Skip to main content

Dorothy Keister collection

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 101

Scope and Contents

The collection contains historical photographs, autograph albums, historical publications, and genealogical research compiled by Cecile Keister. Included are the letters between David Noble and his wife Mary (Knapp) Noble (later Taylor), a carpenter from Sparta, MI., volunteered for Civil War service in Co. C, 1st Michigan Mechanics and Engineers. He died 22 June 1862 of disease at Tuscumbri, AL. The letters detail his months of training and boredom, food and medical services available as well as his concern for matters on the farm, particularly the payment of the property taxes. Mary's letters, in return, document the health and welfare of the family. A few civil war era letters from Erastus W. Noble (brother), are also found in the collection. He enlisted in Co. K, N.Y. Lincoln Cavalry, at Grand Rapids and was mustered out June 27, 1865.

The collection also contains photographs of the extended family members, Sparta and Kent City, MI, particularly the Kent City fire, 22 April 1907. Genealogical data is available on the following families:Allen, Dudley, Highley, Keister, Noble, Symes, and Williams. The material is divided into four sections: personal papers, genealogical research, photographs and volumes.

Dates

  • 1855-1962

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Dorothy Keister was born in Sparta, Michigan November 6, 1901 to Bruce and Cecile Keister. Dorothy was the oldest of three children, including one brother, Bruce Jr., who died at age 3, and one sister named Doris. Dorothy’s father Bruce Sr. was an accomplished banker who presided over many banks throughout the state of Michigan including in the cities of Sparta, Kent City, and Bellevue. Dorothy’s mother Cecile spent many years researching the genealogy of her extended family. Through more than a decade of research, most of which is included in this collection, she has traced her mothers family (Noble) back six generations to the 17th century, when they first immigrated from England. Dorothy attended Olivet College and graduated with a B.A. in 1923. Following the death of her father in 1924, Dorothy lived with her mother and sister in Kalamazoo and then on Benjamin Street in Grand Rapids until 1935. After leaving Grand Rapids, Dorothy was a Director of the Whitman School of Interior Design in New York, Administrator for the Detroit Schools, Librarian in the St. Clair School system, and also sold real estate in Florida for a brief period. Dorothy Keister died in Tawas City, Michigan on July 25, 1996 at the age of 95.

Bio by John Gelderloos

Extent

1.75 Linear Feet (Four boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Keister family lived in Sparta and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dorothy Keister (1901-1996) donated historical photographs, autograph albums, a few historical publications and family genealogical research compiled by Cecile Keister. Images include Sparta and Kent City, Michigan, and particularly the Kent City fire on April 22, 1907. Genealogical data is available on the following families: Allen, Dudley, Highley, Keister, Noble, Symes and Williams.

Also included are letters between David Noble and his wife Mary Noble. Written while David served in the Civil War, his letters detail his months of training and boredom, the food and medical services available, and his concern for matters on the farm. Mary's letters, in return, document the health and welfare of the family. A few civil war era letters from Erastus W. Noble (brother), are also found in the collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Dorothy Keister, 1980, accession number 1980.043.

Related Materials

See Coll. 242, the GRPL Civil War Documents Collection for more information on holdings from this era in various GRPL archival collections.

Photo Index

Banks: Box 1, Folder 17



Baseball players: Box 1, Folder 18



Camp Lake store: Box 1, Folder 12



Churches: Box 1, Folder 17



Dogs: Box 2, Folder 8



Farm houses: Box 1, Folder 13



House interiors: Box 1, Folder 17



Keister house: Box 1, Folder 13



Kent City High School: Box 1, Folder 14



Kent City, MI: Box 1, Folder 14



Kent City, MI fire: Box 1, Folder 14



Michigan Banker's Association: Box 1, Folder 15



Peach shipping: Box 1, Folder 17



People. Anderson, Billie: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Ballard, Claude: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Bowhall, Mable: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Burr, Redmond: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Calkins, L.W.: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Cass, Majorie: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Chamberlain, George: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Cheney, Mary: Box 2, Folder 2



People. Condra, Beatrice: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Duley, Frank: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Empey, Fanny: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Fairman, Frankie: Box 2, Folder 2



People. Galloway, William: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Gilbert, Miss: Box 2, Folder 9



People. Haines, Claude: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Hall, Asa: Box 2, Folder 1



People. Hall, Clara: Box 2, Folder 1



People. Johnson, Eddie: Box 2, Folder 3



People. Johnson, Ella: Box 2, Folder 3



People. Johnson, Sherman: Box 2, Folder 3



People. Loop, Ina: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Maynard, John: Box 2, Folder 10



People. McDonald, Dena: Box 2, Folder 4



People. McDonald, Robert: Box 2, Folder 4



People. Miller, Elisha: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Miller, Levi: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Murray, Carlton: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Murray, Charles: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Noble, Bert: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Charles: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, David: Box 3, Folder



People. Noble, Eucile: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Levi: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Mae: Box 2, Folder 4



People. Noble, Mary Ann: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Minet: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Nancy: Box 2, Folder 6



People. Noble, Ned: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Orpha: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Sarah: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Wilbur: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Noble, Willie: Box 2, Folder 5



People. Sweeney, Patrick: Box 2, Folder 6



People. Symes, Elinor Maria: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Symes, J. Ballard: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Symes, James: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Symes, Lula: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Symes, Mary: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Symes, Mildred: Box 2, Folder 7



People. Taylor, Mary: Box 2, Folder 4



People. Willey, Vernon J.: Box 2, Folder 10



People. Williams, Albert: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Angelina: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Carolyn: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Cecile: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Edward: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Evelyn: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Florence: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Fred: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Grace: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Henry: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Josiah: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Mamie: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Mary: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Maude: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Nancy: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Williams, Sarah E.: Box 2, Folder 8



People. Zimmer, Arthur: Box 2, Folder 10



Prohibition Campaign: Box 1, Folder 16



School interiors: Box 1, Folder 14



Sparta, MI: Box 1, Folder 17



Sparta, MI Methodist Church: Box 1, Folder 17



Sparta, MI State Bank: Box 1, Folder 17



Sparta, MI railroad depot: Box 1, Folder 17



Stores: Box 1, Folder 12



Symes house: Box 1, Folder 13



Symes house: Box 1, Folder 17



Wedding dinner: Box 1, Folder 18



Williams house: Box 1, Folder 16

Title
Finding Aid for the Dorothy Keister collection
Subtitle
Including historical photographs, Civil War correspondence and family memorabilia
Status
Completed
Author
Richard H. Harms
Date
June 1989
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository

Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497