Share Your State of Michigan History

For organizations or businesses, the Bentley is especially interested in materials that document “core functions.” Think about what your organization does to fulfil its mission and the “paper trail” or digital records you create as you do so. That will provide important clues as to what material should be preserved.

Common record types we collect from organizations:

• Founding documents and strategic plans
• Board agendas and minutes
• Reports, both internal and external (annual reports can be especially valuable)
• Publicity materials such as brochures and fliers
• High-level budget documents (not cancelled checks or banking documents)
• Websites and social media
• Interviews with or reminiscences by founding members
• Company or organizational histories, often produced at anniversaries or other turning points

For an individual or family collection, there may be more variation in types of records. In general, these collections often include:

• Correspondence (from handwritten letters to email)
• Memoirs and reminiscences
• Diaries and journals
• Photographs and scrapbooks (ideally with subjects, dates, and locations identified)
• Home movies (ideally with subjects, dates, and locations identified)
• Creative and intellectual output not available elsewhere such as unpublished writings, lectures, speeches and presentations, and blogs or websites that may not be otherwise preserved