The Bentley Historical Library will close at 2:00 pm on Wed. June 11, 2025.

 

Magazine

  • Sing to the Colors
    Spring 2022

    For nearly 20 years, James Tobin has been writing about the University’s history. We sat down with him to talk about research, collections, and even finding love at the library. 

    Complete Story
  • Michigan’s Moderates
    Fall 2021

    The legacies of three long-serving political giants will be the topic of scholarly debate for years to come. But as their Bentley papers show, they were all similarly “moderate.”

    Complete Story
  • What Time Is It Now?
    Fall 2021

    A visionary academic, a knowledge-loving businessman, and new technology to plot the stars would converge on a small hill at U-M, changing Detroit—and the campus—forever.

    Complete Story
  • We Demand Education
    Fall 2021

    Louisa Reed-Stowell was a brilliant botanist who fought tirelessly for women’s equality, especially in education. Despite her prestigious contributions in the field, U-M would discriminate against her time and time again.

    Complete Story
  • Flying Saucers and Swamp Gas
    Fall 2021

    A rash of UFO sightings across Michigan in the mid-1960s launched investigations by the highest levels of the U.S. government. What was happening in the skies? Was it spaceships or swamp gas? The answer may depend on whose papers you peruse.

    Complete Story
  • Scratching the Surface
    Summer 2021

    To write his new memoir, multimedia journalist and educator Harvey Ovshinsky had to research his own collection at the Bentley.

    Complete Story
  • Digitization by the Numbers
    Summer 2021

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

    Complete Story