Willis Dunbar Collection
Scope and Contents
Dunbar papers include information on his career as an educator, author, historian, radio programming director, and civic leader. Collection reflects Dunbar's varied interests in Kalamazoo and Michigan including files from his radio programs, ca. 1943-1951, material relating to the House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan, American Expeditionary Forces (Polar Bears), correspondence regarding the Michigan Centennial Commission, Michigan Constitutional Convention material, 1961-1962, scrapbook on Colonel Frederick W. Curtenius, who served with the Michigan 6th Infantry during the Civil War, material concerning Michigan railroads including maps.
Dates
- Creation: 1929-1970
Creator
- Dunbar, Willis Frederick, 1902-1970 (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Willis Frederick Dunbar (1902-1970) served as a faculty member and dean at Kalamazoo College, 1929-1942 and a faculty member and department chairperson at Western Michigan University, 1941-1970. Dunbar also served as the vice mayor of Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1951-1953, 1955-1957. He was program director and director of public affairs at WKZO a Kalamazoo, Michigan, radio station, 1943-1951. He served as President of the Michigan Historical Society and the Michigan Historical Commission.
Extent
101 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Subject
- WKZO (Radio station : Kalamazoo, Mich.) (Organization)
- Michigan Centennial Commission (Organization)
- House of David (Religious society) (Organization)
- United States. Army. Michigan Infantry Regiment, 6th (1861-1863) (Organization)
- Title
- Willis Dunbar Collection Finding Aid
- Status
- Under Revision
- Date
- 2011-11-30
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490
arch-collect@wmich.edu