Detroit: Political and Social Reform and Activism
Anti-busing demonstration, Detroit, 1976. Photograph by Joel Unangst (John and Leni Sinclair papers, Box 38) image bl004036
Brown, Gloria.
- Gloria Brown papers, 1964-1967.
- 50 items.
Chairwoman of the Detroit chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality.
Correspondence, news releases, and printed material relating to the activities of the Detroit CORE.
Dancy, John C. (John Campbell), 1888-1968.
- John C. Dancy papers 1920-1960
- 1 linear ft. and 1 v. [outsize].
Executive director of the Detroit Urban League.
Correspondence, scrapbook, photographs, and miscellanea concerning personal matters, the work of the Urban League, and the concerns of the African American community of Detroit.
Davidson, Carlisle G.
- Carlisle Davidson papers 1944-1986
- 1 folder.
Resident of Detroit, Michigan.
Correspondence and miscellanea relating to the Episcopal Peace Fellowship and other religious social action groups in Detroit; also papers relating to the Detroit Round Table of Catholics, Jews and Protestants in the 1940s.
DeMeunier, Leon.
- Leon DeMeunier papers, 1960-1964.
- 1 linear ft.
Chairman of the Detroit chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality.
Correspondence, minutes of CORE meetings, and printed materials, relating primarily to the activities of CORE in Detroit, concerning activities against job discrimination, and in support of Freedom Rides into the South in the early 1960s.
Detroit (Mich.). Welfare Commission.
- Detroit Welfare Commission records 1927-1935
- 1 microfilm reel : positive.
Minutes of meetings relating to Detroit, Michigan, hospitals and hospital personnel.
Dignity/Detroit
- Dignity Detroit records, 1974-2004.
- 2.3 linear ft.
Organization established to unite gay Catholics and provide a vehicle through which they might be heard within the Church and by the wider Detroit community.
Organizational files; Executive Council and general membership meeting records; and programs and other materials of organization anniversaries, retreats, and other activities.
Donabedian, Avedis.
- Avedis Donabedian papers 1946-2000
- 2.0 linear ft.
Avedis Donabedian was a professor of Public Health at the University of Michigan from 1961 to 1988. He conducted pioneering research in quality assessment of public health and service, developing systematic frameworks for understanding health service and managed healthcare.
The Donabedian papers include biographical material, correspondence, annual activity reports, and files relating to his research interests and professional activities. Papers include studies for the Community Health Association of Detroit, Michigan and background on various publications. Some scattered photographs of Donabedian are also included.
Ellis, Ruth, 1899-2000.
- Ruth Ellis papers 1900s-2000
- 3 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder.
African American lesbian from Detroit, Mich.
Biographical information, awards and citations, articles and clippings about her, and photographs.
Florescu, Stefan.
- Stefan Florescu papers 1946-2001 (bulk 1965-1985)
- 2 linear ft.
As a quadriplegic, Florescu was involved in activities and organizations for the handicapped in the Detroit area. Florescu was founder of Michigan Wheelchair Athletic Committee.
The collection includes personal/biographical material, files relating to his organizational activities, and files pertaining to wheelchair athletics.
Gardner, Nannette Brown Ellingwood, 1828-1900.
- Nannette B. E. Gardner papers, 1871-1893.
- 0.1 linear ft. and 1 oversize folder.
Detroit woman suffrage leader.
Scrapbooks containing biographical sketch of Mrs. Gardner and members of her family; two pages of a diary on voting in Detroit, 1871; miscellaneous papers which largely relate to woman suffrage; and visual materials.
Gray Panthers - Metro North (Mich.)
- Gray Panthers - Metro North records, 1979-1995.
- 0.2 linear ft.
Chapter of the Gray Panthers serving the northern Detroit suburbs.
Organizational material including minutes of meetings and newsletters; also photographs.
Finding aid available in library
Grimes, Lucia Isabelle Voorhees, 1877-1978.
- Lucia I. V. Grimes papers, 1912-1949.
- 4 linear ft. and 3 oversize items.
Suffragist, leader of the Michigan Branch of the National Woman's Party, and candidate for the Michigan legislature in 1924.
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, periodicals and other materials concerning her activities in the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, the Legislative Council of Michigan Women, the National Woman's Party, and the Republican Party; also photographs.
Jabara, Abdeen, 1940-
- Abdeen M. Jabara papers, 1956-1986 (bulk 1968-1983).
- 9 linear ft.
New York attorney originally based in Detroit. Jabara was concerned with issues of civil rights of Arab Americans and the rights of Arabs living or traveling in the United States. He challenged practice of law enforcement agencies to collect information and maintain surveillance of Arabs and Arab Americans. Jabara was involved in the murder trial of Sirhan Sirhan and the extradition case of Ziad Abu Eain.
Litigation and case files; subject files regarding his Arab American activism, organizational involvements, and participation in the Middle East delegation of the National Lawyers Guild.
Kleinman, Rose Parker, 1914-1977.
- Rose P. Kleinman papers, 1947-1977, bulk 1964-1977.
- 2 linear ft.
Detroit social activist and reformer.
Correspondence and subject files relating to her interest in cooperatives, especially organizations concerned with low-income, open housing projects; also photographs and audiotapes.
M.O.S.E.S.
- M.O.S.E.S. records, 1993-2003 (bulk 1998-2001).
- 3 linear ft.
Inter-racial, inter-faith organization established in 1997 to strengthen metropolitan Detroit congregations and communities through social programs, leadership training, and encouragement of civic participation. M.O.S.E.S was formed from three faith-based organizations: Jeremiah, West Detroit Inter-faith Community Organization, and NOAH. The name M.O.S.E.S. is an acronym for Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength.
History and background materials, financial files, executive board files, and records of Jeremiah Project Board.
Marsh, Pliny W., 1876-
- Pliny W. Marsh papers 1936, ca. 1945, 1956 and undated
- 1 folder.
Legal counsel and political strategist for the Michigan Anti-Saloon League, secretary of the Detroit Citizens League, Detroit Recorder's Court judge, and advocate of prison reform.
Reminiscence, ca. 1945, of Michigan Anti-Saloon League, 1903-1911, and of the Citizens League, 1912-1916; report on the state penal system, 1936; history of Narcotic Education Association of Michigan; and miscellanea.
McCauley, Dorothy.
- Dorothy McCauley papers, 1961-1989.
- 1.5 linear ft.
Organizer and executive director of the Dav-Joy-Lin-Dex Community Council, Detroit network of neighborhood block organization; community activist concerned with neighborhood youth and senior citizen programs, and with interest in matters of zoning, health, housing, and police-community relations.
Newsletters and minutes of executive committee of the Dav-Joy-Lin-Dex Community Council; newsletters of area block clubs; files relating to her community and organizational involvement; published materials; and photographs.
Michigan Organization for Human Rights.
- Michigan Organization for Human Rights records 1970-1995
- 13 linear ft. (14 boxes) and 1 oversize folder.
Organization established in 1977 to serve as resource for different human rights organizations. The organization early on focused on issues of civil rights for lesbians and gay men.
Administrative files include minutes, reports, and agendas; correspondence; topical files; clippings, and audio-tapes (1973-1982) of gay radio broadcasts on station WDET in Detroit.
Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.
- Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion records 1941-2006
- 4.5 linear feet, 21 oversize volumes, and 1 oversize folder.
Organization originally established in 1940 as the Detroit Round Table of Catholics, Jews and Protestants. The organization held seminars and workshops, sponsored lectures, and organized annual Brotherhood Week events. The name of the organization has had several name changes. In 2006, it became the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.
Scrapbooks, 1942-1952; program files; record books detailing activities of the Women's Division of the Greater Detroit Round Table, 1952-1992; and photographs.
Michigan Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
- Michigan Woman's Christian Temperance Union records, 1874-1991.
- 15.3 linear ft.
Papers of early W.C.T.U. workers, Alice E. H. Peters and Ella Eaton Kellogg, both including correspondence with Frances Willard and Anna A. Gordon; also minutes and other records of individual Michigan W.C.T.U. districts and chapters. Included are secretary?s records for the Detroit Federation, 1959-1965 (3 volumes)
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Organization). Wayne County Chapter (Mich.)
- Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Wayne County Chapter records, 1982-1986.
- 0.3 linear ft.
Established in 1982, this chapter also served as state headquarters until 1986.
Reports to national office, including financial summaries; minutes of meetings, bulletins, and newsletters; and newspaper clippings.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Detroit, Mich.)
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (Detroit, Mich.), 1986-1996.
- 0.8 linear ft.
Detroit chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (also called PFLAG) established in 1986 by Bill and Harriet Dart as an informational support group.
Records of organization include minutes, financial reports, newsletters, photographs, videocassette recordings, correspondence, promotional materials, clippings, and photographs.
Planned Parenthood League, Inc. (Detroit, Mich.)
- Planned Parenthood League, Inc. records, 1932-1979.
- 9 linear ft.
Records of the Planned Parenthood League, Inc., Detroit and Oakland County affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Histories, board of directors file, and committee records; grants, clinic reports, and applications; records detailing their relationship with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and various Michigan organizations and agencies; and photographs.
Responsible Enterprise Association Educational Foundation.
- Responsible Enterprise Association Educational Foundation records 1945-1972
- 0.1 linear feet and 1 oversize folder.
Conservative libertarian organization founded by Royal D. Rood, at one time a chemistry teacher at the St. Matthew Lutheran School in Detroit, Mich. The organization held anti-government views.
Addresses by Royal D. Rood, newsletters, bulletins, and pamphlets published by the Association, as well as several pieces of correspondence with St. Matthew Lutheran School.
Roberts, Carmen A.
- Carmen A. Roberts papers, 1972-1981.
- 5 linear in. and 1 volume.
Member of the Detroit school board and a leader of the anti-busing movement in Detroit.
Correspondence, speeches, clippings, legal brief, organizational miscellanea, and collected pro- and anti-busing materials; also photographs and motion picture film.
Rogers, Felix J., 1947-
- Felix J. Rogers papers, 1985-1991.
- 0.5 linear ft.
Physician involved with peace organizations, notably Physicians for Social Responsibility, an organization opposed to nuclear weapons testing and the construction of nuclear power plants.
Files relating to activities with the Physicians for Social Responsibility-Detroit and with the Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
Save Our Sons and Daughters (Organization)
- Save Our Sons and Daughters records, 1987-1992.
- 2 linear ft.
Detroit-based civic organization (known as SOSAD) formed to educate the public to the problem of teen violence and youth homicide.
Topical files, correspondence, and videotape relating to organizational programs and activities.
Tennyson, Katharine
- Katharine Tennyson papers, 1969-1973.
- 0.5 linear ft.
Detroit, Michigan, nurse, active in organizations dedicated to the reform of Michigan abortion laws.
Notes on meetings, flyers, minutes, financial miscellanea relating to her support and participation in the Michigan Organization for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, the Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee, and other abortion reform groups.
Travelers Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit
- Travelers Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit records, 1929-1999 (bulk 1950-1985)
- 0.3 linear ft.
The Travelers Aid Society of Metropolitan Detroit was established in 1907, as part of St. John?s Episcopal Church, with an emphasis on helping young women who arrived in the city alone. Services expanded, and in 1923 the Society became an independent organization, no longer associated with the church. The Society is now a member of the National Travelers Aid Association and focuses on helping many groups of people, including women, immigrants, individuals in the military, and other travelers with special needs. Their services include providing information on obtaining food and shelter for stranded and homeless individuals, orienting new arrivals to the services and rules of the city, and counseling runaway children.
Brochures, newspaper clippings, histories, and official documents of the Society, including the charter, constitution, and a few reports to directors; also videotapes of public affairs programs featuring the Travelers Aid Society.
Triangle Foundation.
- Triangle Foundation records, 1987-1999 (bulk 1990-1994).
- 6 linear ft.
The Triangle Foundation is a gay and lesbian civil rights and advocacy organization, located in Detroit. It was formed in 1990. Its programs include an anti-violence project, media activism, and legislative education on gay civil rights. While its focus is on southeast Michigan, Triangle collaborates with other groups across the state and nationally.
Minutes, correspondence, press releases, case statements, and publications of the Triangle Foundation; news clippings documenting issues relevant to the gay/lesbian community and of Triangle activities; and videotapes of local cable television newsmagazine, Lambda Digest.
Warshay, Diana.
- Diana Warshay papers, 1971-1979.
- 2 linear ft.
Michigan sociologist specializing in areas of abortion rights and crisis intervention training. She conducted a study of abortion referral agencies 1971-1973, one of whose members was the Michigan Clergy Counseling Service. She was also coordinator of the Detroit Police Department's Social Conflict Research Project, 1978-1979, and was one of the founders of the Tri-County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The collection includes correspondence, minutes, bylaws, newsletters, grant applications, and other materials relating to her work in studying abortion and domestic abuse cases.
Wohlfield, Shirley.
- Shirley Wohlfield papers, 1972-1978.
- 1 linear ft. and 1 oversize volume.
Detroit anti-busing activist.
Correspondence, speeches, minutes of meetings, and other materials relating to her involvement with anti-busing organizations, principally Northeast Mothers Alert, Mothers Alert Detroit, and the National Association for Neighborhood Schools; also files detailing involvement with Happiness of Women (HOW) and the 14th Congressional District Republican Committee; and scrapbook containing clippings and photographs relating to anti-busing rallies and activities.
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Branch.
- Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti Branch records, 1938-1996.
- 1 linear ft.
Correspondence, minutes, newsletters and newspaper clippings concerning activities of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti branch; also collected materials from the state chapter and from local branches in Detroit, Ingham County, Oakland County, Rouge Valley, and Traverse City, Michigan.
Finding aid in the library.
Communist march on City Hall, Detroit, Feb. 1931 (Frank Murphy papers, Box 95) image bl004048