The collection includes a number of articles, poems, and stories by Stebbins. The correspondence between Stebbins and his children mostly describes family news and business travels. Of note is a letter from Horace Greeley, dated 1847, concerning the presidential election. His work is documented through surviving oversized store ledgers and a post office letter book. A number of school notebooks and miscellaneous items complete the collection.
Biography:
Cortland B. Stebbins (1812-) operated a general store in Palmyra, Michigan, edited the Michigan Expositor, and served as a postal official and as deputy superintendent of public instruction in Adrian, Michigan. He was apparently involved with the Shiawassee Sunday School Association. Stebbins was married and had two children, Bliss and Susan Stebbins (Stark). It was through Susan’s estate in 1938 that these papers and many early American artifacts were distributed to libraries and museums in Michigan. Stebbins also wrote a book entitled History of Plymouth Congregational Church, Lansing, Michigan, 1864-1893, a copy of which is available in the Clarke Historical Library. (This information is from the collection.)
