Archives and Collections

Overview

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm welcomes you to utilize our archival, reference and photographic collections for your research needs. Remember that these items are some of the most valuable documents our community has preserved. The Museum staff that control all access and use of these precious documents coordinates their protection. Not all items will be available at all times, please coordinate your visit with us before you come. Always call the Museum prior to your visit to arrange an appointment for use of the Museum archives. You can reach our archivist, Michelle Akers-Berg, at (248)656-4663. You may also make requests via Email.

The following table and list contain the Rochester Hills Museum's holdings, in the fields of reference, archives, photographs and special collections for the Greater Rochester and Rochester Hills community. We encourage you to call us with your local history questions.

To view information collected in 1935 about Avon Township properties, click here. This will direct you to the Rural Properties Inventories at the Michigan History, Arts, and Library website.

For information about the history of, or other communities within, Oakland County click here to be directed to the Oakland County Historical Resources website.

Reference Collection

The Reference Collection is a working collection of research documents drawn from contemporary sources such as newspapers, magazines, and books.

Archival Collection

The Archival Collection contains original historical documents carefully handled and stored in archival folders and boxes to prevent deterioration.

Photographic Archives

The Museum has photographs relating to the Greater Rochester Hills Community and the surrounding areas. 
 

	Reference	Archival	Photographic
Archaeology	X
Barns	X	X
Businesses	X	X
Canals	X	X	X
Cemeteries	X	X	X
Churches	X	X	X
Cities	X	X
Counties	X	X
Farms	X	X
Houses			X
Michigan	X	X
Mills	X	X	X
Organizations	X	X	X
Parks	X	X	X
People	X	X	X
Rochester Hills Museum	X	X	X
Schools	X	X	X
Stoney Creek Village	X	X	X
Transportation	X	X	X
Van Hoosen Family	X	X	X

Special Collections

These are special collections on the following people or topics:

• Atlases and Maps (local, county and state)
• Charles Bloomer Collection
  o Papers and correspondence from 1917-1929
  o Served as naval officer and was involved in the Masonic Order
  
•  Civil War Collection
  o Avon Township soldiers
  o Diaries of Henry Gail
  o Letters from Col. John Frank from 1822-1907
  o Monograph and pamphlets:
   "Michigan at Vicksburg" by Charles G. Hampton in 1917
   "The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth" by F. L. Bates in 1907 
   "The Michigan Brigade of Cavalry at the Battle of Gettysburg and Why I Was Not Hung" by Samuel Harris in 1894
  "Famous Leaders and Battle Scenes of the Civil War," 1896 
  
•  Florence Cook Collection
  o Land Document Inventory regarding:
   William Burt and Levi W Cole  1829
   Nathaniel Millerd and Levi W. Cole  1833
   Levi W. Cole and Theodore C. Cook  1866
   J.Q. Adams and Erastus Crepsey
   Theodore Cook and Solom B. Cook  1895
  o Letter and genealogy information to Catherine Cook
  
•  History of Oakland County  1817-1877
  
•  Historic Homes Listing
  o Rochester
  o Rochester Hills
  o Oakland Township
  
• Jones Family Collection
  o Relating to husband of Alice Van Hoosen and father of Dr. Sarah Van Hoosen Jones - Joseph Comstock Jones
  
• Dr. Sarah Van Hoosen Jones Collection
  o Fifth generation descendent of settlers of Avon Township in Stoney Creek Village.
  o Earned her doctorate in animal genetics and became the first woman in the U.S. to be named a "Master Farmer."
  o Collection covers papers regarding her farm work, civic activities and personal life from 1899-1972.
  
• Millard Family Genealogy
  o Descendants of John Millard from England to Rehoboth, MA
  
• Oakland County Biographic Sketch  1891
  
• Oral Histories
  o Alice Serrell
  o Thelma Spencer
  o Leon Price
  o Zonta Dinner honoring Sarah Van Hoosen Jones
  o Georgianna Kersting
  o Randall Gerhke
  o Sarah Brewster
  
• Rochester Community Schools Collection
  o Covering 1885-1980, predominately 1920-1940
  o Paperwork including:
   Teacher's papers
   Treasurer's reports
   Yearbooks
  
• Rochester Newspaper Collection
  o Rochester ERA: selected issues from 1873-1949
  o Rochester Clarion: selected issues from 1915-1980
  o Avon News: selected issues from 1955-1956
  o Rochester News: selected issues from 1956-1965
  o Rochester Eccentric: selected issues from 1973, 1976-1978
  
• Rochester Jr. Women's Club Scrapbooks
  
• Rural Properties Inventories for Avon Township and Rochester, compiled in 1935 
  
• Alice Serrell Collection
  o Bookkeeper for Dr. Sarah Van Hoosen Jones in 1936.
  o Collection covers her commitment to the community, her travels and the Van Hoosen Family.
  o Covers 1885-1997, predominately 1940-1970
  
• Stoney Creek Cemetery
  
• Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen Collection
  o Fourth generation descendent of settlers of Avon Township in Stoney Creek Village.
  o Successful gynecologist, obstetrician and surgeon.
  o First president of American Women's Medical Association.
  o Covers 1888-1950, predominately her medical career.
  
• Women's National Farm and Garden Association Scrapbooks 
  

Rules for Use of Archival Materials

1. All briefcases, portfolios, and purses must be deposited with the staff person before you begin research.
2. Only pencils may be used for taking notes. Recording devices may be used if they are not disturbing to others.
3. No smoking, eating, or drinking is permitted while in the museum facility.
4. Extreme care must be used in the handling of all materials.
5. You will be required to complete a registration form, including your name, phone number, address and the reason for your research.
6. All materials are to be used only in the Museum facility.
7. Use of original material must cite: From the Archives of the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.
8. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure permission to publish materials from the Archives and to adhere to laws on copyright and literary property rights.

Violation of any of the above rules will result in denial of material. Theft or mutilation of the holdings is a crime that will be prosecuted. These rules are not intended to place a burden on the researcher, but to ensure the protection of the holdings of the Archives.