Abstract Thomas W. Porter (1827 - 1911) collected, sold and traded archaeological artifacts from West Michigan during the last third of the nineteenth century. Often working with Wright L. Coffinberry and others from the Kent Scientific Institute, he used his skill as a sketcher to draw facsimiles of Native American and other artifacts. The collection includes maps and illustrations of the Indian burial mounds in Grand Rapids and the items recovered from them, including the “Big Find” in...

Abstract Wright L. Coffinberry (1807-1889) was an early settler in Grand Rapids (Mich.) and a self-taught civil engineer and archaeologist. Moving to Grand Rapids from Ohio circa 1848, he was responsible for a large number of additions platted for the city as well as several state road projects, principally the road from Kent County to Northport.The collection includes his autobiography, maps from his work as a civil engineer and various documents on the excavations of the Norton Mounds....