Finding Aid for James May collection
290984678

Summary Information

Repository
Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Creator -
May, James, 1756-1829
Title
James May collection
ID
290984678
Date [inclusive]
1783-1829.
Extent
2.0 Linear feet (2 wallets, 6 volumes)
Language
English
Language of Materials
In English.

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Biographical/Historical note

b. 1756; d. 1829. Chief Justice of the Court of common Pleas (Michigan).,James May was born in Birmingham, England in 1756. He came to Detroit in 1778, engaging in trade and manufacturing. As an early pioneer of Detroit, may lived under French, English and U.S. rule, and saw the change of flag at Detroit five times. May became a U.S. citizen in 1796, at which time he served as chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. May built a stone house which became the Mansion House Hotel in 1836. James May died in Detroit on January 19, 1829.

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Scope and Contents note

Papers include daybooks, ledgers and transcripts of a scrapbook relating to May's activities and Detroit's history. The collection also contains material relating to legal fees of May's son-in-law, Alexander D. Fraser.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

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James May collection, 1783-1829. (OCLC record)

[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/290984678]

Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Financial records

Personal Name(s)

  • Fraser, Alexander D.

Subject(s)

  • Account books
  • Diaries (Blank-books)
  • Indians of North America--History--Michigan
  • Judges--Correspondence--Michigan

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Collection Inventory

Misc. 

Wallet
1 (D3)

Daybook 1798-1804 

Scope and Contents note

photostat, October 30, 1943.

Sketch of Judge May 

General note

Copied from Drake scrapbook

Lease by Chippewa Chiefs 1829 

Correspondence 1800-1820 

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Indian Deed 1784 May 14 

General note

Photostat

Wallet
2

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Daybook 1793-1804 

Volume
D3

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Ledgers 1783-1800 

Volume
L4

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Indenture signed by William Hill 

LMS
1

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