by Marian Matyn
I processed a Detroit Tigers scrapbook, 1940-1941.
The scrapbook has a blue and gold decorative cover and measures 11.5x14.5x1.5 inches. Billy Caldwell created it beginning in 1940 (documented on first page). The pages are acidic. The scrapbook consists almost entirely of Detroit Free Press clippings of the Detroit Tigers, 1940-1941. About two-thirds of the pages have clippings pasted on them, the rest are loose, some with dates and the title of newspaper. Also included is a Gem Theater advertising flier for Ithaca (Mich.) mail route residents for June 1941. The flier, along with genealogical information added from ancestrylibrary.com, is in one folder inside the front cover of the scrapbook.
Billy Caldwell was William O Caldwell, Jr. (1928-2012). He was the son of William Sr. and Thelma G. Caldwell and had a sister, Betty Ann. He lived, worked at Total Petroleum for 28 years, died and was buried in Ithaca (Mich.). (This information is from ancestrylibrary.com, accessed in Aug. 2016.) The Gem Theater was in Saint Louis (Mich.) located near Ithaca.
The Gem Theater flier was critical to me to place Billy Caldwell in a specific Michigan location and discover his history.
In 1940, the Detroit Tigers were American League Champs. They lost the world series 4-3 to the Cincinnati Reds. In 1941, they finished 4th in the American League. (This info from baseball.reference.com)
 |
| Sad Tiger Cartoon |
 |
| Creator's name and date on first page |
 |
| Triumphant Tigers |
 |
| Fun portraits |
 |
| leaving the dugout. Dig those traditional uniform pants |
 |
| Gem theater flier |
 |
| Home game; cool imagery |
 |
| American League Champs |
 |
| Cover |
 |
| Tigers leaving on a train (this doesn't happen today) for the World Series |
