Ernest B. Russell (1861-1924) worked as a bottler with William Russell until 1888 when he went in with Eugene Welch on a grocery store in the 200 block of the west side of South Burdick Street. By 1899 he was the sole proprietor. Russell was in business on South Burdick until 1919. The store was on the site of the front entrance of the Gazelle Sports store at 214 S. Kalamazoo Mall. In this collection there are a total of five photographs, one exterior, four interior and one vehicle. Many of the people in the photographs are identified.

The E.B. Russell home stood at the southwest corner of W. Lovell and S. West (Westnedge) Streets, address 406 S. West. Furniture store owner, Edwin A. Carder built the home around 1880. The Russells were in the home by 1905. The house continues to appear in the 1932 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map although by that time it is identified as apartments. The Bethel Baptist Church is on the site of the Russell home by 1951.

The journal is from School District #1 in Cooper Township which was in Section 11 in the northeastern part of the Township. The Deming School was located at "B" Ave. and Riverview which seems to be where school #1 is in the 1873 and 1890 county atlases, copies enclosed in the donor file and with the collection. The small photograph shows a one-room brick building. Cooper Township's first school was organized in 1836. Eventually by 1880, there were six districts. (1880 Kalamazoo County History, p. 405) According to the 1880 Kalamazoo County History, Dr. David E. Deming was the first settler of the township, coming in 1833 and came here permanently in 1834. He organized the township and was the first supervisor. He also served in the Michigan State Senate. He died in 1879. His brother Cyrus also came to live in the township. (p. 397, 1985 reprint)