Dorothy Keister collection
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
- Keister, Dorothy (Donor, Person)
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.
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
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org