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Donald and Donna Boudeman Collection

 Collection
Identifier: RH-A-277

Abstract

The collection is composed of notebooks, diaries and miscellaneous papers dating from 1925 until 1952 that belonged to Donald and Donna Boudeman who lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Dates

  • Creation: 1925-1952

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Donna Nicholson Boudeman Biography

Donna Nicholson Boudeman (1919-1987) also was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo. She graduated from the Kalamazoo Public Schools and married Donald in 1919 which was his second marriage. She collected dolls and also became a member of a wide variety of clubs and organizations. She remained in the Boudeman house until her death in 1987. Donald and Donna did not have any children together although Donald had a son, Donald with his first wife, Mabel. After Donald's death, Donna spent a great deal of time preparing the rest of his collection for sale, discussing that and other items in her diaries. The other books have notes about daily expenses, a list of gifts received and given, details about trust funds given for the grandchildren by Dallas Boudeman. Two of the more interesting items were a letter written by Donna to Donald in December of 1945 requesting a larger percentage of the estate and a copy of the final will from Donald. These can be found in the file Miscellaneous Notes, Letters and Wills.

Donald Boudeman Biography

Donald Boudeman (1880-1949), whose parents were Dallas and Mary Jane Boudeman, lived in Kalamazoo all his life. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he came back to the area managing his father's real estate holdings including the Boudeman buildings on the northwest corner of South Burdick and West South Streets and working in the insurance business. He lived at 515 W. South Street. He also spent years creating a collection of Native American artifacts, arms and armaments in addition to unique items like an Egyptian mummy, many of which were given to the Kalamazoo Public Museum. He adopted the unofficial title of "curator of archaeology" for the Museum. Some of his collection can be found at Michigan State University and the Cranbrook Institute of Science.

Extent

0.50 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

Originally from the Dean Arend Collection (A-1191)

Physical Description

The collection amounts to .50 cubic feet and is composed of notebooks, diaries and miscellaneous papers of all sizes that belonged to Donald and Donna Boudeman and date from 1925 to 1952. The items range from small slips of paper to 8 ½”x11” sheets to notebooks approximately 4 ¾”x2 ¾” to 6”x9”. With the exception of one notebook they are filled with writings, in pencil or ink done either by Donald or Donna Boudeman. They include information on expenses, building rents, investments and trust funds in addition to four daily diaries written by Donna from 1949 until 1952. The items, for the most part, are in good condition. Some covers of the books are worn on the edges and in the middle and some of the spines are loose. The majority of the writing continues to be legible although there is some smudging especially with the papers written in pencil. One sheet, found in a diary, was torn, taped together and copied. Newspaper clippings have been copied with the originals thrown away. Small notes and other items found in various diaries have been placed in folders with appropriate identification.

Genre / Form

Geographic

Topical

Title
Donald and Donna Boudeman Collection Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Lynn Houghton
Date
2012-09-09
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490