Alma College's Land History: The Necessity of Public History Research
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Authors
Hoag, Tyler
Issue Date
2025-04-03
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
This research seeks to ask the question of how Alma College gained its initial land, and
the history of the people that lived on the land prior to the College’s existence. Starting in
November of 2023, I began researching through the Archives of the College, land records, and
other sources local to Alma College & Gratiot County as a whole. From this research, I was able
to determine a general timeline of the land that the College exists on, and the hands it changed
between throughout the years. With this understanding of land sales & initial land practices by
the United States, it becomes clear that Alma College’s history goes far beyond Gratiot County,
being supported by national imperialist beliefs & ideals. This research tells a story of
colonization, marketing, and dispossession of people that all culminated in the private liberal-arts
college that Alma is.
This research was previously presented at the Clack Art Center during the month of
November 2024. However, this presentation attempts to tell a more complete story on the
processes and overall research behind the information presented in November. By highlighting
the key points of the research, along with the the processes, successes, failures, and overall
methods in this public and local history, I hope to bring a light to local history organizations, and
the opportunity with these organizations for local areas to develop a more rich and full
understanding of their community and the history that is there. By the end of the presentation, the
audience should be aware of the methods used in this research, and the relative importance of
researching local history.