The collection consists of his scrapbooks, typed notes, typed 3x4 and 5x8 inch notecards, reel-to-reel tapes, a 16 mm film, and slides. The vast majority of the collection, particularly the note cards and slides document Michigan historic markers, historic sites, events, counties, townships, Chippewa Indians, and school trips to the Upper Peninsula, the Straits area, and Grayling, Michigan. Also included are the 1884 and 1885 tax assessor’s assessment books for Jerome Township (Midland County). The assessor’s volumes are not records of permanent historic value, but have been maintained as examples in this collection. [Midland County’s Clerk and Treasurer’s historic financial and clerical records are also housed (on deposit) at the Clarke.] Midland County (Mich.) history is well represented in this collection.
The collection is organized by format and size: letter-sized (or smaller) materials in boxes, note cards according to their size, and legal- and oversized materials at the end. Letter-size (or smaller) materials are organized alphabetically by title or topic, and then by size, and /or chronologically as needed.
Overall, the collection is in good shape. The plumber’s account book and copy of the Declaration of Allegiance are quite acidic and brittle and should be used with care. There is a slightly musty smell to the collection, so researchers with allergies or asthma may wish to take precautions while using the collection.
Processing Notes: The collection originally included about 21 cubic feet of material. Of this, maps, books, children’s literature, and textbooks were separately cataloged. Mass-produced out-of-state slides, unidentified reel-to-reel tapes, all duplicates, and out-of-state postcards were withdrawn from the collection during processing. A substantial number of Michigan postcards were merged into the Clarke’s Michigan Postcard collection. Family vacation slides were returned to Mr. Berriman's daughter, Beth DeWitt, as per her request. The collection was donated by Beth DeWitt, on behalf of all of Mr. Berriman's children in their father's memory and honor.
Biography:
Stanley J. Berriman was born on April 3, 1922 in Buchanan (N.Y.), the son of the John Major and Helen (Michaels) Berriman. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, flying 38 combat missions over Germany with the Eighth Air Force.
After the war, Stan earned a B. A. from Michigan State University and earned a master’s degree in education from Central Michigan University. Stan taught history for 30 years and coached sports at Meridian Junior High School in Meridian, Michigan. His passion for Michigan history was illustrated in the book he wrote, Upper Tittabawassee River Boom Towns, a copy of which is in the Clarke. Stan loved Michigan history, and spent a great deal of time researching, recording, collecting, and typing up his notes on the topic. His achievements were honored by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which inducted him as an honorary member of the tribe.
Stan died on October 11, 2003 at the age of 81 at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland. He was survived by his four children: Joseph (Judy) Berriman; Connie (Ronnie) Grove; Lori (Steve) Rathburn; and Beth (Ron) DeWitt. His children remembered many vacations spent in the station wagon driving from one historic marker to another. Stanley was buried with full military honors at Midland Memorial Gardens Cemetery. (This information is taken directly from his obituary, 2003, a copy of which is in the Biographical Materials folder.)
