On November 6, 1934, William Clements died in Bay City at 73 years of age of a heart attack. Following his death, Clements’ personal collection of maps, manuscripts, prints, and books in Bay City was designated to be donated to the Clements Library. However, when the will was submitted to probate in Bay County, it specified that the University could receive the materials only if it paid $400,000 to the Clements family estate. Some of these materials were already in the university’s possession at the library. Charles F. Hemans, member of the Board of Regents, was outraged, and pointed out that at least one part of the collection, the Oxford Letters on Early Americana, were actually purchased with money given to Clements by the university for that purpose.
