David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography, County File, Wayne County 1865-1985

Summary

Creator:

Tinder, David V.

Abstract:

The collection contains photographs of Wayne County, Michigan. Included are numerous urban scenes and images of everyday life, primarily in the Metropolitan Detroit area between 1860 and the mid-20th century. The bulk of the photographs were taken between 1890 and 1930. A very wide range of topics is represented, among them commercial and residential architecture, urban infrastructure, public and private spaces, civic and domestic activities, individual and group portraits, and events from across the social spectrum.

Extent:

1,937 photographs, 16 real photo stamps, 6 booklets, 101 pages, clippings and ephemera

Language:

The material is in English .

Background

Scope and content:

Included in the Wayne County file of the David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography are images of urban Detroit, people in their places of work, at home, at leisure, and participating in social activities and in fraternal and religious organizations. Numerous images show industrial manufacturing, urban transportation, and civic infrastructure. Activities related to entertainment, sports, parades, and the arts are well represented. The many portraits photographs include formal posed images, casual snapshots, workplace groups and fraternal organizations.

A vast majority of the photographs are the work of commercial photographers, with some amateurs. A significant number of photos were taken by Detroit News and Detroit Free Press photographers. Almost all the images present would be considered vernacular photos rather than fine art; however, many are carefully composed with strong aesthetic characteristics.

Although the photos have been largely sorted by subject, related materials may be present outside of the subject categories, i.e., images of transportation can also be found in the categories Architecture, Business and Commerce, Group Portraits, and in other sections outside of Transportation.

The bulk of the photos in this collection were taken in Detroit during the era of rapid population growth and industrial development around the turn of the century. The diversity of industry that appears in the late 19th century images can be seen giving way to automobile centered growth in the mid-20th century. Evidence of the rich residential lifestyles and multi-ethnic cultures of the Detroit area appear in many images.

At the fringe of the collection’s scope are images of the demolition of factories, the disappearance of public transportation, and racial unrest during the decline of Detroit in the mid to late 20th century.

It should be noted that while most of the collection are mounted and unmounted photographic prints, there are a few bound items as well as printed ephemera.

The collection has been organized into various categories by subject. The first group of photos is comprised of those that did not fit neatly under other categories. These include views of military encampments, disasters and firefighting, civic unrest, commercial product promotions, and other miscellaneous topics. Of particular note is a charming outdoor children’s party scene by amateur photographer Robert R. Oesterreich (no. 9); a double portrait montage by Tony Spina of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, both speaking at Campus Martius (no. 14); the high quality photomechanical prints of Detroit scenes and architecture in the Detroit Illustrated. (no. 16); and a collection of 28 miscellaneous nightclub souvenir photographs dating from the 1940s-1980s (no. 20). The rest of the material falls under the following categories:

Transportation:
243 photographs. Material is divided between the following sub-categories: Automobiles and Trucks (56 photographs), Aircraft (18 photographs), Railroads and Trains (58 photographs), Streetcars and Trolleys (20 photographs), Roads and Infrastructure (33 photographs), Wagons (20 photographs), Maritime (38 photographs).

Of note are a photograph of an African American couple posed with a new V-8 Ford (no. 71.3); construction photos of the Detroit River railroad tunnel (no. 95); Goebel’s Brewing Co. delivery wagons (no. 98); and a view of the steamboat Tashmoo at speed on the Detroit River (no. 110).

Performers:
107 photographs, most of which (113 photographs) are contained in the sub-category Music and Musicians. Of particular note are numerous photos of community brass bands, a photo of John Philip Sousa and his band at Grand Circus Park (no. 122); an image of the inventor Charles Crawford and his patented "Pickaphone" mechanism for playing stringed instruments, ca. 1888 (no. 123); and copy prints of two important early jazz bands, Finney’s Orchestra (no. 131) and McKinney’s Cotton Pickers (no. 132).

Portraits:
505 photographs. Material is divided into the following sub-categories: Individuals (172 photographs), Groups (133 photographs), Children (97 photographs), Weddings (64 photographs), Confirmation and Communion (41 photographs). Of particular interest are a photograph of Joan Baxter and her Hot Dog Cooker (no. 137); three 1860's portraits of members of the Hawley family of Detroit (no. 141), one of which is inscribed with enlargement instructions ca.1901 on its verso; and a portrait of politician and founder of the Republican Party Zachariah Chandler, taken by Benjamin Powelson ca. 1880 (no. 142).

Of the many notable images within the Groups category are an outstanding image of sixteen Packard Motor Car Company employees piled onto a 1911 Packard in front of the then new Packard factory on West Grand Blvd. (no. 144.9); a group of African American women engaged in a ceremonial burning of the mortgage of the Phyllis Wheatley Home for Aged Colored Ladies (no. 162); and a portrait of members of the Direct Credits Society, a Great Depression-era wealth redistribution movement founded by Alfred Lawson (no. 166).

Parades:
54 photographs. Many scenes of massive parades in Detroit. Of note is a series of photographs of women marching in a racially-integrated United Spanish War Veterans Parade, ca.1940 (no. 179); and a view of five young women in a florally decorated early automobile (no. 180.11).

Business & Commerce:
319 photographs. Where possible, material has been divided into the following sub-categories: Business Exteriors (52 photographs), Business Interiors (125 photographs), Construction (22 photographs), Ford Motor Company (19 photographs). Of note is an image of a group of brewers tapping a keg at the Marx Brewing Co. (no. 186.1); Candler Dock & Dredge Co. workers and surveyors building a dock, taken by the Manning Bros. ca 1920s (no. 192); women rolling cigars at the R.G. Dunn factory, 1909 (no. 204); workers fabricating automobile bodies at the Briggs Manufacturing Co. ca. 1910s (no. 206);interior view of the Burroughs Adding Machine factory (no 209.11); the Penobscot Building construction in three stages ca 1928 (no. 217); and two fold-out panoramic photos of the Ford complex at River Rouge taken by Otto Rotch in 1925 (no. 218).

Views:
86 photographs. Material is divided into Street Views (28 photographs), Residential Views (51 photographs), and Aerial Views (7 photographs).

Architecture:
69 photographs. Of particular note is a charming view of a small inn at Springwells, Mich., the International Exposition House ca. 1889 (no. 235); an 1870's print of the large Russell House Hotel in Detroit (no. 238); and a panoramic view of downtown Detroit at its peak, taken by the Murray Studio in the 1920s (no. 240.18).

Labor & Unemployment:
8 photographs primarily focused on unemployment during the Great Depression. Of note is a group photo of the striking Journeyman Bakers International Union in 1902 (no. 248).

Athletes & Athletics:
58 photographs. Of particular note are a copy-print of a 1910 Detroit Tigers team photo featuring Hall of Famer Ty Cobb (no. 261); a series of 3 group photographs of an early soccer team, Michigan Alkali F.C. in 1923 (no. 265); Wyandotte baseball teams (no. 266);. The Slocum’s Island baseball champions of 1882 (no. 272.4); and a 1943 curling team (no. 273).

Classrooms & Schools:
38 photographs. Of particular interest are a student group in front of a one-room schoolhouse at Cherry Hill in 1934 (no. 280.11); a kindergarten band at Clippert School taken by the Manning Bros. (no. 280.20); and a ca.1936 Lincoln Park High School album with personal snapshots and autographs of classmates (no. 279).

Places of Worship & Religious Activities:
43 photographs. One of several images related to African American church congregations shows members of an A.M.E. church dressed in "traditional" African garb ca.1920-1930 (no. 284).

Parks:
112 photographs. Of particular focus is Belle Isle (approx. 50 photographs) and Waterworks Park. A series of Belle Isle views taken in 1889 by Holcombe & Metzen is particularly picturesque (no. 297.1-9).

Funerals & Postmortem Photography:
14 photographs. These photographs date from the 1910s-1930s and are mostly photographs of open caskets surrounded by the deceased's family.

Biographical / historical:

The city of Detroit and its vast metropolitan area has dominated the Wayne County area for centuries. Detroit was founded in 1701 as a French settlement with access to the Great Lakes and Canada and quickly became a strategic military post and trade center. It transferred to British control in 1760 during the Seven Years War and to United States governance in 1796. It became a chartered city in 1802, the capitol of the Michigan Territory in 1805, and Michigan’s first State Capital from 1837 to 1847. The city grew with an economy based largely on agriculture and trade in the early 19th century, becoming one of the nation’s prime manufacturing and cultural centers after the Civil War. Large industries based in the region included railroad equipment manufacturing, ship building, iron and steel production, stoves, pharmaceuticals, brewing, wagon making, and many others.

The industrial strength of Detroit created a large middle-class society as well as vast wealth. In turn, this affluence supported cultural advancement, education, and the arts. Commercial photography studios thrived in this environment. Many prize-winning portrait photographers were based in Detroit, as were those specializing in architecture, and the documentation of industry and commerce.

The diversity of industry of late 19th century Detroit gave way to automobile centered growth in the mid-20th century. The boom in wartime production during World War Two attracted workers from around the country and shifted the racial demographics of the city.

The collapse of manufacturing industries, the disappearance of public transportation, and massive population shifts to the suburbs were factors in the decline of Detroit in the mid to late 20th century.

Acquisition information:

F-832, F-860, F-861, F-891, F-892, F-893, F-898, F-909, F-911, F-914, F-922, F-938, F-940, F-945, F-961, F-980, F-987, F-1004, F-1005, F-1014, F-1017, F-1027, F-1028, F-1033, F-1054, F-1066, F-1067, F-1074, F-1076, F-1077, F-1113, F-1114 .

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Indexed terms

Subjects:

David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography.
Photographs shelf.
Actors--Michigan--1900-1910.
Actresses--Michigan--1890-1910.
African American businesspeople--Michigan.
African American children--Portraits--Michigan.
African American choirs--Michigan.
African American churches--Michigan.
African American freemasons--Michigan.
African American judges--Michigan.
African American musicians--Michigan.
African Americans--Societies, etc.--Michigan.
African American students--Michigan.
African American Sunday schools--Michigan.
Agricultural laborers--Michigan.
Airports--Michigan.
Aircraft--Michigan--1930-1940.
Aircraft industry--Michigan.
Air shows--Michigan.
Amateur theater--Michigan.
Amusement parks--Michigan.
Animals on television--Michigan.
Asbestos--Michigan.
Automobile factories--Michigan.
Automobile industry workers--Michigan.
Automobile rallies--Michigan.
Automobiles--Michigan.
Automobiles--Design and construction--Michigan.
Balls (Parties)--Michigan--1910-1920.
Bands (Music)--Michigan.
Banquets--Michigan--1920-1930.
Barbers--Michigan.
Barbershops--Michigan--1910-1920.
Bar mitzvah--Michigan.
Bars (Drinking establishments)--Michigan.
Baseball players--Michigan.
Basketball courts--Michigan.
Basketball players--Michigan.
Beauty shops--Michigan.
Beekeepers--Michigan.
Bicycles & tricycles--Michigan--1890-1930.
Bicycle stores--Michigan.
Blacksmiths--Michigan.
Blizzards--Michigan.
Boats and boating--Michigan.
Boycotts--Michigan.
Breweries--Michigan.
Breweries--Employees--Michigan.
Brick trade--Michigan.
Bridges--Michigan--Detroit.
Broom and brush industry--Michigan.
Building construction--Michigan--1910-1930.
Buses--Michigan--1930-1940.
Business organizations--Michigan.
Business Schools--Michigan.
Button industry--Michigan.
Cafeterias--Michigan.
Camping--Michigan.
Canoes and canoeing--Michigan.
Carts & wagons--Michigan--1890-1910
Casinos--Michigan.
Catholic schools--Michigan.
Cemeteries--Michigan.
Chauffeurs--Michigan.
Chemical industry--Michigan.
Children's costumes--Michigan.
Children's parties--Michigan--1890-1900.
Children--Michigan--Portraits.
Children's choirs--Michigan.
Church buildings--Michigan.
Cigar industry--Michigan.
Circus animals--Michigan.
Circus performers--Michigan.
City councils--Michigan--Hamtramck (Mich.)
City halls--Michigan.
Commercial photography--Michigan.
Concert programs--Michigan.
Confirmation--Catholic Church--Michigan.
Construction workers--Michigan.
Coopers and Cooperage--Michigan.
Couples--Michigan--Portraits.
Creameries--Michigan.
Cross-country runners--Michigan.
Curling--Michigan.
Dairying--Michigan.
Delivery of goods--Michigan.
Diving--Michigan--1890-1900.
Docks--Michigan.
Dredges--Michigan.
Drugstores--Michigan.
Dwellings--Michigan.
Engines--Michigan.
Entertainers--Michigan--1900-1910.
Ethnic costume--Romania.
Ethnic groups--Michigan.
Exhibitions--Michigan--1880-1890.
Explosions--Michigan.
Factories--Employees--Michigan.
Factories--Michigan.
Families--Michigan--Portraits.
Fire fighters--Michigan.
Florists--Michigan.
Flour mills--Michigan.
Flower arrangements--Michigan--1920-1940.
Football players--Michigan--1900-1910.
Fraternal organizations--Michigan
Funeral rites & ceremonies--Michigan--1910-1930
Gardens--Michigan--1900-1910.
Gas power plants--Michigan.
Graduation (School)
Grocery trade--Michigan.
Hardware stores--Michigan.
Hat trade--Michigan.
High school students--Michigan.
Horse-drawn rail cars--Michigan.
Horse racing--Michigan--1920-1930
Hospitals--Michigan--Detroit.
Hotels--Michigan--1870-1890.
Ice industry--Michigan.
Insurance companies--Michigan.
Inventors--Michigan
Jazz musicians--Michigan
Kitchen utensils--Michigan.
Laboratories--Michigan.
Lakes--Michigan.
Libraries--Michigan--Detroit.
Lighthouses--Michigan.
Locomotives--Michigan.
Luggage industry--Michigan.
Mausoleums--Michigan.
Mechanical musical instruments--Michigan.
Men--Michigan--Portraits.
Men--Societies and clubs--Michigan.
Metalworking industries--Michigan.
Military bands--Michigan.
Motion pictures--Michigan--1930-1940.
Motorboat racing--Michigan.
Music stores--Michigan.
Musicians--Michigan.
Nightclubs--Michigan.
Nursing schools--Michigan.
Occupational training--Michigan.
Offices--Michigan--1910-1930.
Old age homes--Michigan.
Opticians--Michigan.
Paddle steamers--Michigan.
Parade floats--Michigan.
Parades--Michigan.
Parks--Michigan--Detroit.
Photography--Societies, etc--Michigan.
Picnics--Michigan.
Playgrounds--Michigan.
Police--Michigan--Detroit.
Police stations--Michigan.
Political parades & rallies--Michigan--1900-1920.
Portraits, group--Michigan.
Postmortem photography--Michigan.
Power-plants--Design and construction--Michigan.
Priests--Michigan.
Prisons--Michigan.
Public architecture--Michigan.
Radio broadcasting--Michigan.
Railroad stations--Michigan.
Railroad tunnels--Design and construction--Michigan.
Railroad tunnels--Michigan.
Railroads--Employees--Michigan.
Railroads--Michigan.
Residential architecture--Michigan.
Restaurants--Michigan--1920-1930.
Sailors--Michigan.
School children--Michigan.
School buildings--Michigan.
School plays--Michigan.
School yearbooks--Michigan.
Ships--Launching--Michigan.
Ships--Michigan.
Shoes--Repairing--Michigan.
Skyscrapers--Michigan--Detroit.
Soccer players--Michigan--1920-1930
Soldiers--Michigan.
Souvenirs (Keepsakes)--Michigan.
Spanish-American War, 1898--Veterans--Michigan.
Stables--Michigan.
Steamboats--Michigan.
Steel foundries--Michigan.
Stove industry and trade--Michigan.
Street lighting--Michigan.
Street-railroads--Michigan.
Streets--Michigan.
Strikes and lockouts--Automobile industry--Michigan.
String bands--Michigan.
Storefronts--Michigan.
Teeth--Radiography--Michigan.
Television programs--Michigan.
Theaters--Michigan--1910-1920.
Threshing machines--Michigan--1900-1910.
Tour buses--Michigan.
Traffic signs & signals---Michigan--1930-1950
Train ferries--Michigan.
Trucks--Michigan--1920-1940.
Variety stores--Michigan.
Vocational education--Michigan.
Water mills--Michigan.
Water towers--Michigan.
Waterworks--Michigan.
Weddings--Michigan.
Women automobile industry workers--Michigan.
Women field hockey players--Michigan.
Women figure skaters--Michigan.
Women--Employment--Michigan--1910-1940.
Women--Michigan--Portraits.
Women--Societies and clubs--Michigan.
World War 1914-1918--Michigan.
Clippings.
Cyanotypes.
Documents.
Ephemera.
Pamphlets.
Photocopies.
Photographic prints.
Photomechanical prints.
Postage stamps.

Location of this collection:

University of Michigan. William L. Clements Library

909 South University Avenue

Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA

Contact:

clements-reference@umich.edu