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Gertrude Buck earned U-M’s first rhetoric Ph.D. The archives reveal how she used writing & teaching to break barriers for women, laying groundwork for today’s feminist rhetoric.
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Happy Fourth of July from the archives! This photo of an early Fourth of July parade was taken #OTD over 100 years ago in Manchester, Michigan.
At the time, buildings on the parade route were decorated with ribbons, draped fabric, and American flags. You can see a marching band, including a tuba and a large drum, parading on the right side of this image!
If you look closely, you can also spot a child who appears to be holding his father’s hand while they watch the parade together, near the center of the photo.
You can find this 1896 parade photo, and other early images of Michigan, in the Sam Sturgis photograph collection at the Bentley.
We hope you have a wonderful Independence Day! 🎆
#4thOfJuly #MichiganHistory #IndependenceDay
Did you know that this historic U-M observatory hosts free events in Ann Arbor?
The Frankel Detroit Observatory is the second oldest building at U-M, and it serves as a local museum. It is also part of the Bentley Historical Library!
Anyone is welcome at these upcoming events in July to enjoy free history talks, walking tours, and more.
Click through to see a list of upcoming events, and check out the Judy & Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory website for details!
#UMich #AnnArbor #HistoricBuilding #Museum #UpcomingEvents
Our new website is coming soon! ⭐
We’re excited to share that our new and improved Bentley Historical Library site will launch on July 16, 2026, featuring:
🔎 Even more ways to discover Michigan history
📖 Additional resources and help for researchers
🎨 A better design and a fresh, new look
Stay tuned, we can’t wait to share it with you!
#Update #NewWebsite #ComingSoon
This photo of U-M`s Burton Memorial Tower was taken #OTD in 1937!
The bell tower itself was brand new at the time! It was dedicated just one year before this picture was snapped.
Named in honor of U-M`s former president Marion Burton, this tower was built to house a large and remarkable set of bells known as the Baird Carillon.
Those bells were named for U-M`s first Athletic Director Charles Baird, who gave them to the university. The largest bell weighs 12 tons!
The music of these bells has been enjoyed by many generations of students in Ann Arbor, and the clappers of the bells are getting an important upgrade this summer. The bell tower itself turns 90 this year! 🎉
You can find this photo and others like it in the digitized Ivory Photograph collection from the Bentley, hosted online by U-M`s Library. You can also learn more about the long history of this building with the Buildings and Grounds Department records, available for anyone to explore in our reading room!
#AnnArbor #UMich #LocalHistory #1930s
