Past Stories

Willis Ward was a celebrated U-M athlete. Interviews and papers from the Bentley reveal Ward's experiences on a campus that thought itself progressive, but in reality was highly segregated.

How a stagecoach robber and murderer was brought to justice, and how the details of the case -- including a one-of-a-kind photo -- made it to the Bentley.

New digital collections have transformed research and teaching, and made the history of the University of Michigan much more available to the world.

Willis C. Patterson's newly donated papers at the Bentley document a tireless fight for African American music to take its rightful place in the vocal canon.

How the Bentley Historical Library is archiving the Covid-19 pandemic in real-time.

The plan to build a bridge across the Straits of Mackinac began in earnest in the 1880s. But it wasn't until 1954 that construction began on the Mackinac Bridge. What happened in the interim?

In the summer of 1878, U-M Professor James Watson headed west to observe a solar eclipse, confident he would find a new planet. Instead, he discovered the limitations of science in the late-1800s and the fine line separating fascination and folly.

Incarcerated individuals are some of the last people to have their stories and experiences archived. The Bentley is working to change that by partnering with U-M researchers on a new initiative.

With the world watching, two pilots went down over Greenland in 1928. Their rescue would hinge on William Hobbs, a professor-turned-adventurer leading U-M’s Greenland Expedition.

A U-M research team travels to Greenland to study global warming and follow the pioneering footsteps of U-M Professor William Hobbs.