Descriptive Summary:
Creator Name: Adam Ludewig
Collection name: Adam Ludewig Collection
Collection number: 2011.001
Inclusive Dates: 1875 to 1946
Quantity: 1 linear ft. and 1 box
Language: English - eng
Provenance note: Collection assembled by Dann French from the Adam Ludewig Trust after Ludewig’s death. The majority of the material comes from the Ludewig bookstore.
Biographical & Historical Information:
Born in Sondershausen, Germany, Adam Ludewig (b.1864 and d.1955) as a child and his family (Robert, Amalie, Marie) immigrated to Detroit in 1867. Several years after his family moved to Alpena he eventually began working for a variety of local businesses at the age of 14. He started working at Lockwood, Luce & Seage Lumber co., then as a clerk at H.H. Wittleshofer Bookstore, with the L.A. Tompkins dry goods store, finally, he bought Elizabeth Nason’s bookstore which was located in the Odd Fellow Block (Centennial Building) (Alpena News, Adam Ludewig Hits 90 Mark, April 1, 1952). Ludewig opened his store on 118 Second Ave around 1899, later moving the store to 105 Water St in 1951.
Scope & Content:
The Adam Ludewig Collection highlights the paper materials of the Adam Ludewig’s Bookstore located on 118 N 2d Ave (Polk City Directory 1914 pg.266). Several materials, within the collection, also show his family and employees throughout his time (the 1900s to 1950s). The collection fits into the archives in that it presents the business’ history and materials stored at the bookstore Ludewig owned for many years. The collection is unique from other
Finding Aid: Adam Ludewig Collection ALC-1
collections in that it provides in-depth primary sources of long-standing downtown business in Alpena.
Acquisition: Donated
Access: Open to research.
Preferred Citation: Adam Ludewig Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. Alpena, MI
Related Materials: E.C Spens Collection, Besser Museum of Northeast Michigan, Fletcher Collection, and Matthew McCormack Collection.
Contents:
Box 1
Folder:
1 Adam Ludewig Family, Photo
2 C.N.R. Depot, Port Hope, Photo
3 Correspondence to Adam Ludwig 1953
4 Easter Flowers - Greeting Cards 1889
5 Marina by Rocco Granata - 45 RPM record
6 Merry Christmas - Carrier's Address, Booklet 1888
7 Photo Album - Alpena 1886
8 Scrapbook Sing Page 1886, 1914
-Trinity Church - Christmas - Newspaper Clipping
1886
-Arthur Burton, Aged 16 Dead - Newspaper
Clipping 1914
9 Trinity Church - Confirmation Class, Photo
1927
10 Art Series - Private Greeting Cards: Card Book
1900s
11 McCall Embroidery Book: Magazine
12 Colton's Common School Geography, Book 1875
13 Adam's Bookstore ledger 1908 to 1919
14 Dance Instructor, Arthur Murray 1946