Roy Drier Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection contains a substantial amount of historical materials collected by Roy Drier. The Shelden Family Papers and the Detroit and Lake Superior Copper Company Records are the two largest sets of records. Other records include Keweenaw County Clerk's Office Records and journals of various Copper Country lighthouses.
Dates
- 1769 - 1954
Language of Material
English
Access
Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.
Biography
Roy Ward Drier (1897-1974) was a lifelong resident of Calumet, Michigan. A graduate of the Michigan College of Mines (now Michigan Technological University), he returned to the school as an instructor in 1930 and received the college's first Ph. D. in 1934. An expert in the x-ray field, Dr. Drier established the x-ray program in the metallurgical engineering curriculum at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. He served for 42 years at Michigan Technological University. In addition to his metallurgical work, he was noted for his archaeological research on prehistoric mining in the Copper Country and Isle Royale.
On behalf of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, Drier began collecting historical material for what was formally known as the Keweenawan Collection in the summer of 1933. This was part of Drier’s vision for "An Industrial Historical Museum" that he proposed to establish at MCMT. For the following several decades, Drier would amass a significant collection of historical records relating to the Copper Country.
Extent
24 Cubic Feet (63 manuscript boxes, 8 flat boxes)
Abstract
Roy Ward Drier (1897-1974) was a lifelong resident of Calumet, Michigan. A graduate of the Michigan College of Mines (now Michigan Technological University), Drier began collecting historical material for what was formally known as the Keweenawan Collection in the summer of 1933. For the following several decades, Drier would amass a significant collection of historical records relating to the Copper Country. The collection contains a substantial amount of historical materials collected by Roy Drier. The Shelden Family Papers and the Detroit and Lake Superior Copper Company Records are the two largest sets of records. Other records include Keweenaw County Clerk's Office Records and journals of various Copper Country lighthouses.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into eight series:
Series I: Atlantic Mining Company Records
Series II: Detroit and Lake Superior Copper Company Records
Series III: General Files
Series IV: Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hecla Lodge, No. 90 (Calumet) Records
Series V: Keweenaw County Clerk's Office Records
Series VI: Lighthouse Journals
Series VII: Other Records
Series VIII: Shelden Family Papers
Other Finding Aids
An item level inventory of this collection is available on request. Please note that it is difficult to use and requires reference to this finding aid.
Acquisition
The collection was donated by Roy Drier in a series of accessions from 1961 to 1970.
Separated Materials
At the time of accessioning, photographic negatives were separated to MTU-198, Michigan Technological University Archives' Numbered Negative Collection and photographic prints were added to the Archives' vertical files. Various maps were also separated to MS-870, Michigan Technological University Archives' Map Collection.
- Coastwise shipping -- Michigan -- Upper Peninsula
- Copper mines and mining -- Michigan -- Upper Peninsula
- Copper smelting
- Correspondence
- Deeds
- Families -- History
- Financial records
- Fraternal organizations -- Michigan -- Calumet
- Government records
- Lighthouses -- Michigan
- Local history -- Michigan -- Upper Peninsula
- Reports
- Title
- Roy Drier Collection
- Author
- Daniel Michelson
- Date
- 2014
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository