John Cumming known for historical collection; former library director dies at age 95

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Upon his retirement from the Clarke Historical Library, John Cumming wrote to the board of governors he was going home to play with his toys, read books and travel.

His toy was his 19th Century printing press, his books are still revered and he visited all but two states in the U.S.

Cumming, director of the Clarke Historical Library from 1961-82, died Wednesday at Tendercare of Mount Pleasant. He was 95.

Frank Boles, current director of the library, said Cumming had a “wicked sense of humor” and a “keen eye for collecting.”

“John was very good at getting a good deal for the university and a good deal for history,” Boles said. “It’s a terrible loss. We will miss him.”

Cumming was born in Shrewsbury, Mass. He frequented auctions every weekend, Boles said, and spent hours networking to build contacts while serving as director.

During his tenure, Boles said the Clarke Historical Library increased in size and won national recognition for its collection of rare books and manuscripts.

Dennis Thavenet, who was friends with Cumming for 43 years, said Cumming was the person who really built up the library.

“He was not only a great collector of historical material,” Thavenet said, “but he was a fine collector.”

Boles said one of the most qualitative finds Cumming came upon were the field notes of Douglass Houghton, a geologist and physician who explored Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula in the 1800s, while in New York at an auction 50 years ago.

Researching

John Fierst, an assistant professor, librarian and bibliographer for the Clarke Historical Library, first met Cumming in 1985 when he was doing research on Baptist Rev. Abel Bingham.

“As a researcher coming here and using the library, he was very helpful and took really strong interest,” Fierst said. “He wasn’t the director at the time but he came over and made a special trip when he heard what I was researching.”

Boles said Cumming had a 19th Century printing shop in his basement where he printed a number of books in hand-set type, including original diaries and collections of letters with historical importance. He produced a book a year on average and often hunted the shelves of type shops for new type faces, Boles said.

“He was a passionate printer and he did it the hard way,” he said. “They were delightful volumes, well-crafted and well put together.”

Cumming also was an author and wrote several books and journal articles, publishing over 20 volumes, Boles said.

In retirement, Cumming was involved in multiple professional organizations, including the Historical Society of Michigan and the Oregon-California Trails Association.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Humane Animal Treatment Society or the William T. Bulger lecture fund at Central Michigan University.

Envelopes are available at Rowley Funeral Home, 330 S. University Ave., where memorial services will be held at a later date.