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Kenneth L. Dorman Collection

 Collection — Box: 1-13
Identifier: MS-455

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Collection, 1901, 1903; 1923-1999, a long-time resident of Houghton, Michigan. Includes reports from Dorman's time as a legislative liaison with State Representative Dominic J. Jacobetti on mining, economic development, Seafarer Program/ Project ELF, land use, and environmental issues. Also includes conference proceedings, records on the operations of Douglass Houghton Hall at Michigan Technological University, records from VFW Portage Post 1292 and Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton, and project files from Dorman's involvement with Upper Peninsula development including work with the public and private sectors, public relations, and advertising.

Dates

  • 1901, 1903; 1923-1999
  • Majority of material found within 1936 - 1999

Language of Material

English

Conditions Governing 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

Kenneth L. Dorman was born near Ailsa Craig, Ontario, Canada in 1913. He attended local schools before attending London South Collegiate Institution and one year of pre-med at the University of Michigan in 1932. Dorman worked as an assistant to the legislative representative for the A & P Company and the Pontiac Motor Car Division of General Motors. From 1934-1939 he worked at the Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company before enlisting with the Army Air Corps Reserves and serving in England during World War II. After returning home, he and his family moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula where he quickly became involved in local development projects. In addition to forming the first public relations and advertising company in the Upper Peninsula, Kenman Associates, he also reorganized the failing Upper Peninsula Development Bureau and created the Upper Michigan Tourist Association which he ran for twelve years. Dorman also served as legislative aide to State Representative Dominic Jacobetti from 1970 through 1988. He was the U. P. director of the "Keep Michigan Beautiful" from its inception and was involved with numerous civic organizations and veterans groups including Portage Post VFW 1292. Ken Dorman passed away in 1999.

Extent

10.32 Cubic Feet (9 paige boxes, 3 manuscript boxes (2 letter and 1 1/2 legal), and one print box)

Abstract

Collection, 1901, 1903; 1923-1999, of Kenneth L. Dorman, includes reports from Dorman's time as a legislative liaison with State Representative Dominic J. Jacobetti on mining, economic development, Seafarer Program/ Project ELF, veterans affairs, land use, and environmental issues. Also includes conference proceedings, records on the operations of Douglass Houghton Hall at Michigan Technological University and project files from Dorman's involvement with Upper Peninsula development, public relations, and advertising.

Arrangement

MS-455 has been arranged into nine series:

Series I, Environmental Issues, 1970-1994 Series II, Natural Resources, 1937; 1954-1995 Series III, Upper Peninsula Economic Development, 1923; 1936-1989 Series IV, Railroads, 1955, 1974; 1982-1994 Series V, Office of Dominic Jacobetti, 1963-1990 Series VI, Naval Defense/ NORAD, 1901, 1903; 1936-1995 Series VII, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1936-1999 Series VIII, Michigan Technological University Operations, 1939-1963 Series IX, General, 1944-1997

Acquisition

An initial gift consisting of eight paige boxes containing reports, files, and records from various organizations in the Upper Peninsula was donated to the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections by Kenneth L. Dorman on March 19, 1990. A second gift consisting of 0.5 cubic feet of similar records was received on April 21, 1995. A final gift of 15 cubic feet was received from Dorman on June 19, 1999 consisting of maps and records collected by Dorman from his work with the VFW, the Upper Peninsula Development Bureau, State Representative Dominic Jacobetti, and Kenman Associates.

Related Archival Materials

Archival collections held in this institution related to material contained in MS-455 includes MS-037, U.S. Navy Seafarer Program/ Project ELF Collection. The most relevant material in this collection includes Series 10, The Dorman Files. Another highly relevant collection is MS-870, Michigan Technological University Archives' Map Collection in which several maps from Dorman's donations were removed to this collection at the time of accession. For further information about the maps that were moved to MS-870 see the Separated Materials Note.

Separated Materials

Maps from the Ken Dorman Collection were removed to MS-870, Michigan Technological University Archives' Map Collection at the time of accession.

1. Map of the Atlas Powder Company 2. Map of Houghton County showing Rail line 3. Map of St. Mary's River from the head of Lake Nicolet to Whitefish Bay 4. Map of Northwest Rail Line, Iron-copper mining districts, Mich., Wis., Minn. 5. Map of St. Mary's River, DeTour Passage to Lake Munuscong 6. Map of Transmission System of U.P. Power Company 7. Map of Michigan Railroads 8. Map of Transmission System of U.P. Power Company 9. Map showing lake depth of Keweenaw Bay (1984) 10. Map of St. Mary's River, Lake Munuscong to Sault Sainte Marie 11. Map of waterway from Big Bay Point to Redridge 12. Centennial geologic map of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan 13. Hydrograph showing monthly levels of the Great Lakes (1860-1979) 14. Calumet and Hecla Plan of ore shoot on the Osceola Amygdaloid Lode 15. "Sportsman's Paradise" U.P. tourist map 16. Longitudinal section of East Branch of Pewabic Lode, illustrating conversion to a nuclear fall out shelter 17. Map of Franklin Township 18. Marquette mineral district (geologic column) 19. Plan of portion of Arcadian Mine 20-A. Contour map showing Center location 20-B. Copy of map 20-A 21(A-D). Map plans for Baraga Village Marina 22. Copper Range Co. sections showing progress of mining and pumping at the Globe Shaft 23. Copper Range Co. sections showing progress of mining and pumping at the Globe Shaft in overburden. 24(A-C). Underground Launch Tube Drawings (three copies) 25(A-D). Larger copies of Drawing 24 (four copies) 26(A-D). Schematic of Basic Steps in Adoption of Underground Site for space vehicle Launching (four copies)

Title
Kenneth L. Dorman Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Russell, revised by Rachael Bussert
Date
1/7/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
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

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US