Oakland University Archives and Special Collections
OU.SC.MACK
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Oakland University Archives and Special Collections
- Title
- Eugene Mack papers
- ID
- OU.SC.MACK
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1884-1919
- Date [inclusive]
- 1846-1935
- Extent
- 3.0 Linear feet 1 10x12 box, 1 Hollinger box, 3 flat boxes
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Item, folder title, box no., Eugene Mack Papers, Oakland University Special Collections
Biographical note
Eugene Mack (1845-1940) was born in Addison Township to Lewis Mack. Lewis’ father, Arnold, was one of the original settlers in the area in 1832. Eugene Mack became a prosperous farmer and businessman as well as a civic leader. He married twice, first to Frances Hosner (1865-1870) and later on to Ella Jones, and had two surviving children. Throughout his life Eugene Mack owned several stores, bought land for lumber, and developed an orchard. He also obtained a patent for a barn door hanger in 1886. From 1906 to 1929 he managed two telephone companies, the Hibbler-Mack line and the Mack Roadway Telephone Company. In addition, he acted as administrator for a large number of estates. Eugene Mack was also active in the local community. Between 1887 and 1892 he was Supervisor of Addison Township. Like his father and grandfather before him, he was committed to the public school of District 11 Fractional (Thus called because part of the district was in Bruce Township and part in Addison Township).
Scope and contents
The Eugene Mack papers consist of notebooks, diaries and ledgers as well as legal documents, correspondence, receipts and other miscellaneous documents relating to his activities as a farmer, business man, and civic leader. The Eugene Mack papers are divided into three series: Telephone, Estate Management, and Public School. Telephone includes materials related to Mack’s two telephone companies, including founding documents, annual reports (1910, 1912-1914), financial statements, and customer lists. Estate Management contains the records of the numerous estates Mack managed through his life, including the large Rowland Estate (1909-1934). Leonard Rowland left about $30,000 in trust, for the benefit of poor children of Oakland County. His nephews and nieces challenged the will in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Michigan. All Court documents are included. Public School contains materials documenting the history of the Addison/Bruce Township public school from 1846 to 1917, including founding documents by Eugene Mack’s grandfather and various notebooks with the students’ and teachers’ names, attendance records, student performance, curriculum implementation, and expenses. Eugene Mack kept detailed record of his expenses and other activities in notebooks and ledgers of various sizes. Many of those contain mixed material – related to his telephone business, estate management, accounting, farming, and more. Box 3, especially, contains materials related to all of these aspects.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Oakland University Archives and Special Collections
Kresge Library100 Library Drive
Rochester, MI, 48309
Access and Use note
The Eugene Mack Papers are open for research.
Copyright
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Processing
Processed by Dominique Daniel and Shirley Paquette.
Collection Inventory
Series I: Telephone Business 1903-1935 1.0 Linear feetScope and contents noteThis series contains account books, lists of customers and other records from Mack's telephone business. From about 1903 to 1916 Mack and six partners built a line (the Hibbler-Mack line) from the western limits of Romeo across what is now 32 Mile Road, to the county line at Dequindre Road, then north to Leonard. Three years later Mack and other partners formed the Mack Roadway Telephone Company, with a line that ran from Romeo across 32 Mile Road then branched southward to Washington Township. That line was sold to Michigan Bell about 1929. Mack was a meticulous record-keeper, and these records contain a wealth of information on the spread of telephone lines in northern Oakland and Macomb Counties. |
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Box 1: Telephone business |
Box 1 |
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Ledger 1919-1935 |
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Day Book Ledger 1903-1929 |
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Western Electric Company, bulletin catalog of telephone apparatus and supplies, 1913 |
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Annual Report of Hibbler and Mack, 1910 |
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Annual Report of Hibbler and Mack, 1912 |
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Annual Report of Hibbler and Mack, 1913 |
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Annual Report of Hibbler and Mack, 1914 |
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New Map of “Greater” Detroit and Suburbs 1906 |
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Concrete Construction about the home and on the farm 1905 |
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Facsimile of document: Avon Township established meeting – original dated April 6, 1835 |
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Box 2: Telephone business 1904-1922 0.5 Linear feet |
Box 2 |
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Folder 1: Mack Roadway and Telephone Company, Contracts and receipts 1908-1929 |
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Folder 2: Hibbler, Mack & Company miscellaneous contracts (telephone lines) 1906-1914 |
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Folder 3: Michigan State Telephone Co., Western Electric Company receipts and contracts 1907-1922 |
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Folder 4: Michigan Railroad Commission Correspondence, receipts from The Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad Co. 1906-1917 |
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Folder 5: Misc., 1928 |
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Folder 6: Misc. receipts 1904-1918 |
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Bank book: Eugene Mack in acct. with Heenan & Hibbler |
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Ledger, 1907-1916 |
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Series II: Mixed / Estates Management 1865-1933 1.0 Linear feetScope and contents noteThis series contains the account books that Mack generated as administrator for a large number of estates. The best known of the estates he managed was that of Leonard Rowland. This wealthy and eccentric bachelor gave Eugene Mack Power of Attorney after he became blind. At his death in 1909 he left about $30,000 in trust, for the benefit of poor children of Oakland County. Nephews and nieces challenged the will in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Michigan. Eugene Mack acted as Executor of the Estate until 1934, when he too became blind. Material on the Rowland estate is found especially in box 3. |
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Box 3: Mixed / Estates management, 1865-1934 1865-1934 |
Box 3 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1865-1877 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1868-1884 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1884-1907 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1911-1912 |
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Ledger, orchards,1890-1894 |
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Ledger, estates management, 1907-1914 |
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Ledger, estates management, 1909-1926 |
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Ledger, estates management, Rowland, 1900-1909 |
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Ledger, estates management, Rowland, 1927-1933 |
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Folder 1: Rowland estate, 1930-1932 |
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Folder 2: Rowland estate, 1933-1934 |
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Folder 3: Rowland estate, State of Michigan Supreme Court Record no.. 6097 |
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Folder 4: misc. |
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Folder 5: James Slocum letter July 20, 1916 |
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Box 4: Estates management, 1887-1928 1887-1928 |
Box 4 |
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Ledger, estates management, 1887-1889 |
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Ledger, estates management, 1890-1902 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1896 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1900-1028 |
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Ledger, mixed, 1914-1921 |
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Series III: Public School 1846-1917 1.0Scope and contents noteThe Mack family played a key role in the establishment and management of the school in District 11 Fractional (Thus called because part of the district was in Bruce Township and part in Addison Township). Lewis Mack, Eugene's father, served as Supervisor of the Township in 1863-1864 and Eugene in 1887-1892. He was involved with the public school his entire life. This series contains school records from the founding of the school to 1917, including account books, teachers' reports, student attendance and grade reports. |
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Box 4: Public School records, Bruce and Addison Township school District 11 1846-1917 |
Box 4 |
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Primary school records of Addison & Bruce in the counties of Oakland and Macomb (founding and history from 1846) 1846-1900 |
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School records of Addison & Bruce, District 11, 1893-1904 |
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School records of Addison & Bruce, District 11, 1903-1910 |
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Assessor’s record of expenditures, 1901 |
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Attendance records, 1901-1909 and 1909-1917 |
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Box 5: Public School records, Bruce and Addison Township school District 11 1899-1917 |
Box 5 |
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Folder 1: School of Addison and Bruce, 1900-1916 |
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Folder 2: School Annual Statistical Reports, 1899-1917 |
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