Record Group 12
Charles Draper Collection Finding Aid

The Charles G. Draper Collection is composed of more than 500 photographs, post cards, negatives, and glass plate negatives. Most of the glass plate negatives were donated to the museum in 2004 by the Draper’s grandson, but the museum has been actively collecting other images taken by this photographer for many years.

Charles Draper was born in South Lyon, Michigan, on 19 May 1865. He attended watchmakers’ school in Ann Arbor and opened his first watch/jewelry/optical business in South Lyon. He then moved to Plymouth, where he operated his business for 47 years. In 1901, he married Satie A. Merrell, who was born in New Boston, Michigan, in 1878. They had two children, Merrell and Winifred (the late Winifred Carney). He died 26 January 1941 and is buried in the South Lyon Cemetery.

Although photography was a hobby for Draper, he managed to compile a chronicle of Plymouth life during the period 1890–1930. He captured the transition from the age of horse and carriage to the automobile, from dirt streets to paved roads in Plymouth. He photographed not only his own family and home, but also the people and buildings around him. His collection presents a window of life in suburban Wayne County as it passed from the nineteenth century into the technology of the twentieth century.

Many of the images from the Charles Draper Collection can now be seen in the Virtual Plymouth online exhibit.

Entry 1: Negatives (many images are unidentified)

Glass Negatives

Sutton Street, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.001)

Horse (Acc #2004.144.004)

249 S. Main Street, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.011)

775 Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.016)

Plymouth High School in winter (pre-1916) (Acc #2004.144.019)

Plymouth High School (post-1916) (Acc #2004.144.047)

Daisy Manufacturing Co., Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.049)

Cows (Acc #2004.144.057)

"No Ball Playing Allowed," E. L. Riggs Store, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.067)

Plymouth High School Football Team, 1906 (Acc #2004.144.073)

Dining Room (Acc #2004.144.079)

Penniman Avenue, with bandstand in Penniman-Allen Park on left. (Acc #2004.144.081)

Farm (Acc #2004.144.085)

Flower memorial with photo of a woman. (Acc #2004.144.094)

Parade down Main Street, Plymouth. (Acc #2004.144.095)

Shelves in china shop. (Acc #2004.144.100)

Shelves in china shop. (Acc #2004.144.101)

Satie & Friends (Acc #2004.144.121)

Silver Lake fish (Acc #2004.144.122)

Satie & Charlie family (Acc #2004.144.123)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.124) See also Postcard (Acc #87.042.11L)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.125) See also Postcard (Acc #87.042.16L)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.126) See also Postcard (Acc #87.042.12L, 76.141.68b)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.127) See also Postcard (Acc #87.042.13L)

Merrell Family (Acc #2004.144.128)

Merrell Family (Acc #2004.144.129)

Merrell Family (Acc #2004.144.130)

Merrell Family (Acc #2004.144.131)

Draper Home (Acc #2004.144.132)

Merrell Family (Acc #2004.144.133)

Draper Family, left to right Charlie, Merrell, Winifred, Satie (Acc #2004.144.134)

Charlie & Satie Draper & son Merrell born in 1906 (Acc #2004.144.135)

Merrell Draper, born in 1906 (Acc #2004.144.136)

Merrell Draper, born in 1906 (Acc #2004.144.137)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.138)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.139)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.140)

Charlie Draper's Family, 1907 (Acc #2004.144.141)

Merrell & Winifred Draper & unknown family member (Acc #2004.144.142)

Merrell Draper (Acc #2004.144.143)

Merrell Draper & family member (Acc #2004.144.144)

Methodist Church and High School during winter (pre-1916) (Acc #2004.144.145)

Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage, 680 Church St., Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.146)

Kellogg Park and Bandstand (Acc #2004.144.147)

Plymouth High School (Acc #2004.144.148)

Kellogg Park (Acc #2004.144.149)

Festival in Kellogg Park (Acc #2004.144.151)

Festival on Main Street (Acc #2004.144.152)

Church & Penniman Streets in winter. (Acc #2004.144.153)

Church & Penniman Streets and Penniman-Allen Park (Acc #2004.144.154)

New Methodist Church & Plymouth High School after fire (Acc #2004.144.155)

Kellogg Park (Acc #2004.144.156)

Ann Arbor Trail at the corner of Main Street, across from Kellogg Park (Acc #2004.144.158)

Church Street, Plymouth (two views) (Acc #2004.144.159) See also Postcard (Acc #78.061)

Presbyterian Church (Acc #2004.144.160)

Daisy Manufacturing Company (Acc #2004-144.161)

Penniman-Allen Park (Acc #2004.144.162)

Main Street Business Block (Acc #2004.144.163)

Power Home near Daisy Manufacturing Company (Acc #2004.144.164)

Main Street, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.165) See also Photographs (Acc #73.0024.30)

Interurban on Main Street, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.166)

2 Women in Phaeton in front of home (Acc #2004.144.167)

Corner of Main and Sutton Streets, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.168)

Festival on Main Street, Plymouth, MI (Acc #2004.144.169) See also Photographs (Acc #73.0024.34)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.170) See also Postcards (Acc #87.042.10L)

Methodist Episcopal Church & Plymouth High School (Acc #2004.144.171) See also Photographs (Acc #73.0024.48)

Plymouth Village Hall (Acc #2004.144.172)

Church Street facing Penniman Avenue, 1914 (Acc #2004.144.173)

Methodist Church (Acc #2004.144.174)

Penniman Avenue, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.175)

Lapham's General Merchandise Store after fire (Acc #2004.144.178)

Fire (Acc #2004.144.183)

Silver display case (Acc #2004.144.184)

Children and snowman (Acc #2004.144.195)

Women playing violin and piano (Acc #2004.144.197)

Child sleeping (Acc #2004.144.201)

Child sleeping (Acc #2004.144.204)

Flower memorial with photo of a woman (Acc #2004.144.205)

Children and snowman (Acc #2004.144.220)

Child sleeping (Acc #2004.144.223)

Parade (Acc #2004.144.232)

Lapham's General Merchandise Store after fire (Acc #2004.144.235)

U.S.M. Algomah (ship), Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island & St. Ignace (Acc    #2004.144.267)

Memorial flowers in parlor (Acc #2004.144.268)

Parade (Acc #2004.144.277)

Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.312)

Train Station (Acc #2004.144.316)

Parade (Acc #2004.144.317)

Parade (Acc #2004.144.318)

Riggs Clothing Store Sign (Acc #2004.144.319) See also Photographs (Acc #73.0024.42)

Parade (Acc #2004.144.321)

Arch Rock, Mackinac Island, Michigan (Acc #2004.144.327)

Boat "Pocahontas" (Acc #2004.144.366)

Horse (Acc #2004.144.368)

Kellogg Park, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.371)

Cows (Acc #2004.144.274)

Boat "Pocahontas" (Acc #2004.144.377)

Cow (Acc #2004.144.388)

Merrell Draper (Acc #2004.144.396)

Winnifred Draper (Acc #2004.144.397)

Winnifred Draper (Acc #2004.144.398)

Winnifred Draper (Acc #2004.144.399)

Draper Home (Acc #2004.144.401)

Draper Optical Store (Acc #2004.144.402)

Draper Optical Store (Acc #2004.144.403)

Draper Optical Store (Acc #2004.144.404)

Draper Optical Store (Acc #2004.144.405) See also Photographs (Acc #73.0024.41B)

Draper Optical Store (Acc #2004.144.406)

Draper Optical (Acc #2004.144.407)

Draper Optical (Acc #2004.144.408)

Draper Optical (Acc #2004.144.409)

Man jumping off train (Acc #2004.144.410)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.411)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.412)

Silver Lake, men with fish (Acc #2004.144.413)

Satie & Friends (Acc #2004.144.414)

Winnifred & Merrill Draper (Acc #2004.144.415)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.416)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.417)

Draper Family (Acc #2004.144.418)

Winnifred & Merrill Draper (Acc #2004.144.419)

Winnifred Draper (Acc #2004.144.420)

Winnifred Draper (Acc #2004.144.421)

Merrill & Winnifred Draper at Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.422)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.423)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.424)

Merrill & Winnifred Draper at Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.425)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.426)

Silver Lake (Acc #2004.144.427)

Merrell Draper's Birthday Party (Acc #2004.144.428)

Merrell Draper's Birthday Party (Acc #2004.144.429)

Merrell Draper's Birthday Party (Acc #2004.144.430)

Satie Draper & Friends (Acc #2004.144.431)

Satie Draper & Friends (Acc #2004.144.432)

Satie Draper & Friends (Acc #2004.144.433)

Pigs (Acc #2004.144.457)

954 Penniman Avenue, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.458)

1142 Holbrook Avenue, Plymouth (Acc #2004.144.459)

Washburn Bennett Home, 659 Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth (Acc #81.015.16L)

Coleman Building, Plymouth Mail Office Printing Office (Acc #2001.087.008)

Sutton Street, Plymouth (Acc #2001.087.011)

School House (Acc #2001.087.018)

Film Negatives

Plymouth Mills (Acc #73.0024.02b)

Class at Kate Allen's Carriage House after school burned (Acc #73.0024.04)

Main Street Express Office Building. Modern location of south wing of Schrader’s Funeral Home. (Acc #73.0024.05)

Huston's Geo. Taylor Bakery & Schrader Building (Acc #73.0024.06)

Parade down Main Street (Acc #73.0024.07)

Harry Robinson Livery, Sutton Street, now Penniman Avenue. (Acc #73.0024.08)

Panoramic of Main Street; building new bank (Acc #73.0024.09)

After 1916 fire of Plymouth High School and Methodist Church. (Acc #73.0024.10a)

Part of Plymouth High School walls still standing after 1916 fire. (Acc #73.0024.10b)

Main Street, Kellogg Park. Band stand on left. Extreme right, Wills' House, corner of Ann Arbor Trail. 1905. (Acc #73.0024.13)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.14L) See also Postcards (Acc #87.042.14L)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.15L) See also Postcards (Acc #87.042.15L)

Shafer Iron Foundry (Acc #2001.087.021a)

Shafer Iron Foundry (Acc #2001.087.021b)

Postcards

Oak and Main Streets, Plymouth, 6 copies (Acc #1104, 78.072.23L, 82.008.19L,       84.002.4L, 97.060.23)

School House & M. E. Church, Plymouth (Acc #97.060.21)

Kellogg Park in Winter (Acc #73.0024.23)

Oak Street, Plymouth (Acc #97.060.15)

Main Street with snow, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.12)

Hotel and Stores, Main St., Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #85.033.3L, 93.104.1)

Kellogg Park, Plymouth, 1923 (Acc #73.0024.18)

Kellogg Park, Plymouth, before 1920 (Acc #73.0024.19)

Phoenix Lake near Ford Factory, Plymouth, 1923 (Acc #73.0024.20)

Phoenix Mill Plant Women Workers, Plymouth, 1920s (Acc #73.0024.20B)

German Lutheran Church, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.24)

Pere Marquette trestle over Rouge River (Acc #73.0024.36A)

Pere Marquette trestle over Rouge River (Acc #73.0024.36B)

Pere Marquette trestle and train over Rouge River (Acc #73.0024.36C)

Catholic Church on Union St. (Acc #73.0024.21)

Phoenix Lake and Phoenix Mill Ford Factory (Acc #73.0024.20C)

Sutton Street (now Penniman Avenue) looking West, 2 copies (Acc #73.0023.03,        80.020.37L)

Daisy Manufacturing Co. and Plymouth Electric Light Plant (Acc #73.0024.44)

Corner Main and Sutton Streets, Plymouth (Acc #1928.002)

Main Street, Plymouth (Acc #1928.001)

Corner of Main and Church Streets, Plymouth, 5 copies (Acc #1124, 1928.004, 82.008.22L, 85.030.9L, 97.060.22)

Hotel Victor on Mill Street, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.25)

Bandstand--Penniman & Church, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.33)

Pere Marquette Round House at Junction, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.38)

Presbyterian Church, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.46B)

Phoenix Bridge with Phoenix Mill on the other side, 1 postcard, 1 print (Acc      #73.0024.32, 2001.087.038)

Liberty Street, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.31)

Fire Department and Christian Science Church, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.27)

Main Street, Plymouth; C. G. Draper's and W.O. Allen's (Acc #73.0024.26)

Methodist Episcopal Church, Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #73.0024.47, 93.104.8)

N. Harvey Street, Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #88.13L, 2001.087.031)

Residences on Starkweather St., Plymouth (Acc #93.058.1)

Streetcar tracks to Detroit, Plymouth (Acc #73.0024.17)

Main St., Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #81.039.1L, 81.039.5L)

Plymouth United Savings Bank, Main St., Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #81.039.3L,           81.039.9L)

Dan Smith's hotel, wrecked by a derailed train, 3 copies (Acc #73.0024.16L)

Presbyterian Church, Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #73.0024.46C)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.11L) See also Glass Negatives (Acc #2004.144.124)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.16L) See also Glass Negatives (Acc #2004.144.125)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan, 2 copies (Acc #87.042.12L,   76.141.68b) See also Glass Negatives (Acc #2004.144.126)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.13L) See also Glass Negatives (Acc #2004.144.127)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.14L) See also Film Negatives (Acc #87.042.14L)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.10L) See also Glass Negatives (Acc #2004.144.170)

1907 Pere Marquette trainwreck near Salem, Michigan (Acc #87.042.15L) See also Film Negatives (Acc #87.042.15L)

Church Street, Plymouth (Acc #78.061) See also Glass Negative (Acc                         #2004.144.159)

Panoramic Postcards

Main Street Gala, 1 postcard, 1 print (Acc #75.054.12, 84.025.3L)

Gala Day, Main Street, Plymouth (Acc #1928.006)

Water fight on Main Street, Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #1143B)

Water fight on Main Street, Plymouth, 2 copies (Acc #1143C, 73.0846)

Water battle with Volunteer Fire Department on Main Street (Acc #73.0113)

Park & Main St. Brick pavement water battle. (Acc #73.0024.52)

Interior of Draper's Jewelry Store on Main Street (Acc #73.0031.1)

Photographs