F 

 892 55

G 

 892 56

H 

 892 57

I, J, K 

 892 58

L -- January-March 

 892 59

L -- April-June 

 892 60

L -- July-September 

 892 61

L -- October-December 

 892 62

M 

 892 63

N, O, P 

 892 64

R 

 892 65

S -- January-March 

 892 66

S -- April-June 

 892 67

S -- July-September 

 892 68

S -- October-December 

 892 69

T, U, V 

 892 70

W -- January-March 

 892 71

W -- April-June 

 892 72

W -- July-September 

 892 73

W -- October-December 

 892 74

Y 

 892 75

 1918 
Box Folder

A 

 892 76

B -- January-March 

 892 77

B -- April-June 

 892 78

B -- July-September 

 892 79

B -- October-December 

 892 80

C 

 893 1

D 

 893 2

E 

 893 3

F 

 893 4

G 

 893 5

H 

 893 6

I, J, K 

 893 7

L 

 893 8

M 

 893 9

M 

 893 10

N 

 893 11

O, P 

 893 12

R 

 893 13

S -- January-March 

 893 14

S -- April-June 

 893 15

S -- July-September 

 893 16

S -- October-December 

 893 17

T, U, V 

 893 18

W -- January-March 

 893 19

W -- April-June 

 893 20

W -- July-September 

 893 21

W -- October-December 

 893 22

Y 

 893 23

1919 
Box Folder

A 

 893 24

B -- January – March 

 893 25

B -- April – June 

 893 26

B -- July – September 

 893 27

B -- October – December 

 893 28

C 

 893 29

D 

 893 30

E 

 893 31

F 

 893 32

G, H 

 893 33

I, J, K 

 893 34

L 

 893 35

M 

 893 36

N, O, P 

 893 37

Q, R 

 893 38

S -- January-March 

 893 39

S -- April-June 

 893 40

S -- July-September 

 893 41

S -- October-December 

 893 42

T 

 893 43

U, V 

 893 44

W -- January-March 

 893 45

W -- April-June 

 893 46

W -- July-September 

 893 47

W -- July 

 893 48

W -- November 

 893 49

W -- December 

 893 50

1920 
Box Folder

B -- January-March 

 893 51

B -- April-July 

 893 52

B -- August-December 

 893 53

C -- March, April, June, August, December 

 893 54

D -- March-May, July 

 893 55

F -- February, April, June-September, December 20 

 893 56

G -- March, April, June, October 

 893 57

H -- January-June, undated, August-December 

 893 58

J -- January-April, June-September, November-December 

 893 59

L -- April, November 

 893 60

M -- January-December 

 893 61

N -- May-July, undated 

 893 62

P -- January-May, July, October-December 

 893 63

R -- January-July, October-December 

 893 64

S -- January-December 

 894 1

T -- January-April, July, September-December 

 894 2

V 

 894 3

W -- January-June, July-December 

 894 4

Y 

 894 5
Box Folder

Miscellaneous 1921-1946 

 894 6

 1921-1929 
Box Folder

A 

 894 8

BA 

 894 9

BE-BU 

 894 10

Beaumont, John 1928 

 5891 1

C-E 

 894 11

F-G 

 894 12

H-L 

 894 13

M, N 

 894 14

O-R 

 894 15

S, T 

 894 16

V-WAR 

 894 17

WAT-WR 

 894 18

Y 

 894 19

 1930 
Box Folder

A, B 

 894 20

C, D 

 894 21

E, F 

 894 22

G 

 894 23

H, I 

 894 24

J, K 

 894 25

L 

 894 26

M 

 894 27

N-R 

 894 28

S 

 894 29

T-Z 

 894 30

 1931 
Box Folder

A, B 

 894 31

C 

 894 32

D-F 

 894 33

G 

 894 34

H 

 894 35

I, K 

 894 36

L, M 

 894 37

N-P 

 894 38

R, S 

 894 39

T-V 

 894 40

W-Z 

 894 41

 1932 
Box Folder

A 

 894 42

B 

 894 43

C 

 894 44

D, E 

 894 45

F 

 894 46

G 

 894 47

H 

 894 48

I-K 

 894 49

L 

 894 50

M 

 894 51

N-P 

 894 52

R 

 894 53

S 

 894 54

T-V 

 894 55

W-Z 

 894 56

 1933 
Box Folder

A, B -- January-June 

 894 57

C -- January-June 

 894 58

D -- January-June 

 894 59

E, F -- January-June 

 894 60

G -- January-June 

 894 61

H -- January-June 

 1166 1

J-L -- January-June 

 1166 2

M, N -- January-June 

 1166 3

O-R -- January-June 

 1166 4

S -- January-June 

 1166 5

T-Z -- January-June 

 1166 6

1933 
Box Folder

A-G -- July 

 1166 7

H-P -- July 

 1166 8

R-W -- July 

 1166 9
Box Folder

Envelopes 1920-1933 

 894 70

Return to Table of Contents »

Subject Files 
Box Folder

The Michigan Agricultural College Union Memorial Building (booklet) 1923 

 1166 10

Instructional and Service Facilities of Michigan State College March 1944 

 1166 11

Kedzie Appreciation Banquet 1916 

 1166 12

Kedzie Appreciation Dinner 1927 

 1166 13

""Kedzie's Kings"", Correspondence re" Stud Services 1932-1933 

 1166 14

Dogs and Horses, Misc. 

 1166 15

Contracts 1916-1923 

 1166 16

Faculty Minutes 
Box Folder

 1886-1887 

 1166 17

 1889 

 1166 18

 1890 

 1166 19
Box Folder

List of M.A.C. Women of 1918 1918 

 1166 20

List of Alumni and Their Professional Positions 

 1166 21

List of Permanent Class Secretaries and Representatives 1861-1927 

 1166 22

Medical Records 
Box Folder

 January-March 1920 

 1166 23

 April-June 1920 

 1166 24
Box Folder

Absence Slips 1917-1918 

 1166 25

Certification of Recommendation of M.A.C. 1916-1917 

 1166 26

Financial Papers 1915-1925, undated 

 1166 27

Financial Report for M.A.C. October 31, 1939 

 1166 28

Outlines of History of M.A.C. 1933 

 1166 29

Correspondence and Notes on History of M.A.C. 

 1166 30-33

M.A.C. Alumni - War Rosters 

 1166 34

Report on Alumni and Undergraduates in Federal Military Service 1913-1920 

 1166 35

List of M.A.C. Alumni and Students Called to the Service 

 1166 36

Service Records of M.A.C. Students Killed In World War I 

 1166 37

Form for M.A.C. War Records 1919 

 1166 38

Reports, Pamphlets, and Announcements 
Box Folder

1916 - Synopsis of Dr. Kedzie's Report (1877) 

 1166 39

 1917, 1919, 1920 

 1166 40

 undated 

 1166 41

Party Requests 
Box Folder

 1916 

 1166 42

 1917 

 1166 43

 1918 

 1166 44
Box Folder

Friedrich Wilhelm University, Berlin 1889 

 1166 45

Certificate of Study at Friedrich Wilhelm University 

 1166 46

Newspaper clippings 1899, 1917-1947, undated 

 1166 47

Mock Prosecutors Brief 1916 

 1166 48

Report on “The Seed Train” 1929 

 1166 49

Patriarch's Dinner - State Board of Agriculture Campaigns 1933 

 1166 50

Science Notebook undated 

 1166 52

M.A.C. Album undated 

 1166 53

M.A.C. Yearbook 1899-1900 

 1166 54

Letters from Friends re" Dismissal 1932 

 1166 57

Banquet Program April 29, 1929 

 1166 73

Marvin Family Bible Vols. I & II 1851 

 1167 1-2

Return to Table of Contents »

Alumni Catalogue 1927 
Box Folder

A 

 1166 59

B 

 1166 60

C 

 1166 61

D-E 

 1166 62

F-G 

 1166 63

HAB-HAM 

 1166 64

HAN-HU 

 1166 65

I-K 

 1166 66

L 

 1166 67

M 

 1166 68

N-PA 

 1166 69

PE 

 1166 70

R 

 1166 71

SA-SM 

 1166 72

SN 

 894 62

T 

 894 63

V-Z 

 894 64

Return to Table of Contents »

Miscellaneous 
Box Folder

Agricultural College Bulletins 1918 

 894 65

Lansing Matinee Musicale Centennial Celebration 1994-1995 

 894 66

Obituaries 1934-1935 

 894 67

U.S. Census Data 1900-1920 

 894 68

Water Piping System Blueprints 1916 

 894 69

Mrs. Kate Marvin Kedzie's Pupils' Concert June 27, 1890 

 1166 58

Kate Marvin Kedzie - articles, programs, and music information 1890-1955 

 5891 3

Sugar beet production 

 5891 16

Return to Table of Contents »

Oversized Materials 
Box Folder

The State Journal, Style Book April 1929 

 5701 5
Drawer

Blueprints to Train Depot at M.A.C. 1916 

 4

Return to Table of Contents »

Scrapbooks 
Volume

Marvin-Kedzie Family Photo Albums undated 

 SB 348

Marvin-Kedzie Family Photo Albums undated 

 SB 349

Return to Table of Contents »

Photographic Materials 

Photographs 
Box

Animals. Dogs 

 UA Photo 3

Animals. Horses 

 UA Photo 3

Animals. Horses 

 UA Photo 3

“Better Seed Train” 1929 

 UA Photo 3

Michigan. East Lansing 

 UA Photo 4

MSU Alumni 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Buildings. Armory 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Buildings. R.E. Olds Hall 

 UA Photo 4

MSU Convocation 1931 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Groups. Students & Faculty 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Horticulture. Class Pictures 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Military Science. 1920-1939. ROTC Corps. 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Scenes. Campus Entrance 1894 

 UA Photo 4

MSU. Zoology. Laboratory Scenes 

 UA Photo 4

People. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Bowd, Ed 

 UA Photo 4

People. Craig, Albert A. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Franklin, E. C. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Holgman, Howard Peter 

 UA Photo 4

People. Howard, Hon. Sanford 

 UA Photo 4

People. Jewell, C. A. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Kedzie, Kate Marvin 

 UA Photo 4

People. McNaughton, Katherine 

 UA Photo 4

People. Michael, Janet 

 UA Photo 4

People. Michael, Louis G. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Phillips, T. G. 

 UA Photo 4

People. Stephenson, Frank 

 UA Photo 4

Scenes. Unidentified 

 UA Photo 4

Frank and Kate on horseback 1929 


    Box Folder
Photographic materials   5891 4
    Box Folder
Text   5891 4

Box Folder

Kate Marvin Kedzie 

 5891 5-6

Photograph album undated 

 5891 7
Drawer

Postcards 

 Postcards

Arizona 

California. Catalina Island 

Cuba. Havana 

Michigan. Pontiac. Wilson Foundry & Machine Co. 

Missouri 

Montana. Lewiston 

Warrensburg Clinic 

Photographs/CDV's 

 CDV

People. Beamer, Eliza Hinman 

People. Clark, Clifford 

People. Unidentified 

Return to Table of Contents »

Sketches of the Origin and Development of the Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science 
Box Folder

Class lists 1865-1895 

 5891 8

Preface through Chapter 6 (drafts) 

 5891 9

Administration and Discipline at M.A.C. 1855-1866 

 5891 10

Research materials 

 5891 11-15

Return to Table of Contents »