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Grants, Michigan Council for the Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA), FY , 2006

 File — Container: Box 2, Folder: 1

Collection Scope

From the Collection:

The records of the Cranbrook Writers' Guild reflect the activities of a small volunteer organization dedicated to the support of Michigan student writers and to the promotion of writing in general. Records document organizational planning, fund raising, publicity, and the programs and conferences sponsored by the Guild

SERIES I: Administrative (1970-2005; n.d.) documents the organization’s beginning, background, membership, meeting minutes and dissolution. Trustees are identified beginning in 1970 and the first membership list is 1984. Board member identification continues through 2005. Meeting minutes give detailed description of the organization’s agendas and planning over its 30-plus year history. SERIES II: Finance (1972-2008) includes budgets and treasurer’s reports, fundraising solicitations and grant appeals, with some complete applications. These records offer insight into the budget of the organization as well as efforts to secure funds within the Cranbrook Educational Community, and from external donors. Financial information pertaining to specific programs, including the annual Writer’s Conference, is organized with those programs. Series III: Correspondence (1971-2007) is general in nature. Communication related to specific events or topics, such as fund solicitation or programs, is kept with that topic. Series IV: Programs (1967-2006) is the largest series of the collection as it was the main function of the CWG. This series documents the annual work of the organization which includes literary programs, publicity, meeting minutes, and correspondence relating to the year's programming. The early files contain some records created by Henry Scripps Booth, including the presentation script of the literary award to Bruce Catton. Later records include files on specific events such as the 1987 evening with Erma Bombeck. One of the most notable programs was the Literary Auction (1990-1993). The records include solicitations from notable authors for donations of autographed books, rare books, original artwork, memorabilia, and goods and services. Tallies for recording auction bids, item descriptions, and sales receipts are included in the documentation. Of note are signed letters from humorist Erma Bombeck, W.D. Snodgrass, Jim Harrison, and Lilian Jackson Braun. Authors on Stage (1994-2004) was another ongoing, successful program which included collaborations with the Birmingham Village Players. The annual Writer’s Conference, the program on which the CWG was founded, was held from 1967 to 2007. These records include invitation lists, correspondence, and published writings by participants from the majority of the conferences. In 1991, the conference broke with Cranbrook and was held in Brighton, Michigan. SERIES V: Publications (1996-2005; n.d.) consists primarily of Guild newsletters.

Dates

  • 2006

Access

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Collection: 3.4 Linear Feet (3 SB, 1 MS)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Repository

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