[PW] Re: Smith VanValkenburg & Company archives/papers

[Bradley Scott]

Mike

I tried to send this privately, but according to the error message I
received, SpamCop is blocking it from reaching your e'mail.  Feel free
to respond off list if you prefer (and if SpamCop will let you).

Bradley A. Scott

(Cut-n-pasted from bounced message:)

Mike,

Have you gotten any responses on your question about Smith
VanValkenburg & Co.?  And do you mind if I ask what history-oriented
sources you've tried so far, so that I don't end up duplicating your
efforts?

Also... what kind of information about the company does your patron
need?  Company financial information?  Or basic operational histories
and photographs of their facilities in Michigan?

I could check in some books about the Detroit & Mackinaw and other
railroads in that area and see if they mention anything about that
lumber operation or any logging railroads that it might have run.  There's
a book by Forrest Meeks and Carl Bajema about Michigan logging
railroads that might help locate pertinent information if SVV&Co ran
any such railroad as an adjunct to their logging operations.  I also
live close enough to Ann Arbor and Lansing that I may have a chance
to drop by the Bentley library and the collections in Lansing
sometime in the next few weeks.

I could also query some folks in the Railway & Locomotive Historical
Society, since some of them are also interested in the history of
industries that are closely tied to railroads.

Bradley A. Scott

> Hello,
>
> I apologize for duplication. I have already posted this question to
> both Business discussion lists, but have not received a reply.
>
> I have a patron whom is seeking the location of company papers &
> archives of the Smith VanValkenburg & Company (also referred to as
> Smith & VanValkenburg & Company, or with a comma following Smith, or
> with a space between: Van Valkenburg).  They were in the lumbering &
> logging industry between about 1867-1900, and were headquartered in
> New York state.  The company had major operations in the midwest,
> including East Tawas, Michigan.  As a service learning project, the
> student is working with East Tawas and county local history groups to
> develop an exhibit on this company and its role in the community.
>
> We have exhausted all  local & regional resources, WorldCat, all
> available History databases including full-text, and used numerous
> search engines.
>
> Your assistance is appreciated.
>
> thank you,
>
> Mike
>
>   Mike Strahan
>   Reference/Instruction Coordinator, and Library Distance Education
> Services Librarian
>   Olson Library
> Northern Michigan U.
>   mstrahan at nmu.edu  phone:2463  FAX: 1333