The Bentley Historical Library will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026 and Saturday, July 4, 2026 in observance of Independence Day.

 

Bentley Historical Library

Fall 2025

  • Students looking at historical materials during the History of Hate Michigan in the World program.

    Reckoning with the History of Hate

    A paid internship program gave students hands-on experience with archives that included studying the history of intolerance in Michigan and parallels between the past and today.

    … Complete Story
  • An anti-slavery letter.

    Friends In Deed

    Elizabeth Chandler and Dr. Nathan Thomas fought for the abolition of slavery at a time when many people in Michigan opposed slavery but far fewer took a stand.

    … Complete Story
  • A portrait of Gertrude Buck.

    The Rhetorical Oracle

    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.

    … Complete Story
  • The University of Michigan's Homeopathic Medical School circa 1890-1910, a series of connected buildings with several chimneys set on a grassy lawn.

    Science Versus the “Gentle Medicine”

    In the mid-1800s, U-M’s medical faculty revolted when the state government tried to force homeopathy into the curriculum. Archives reveal the war between medical fact and fiction.

    … Complete Story
  • Jeep Holland holding a phone, wearing a headband and sunglasses on his head, with photos of his band behind him.

    Chaotic, Hassled, and Beautiful

    Jeep Holland’s passion for music helped shape the 1960s Michigan scene. His collection at the Bentley Historical Library illuminates a tumultuous rock-and-roll journey.

    … Complete Story