The Edward N. Middleton Collection was transferred to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes on August 25, 1986. The instrument of gift was signed on the date of transfer.
Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purpose of preservation and research. Final processing was completed with the assistance of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant in August 1991 by Mark J. Barnes and Monica Manny.
Biographical Sketch
Edward N. Middleton's interest in Great Lakes shipping subjects induced him to maintain an active correspondence with researchers in the United States and Canada that assisted in documenting the history of numerous vessels and transportation companies. Middleton was named Great Lakes Historian of the Year in 1984 by the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Mr. Middleton resided with his wife Blanche Middleton, in Kansas City, Missouri at the time of his death on December 2, 1984. Mrs. Middleton was instrumental in transferring this collection to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes.
Scope and Content
The Edward N. Middleton Collection is not a large collection in terms of volume (2.5 cubic feet) but does contain detailed information on the history of Great Lakes vessels and steamship companies. Middleton's correspondence and research notes (1.5 cubic feet) provide excellent documentation for the histories of a number of Great Lakes transportation companies. The scope of coverage on these companies includes information on events from 1833 to 1984. The Crosby Transportation Company, the Goodrich Transportation Company, and the Graham and Morton Naviagion Company receive the most extensive treatment.
Supplementing the research notes are a few examples of legal and financial files regarding lake shipping activities. The financial files in particular offer insight into wage structures for vessel crews in the period 1933-1946.
A series of clippings from newspapers in the Great Lakes region describes shipping activities for 1912-1985. This series contains 1 cubic foot of material, so the events noted are described in sufficient detail to make the clippings worth examining. Also included is one folder containing memorabilia: passage and meal passes, tour tickets, receipts, and other souvenirs pertaining to Great Lakes passenger and cruise lines from 1865 and 1906 through 1985.
Photographic materials have been separated for inclusion in the main HCGL files. Two rolls of microfilm entitled "Vessel Information Replies from National Archives" is included with 823 black and white prints in the photographic materials. See Appendix 1 for a listing of vessels included on the microfilm.
Series Description
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence 1979-1984 Box 1 Arranged chronologically Series contains correspondence for 1979-1984 between Edward N. Middleton and other parties studying the Great Lakes. The subject matter generally is regarding vessels active on the lakes and continues research on those ships. Frequently, discussion centers on obtaining photographs of lake vessels. Many of the numerous letters are those between Middleton and Dr. Richard Wright, late director of the Institute for Great Lakes Research (now the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes) at Bowling Green State University.
LITERARY WORKS
Research Notes 1833-1983 Boxes 1-3, 6, 7 Arranged alphabetically by company, then chronologically by event Series contains research notes by Edward N. Middleton while drafting histories of vessels and steamship companies engaged in Great Lakes shipping. The notes were prepared primarily in the 1970s and 1980s covering events extending from 1933 to 1983. Included are handwritten notes, photocopies of newspaper accounts of events, copies of information obtained from books and periodicals and typescripts of proposed articles. Several steamship companies received more attention than others in Middleton's research. Included in particular are notes on the Crosby Transportation Company, the Goodrich Transportation Company, and the Graham and Morton Navigation Company. Also contains vessel lists for steamship companies, build lists for Great Lakes ship builders, and histories of steam vessels.
LEGAL FILES
JOHN M. McKERCHEY 1947 Box 3 Arranged alphabetically Series contains copies of the Consolidated Certificate of Enrollment and License for the vessel JOHN M. McKERCHEY owned by the Kelley Island Lime and Transport Company in Sandusky, Ohio. The certificates are dated March 3, 1947. Details of the vessel's design are recorded on the documents.
SULLIVAN V. WATT 1937 Box 3 Arranged chronologically Series contains copies of legal documents filed in the 1937 case of H. R. Sullivan v. Steamer JAMES R. WATT. The case was heard in the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The case involved the foreclosure by Sullivan, acting as Receiver for the Jenkins Steamship Company, on assets of the WATT, owned by Carriers Transport Corporation.
FINANCIAL FILES
WAGE INFORMATION 1933-1946 Box 3 Arranged chronologically Series contains memoranda and circulars listing wages and tax rates for officers and crew of Great Lakes vessels. Standard rates of pay described by Lake Carriers Association literature are described.
GREAT LAKES STEAMSHIP COMPANY, INC. 1955-1957 Box 3 Arranged chronologically Series contains Bylaws of the company for 1955-1956, notices of stockholders' meetings for 1957 and stock purchase agreements information for 1957.
SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS
CLIPPINGS 1865, 1980-1985 Boxes 4-5 Arranged alphabetically by subject in each box. Series contains newsclippings regarding Great Lakes vessels, shipping companies, and ports. Articles cover the period 1865-1985.
Inventory
Box 1
Folders
Correspondence, 1979-1984
Research notes, general, ca. 1975-1976
Research notes, general, ca. 1981-1982
Research notes on the ERIE L. HACKLEY, 1981
Research notes for Steamship Lines A-D (notes for events from 1833-1983)
Box 2
Folders
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Crosby Transportation Company (notes for events from 1883-1981)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, E-M (notes for events from 1963-1982)
Box 3
Folders
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Goodrich Transportation Company (notes for events from 1948-1963)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, Graham Morton Navigation Company (notes for events from 1874-1930)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, N. (notes for events from 1838-1919)
Research notes for Steamship Lines, O-Z (notes for events from 1853-1965)
Legal Files: JOHN M. McKERCHEY, 1947
Legal Files: Sullivan v WATT, 1937
Financial Files: Wage Information, 1933-1943
Financial Files: Wage Information, 1933-1943
Financial Files: Wage Information (Wage and Tax Deduction Schedules), 1942-1946
Financial Files: Wage Information (Wage and Tax Deduction Schedules), 1942-1946
Financial Files: Wage Information, 1941-1946
Financial Files: Great Lakes Steamship Company, Inc., 1955-1957
Milwaukee Car Ferry (For account of loss, see clipping under WISCONSIN)
Milwaukee Clipper/Aquarama
Mississippi Queen
Mississippi River, Locks and Dam 26 at Alton, IL
Muskegon, MI
Muskegon and Chicago Navigation Company
Navy Pier - Chicago
NEVADA
New Icebreaker
Novadoc-Davock-Minch, Pentwater, MI
NYACK
M/V OTTAWA
OUR SON (Schooner)
PATROL NO. 1
PEERLESS
PESHTIGO
PEWABIC
PHOENIX
PIERPORT
PIERSON DAUGHTERS
Port Huron Lightship
PRESQUE ISLE (tug-barge)
PRINS WILHELM V
Project Lakewell
PURITAN
Racine Boat Works, Muskegon, MI
RARITAN - USCG
REISS
Jim Rose - Harbor Springs, MI
Rogers & Bird
Rogers City, MI
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
St. Ignace, MI (see also Mackinaw City, MI)
St. Joseph, MI
SALVORE (barge)
SCOURGE
Scuba Diving, Lake Michigan
Capt. Dan Seavey
Ship Model Builders
Shipwrecks
ROUSE SIMMONS
Sleeping Bear
SOO CITY
Soo Locks
South Haven, MI
SOUTH AMERICAN and NORTH AMERICAN
STELLA MARIS II
Storm of 1913
Storms, November
Storm, Armistice Day, 1940
SUGAR ISLANDER
SULTANA
TASHMOO
Towboats, Western Rivers
M.E. TREMBLE (Schooner)
UNITED STATES
U.S. Life-Saving Service
George Vargo
VENUS (tanker)
VERNON
VIRGINIA
WALK-IN-THE-WATER
Howard Weis, Marine Photographer
WESTERN STATES
Winter Sailing
WISCONSIN
WISCONSIN
Harry J. Wolf
WOODBINE - USCG
WORLD DISCOVERER
Wreck Hunters
Miscellaneous
Box 6
Folders
Notes, History, and Build Lists for Ohio Shipbuilders in the 19th Century
Detroit and St. Clair River Towing Association Tow Record for the tug THOMAS QUAYLE, 1867
Great Lakes Marine Excerpts From the Niles' National Register, 1842
History and Vessel List of the Hawgood Fleet
Vessel List For The Northwestern Steamship Company of Cleveland (Councilman)
Vessel List For Valley Transit Company
Vessel List For Valley Camp Steamship Company, Morrow Steamship Company, J.A. Paisley Steamship Company
Vessel List For Hutchinson & Company: Pioneer Steamship Company, Inland Steamship Company, and Buckeye Steamship Company
Vessel List For the Boland and Cornelius Fleets and Eastern Steamship Company, Ltd.
Vessel Lists For Canadian Line-Tree Line Navigation Company; Reiss Steamship Company, Rockport Steamship Company, Red Arrow Steamship Company, and Redlands Steamship Company
Correspondence, 1975-1979
History of the Graham & Morton Transportation Company, by Rev. Edward J. Dowling, S.J., 1947
History and Notes on the Steamer MINNESOTA, 1902-1980
History and Vessel List For Western Transportation/Transit Company
Vessel List For Minnisota-Atlantic Transit Company
History and Vessel List For The Erie & Western Transportation Company (Anchor Line)
History and Vessel List For Erie Railroad Steamboat Company and Union Steamboat Company Fleet (Subsidiary of Erie from 1868)
Vessel Lists For Lehigh Valley Transportation Company, Mutual Transit Company, and American Transportation Company
Biographical Sketch of E.B. Ward; Vessel Lists For Ward's Lines: Detroit & Lake Superior Line, T.R. Lyon & Co., Menominee Transportation Company, and Interstate Transit Company
History and Vessel List For Gilchrist Transportation Company
Vessel List For Wilson Transit Company, Minch Transportation Company, and Kinsman Transit Company
Vessel Lists For Pringle Barge Line Company, Whitney Fleet, and Milwaukee Tug Boat Line
Vessel List For Great Lakes Towing Company
History and Vessel List For Goodrich Transportation/Transit Company
History and Vessel Lists For Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Company, Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Company, Detroit & Buffalo Line, Northern Transportation Company, and Chicago & Ogdensburg Line
History and Vessel List For Great Lakes Transit Corporation; Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company and Its Affiliates and Predecessors
History of Vessels in the Goodrich Fleet, A-F
History of Vessels in the Goodrich Fleet, G-W
Lists of Steamers and Steamer Losses on the Great Lakes, 1818-1929