The Bentley Historical Library’s Reading Room will be closed for the day on November 27, 2024. The Bentley Historical Library will be closed for the day on November 28 & 29, 2024.

Bentley Historical Library

News Stories

  • Historic photo of a painted mural by C. Popovich.

    Rescuing History

    A collection of black-and-white photos sat dormant for a decade. Then, the owner took a closer look, and wondered if those photos belonged at the Bentley.

    … Complete Story
  • Women athletes posing in front of the Martha Cook dormitory.

    A Sporting Chance

    Women at U-M fought for athletic facilities where they could exercise and play sports. Learn how they carved out spaces for themselves on campus, time and again.

    … Complete Story
  • Ruth Ellis leaning against a car in Detroit.

    Living with Pride

    Ruth Ellis forged a path for people in the LGBTQ community, as one of the oldest “out” lesbians in Detroit, until her death at age 101.

    … Complete Story
  • Two cupped hands holding grain above a white grain bag.

    Fields of Gold

    One researcher’s quest to resurrect a nearly extinct type of rye seed started in the archives, but quickly expanded beyond them. Learn about this forgotten chapter of Michigan agricultural history.

    … Complete Story
  • Newspaper articles pasted into a scrapbook page.

    Teaching Black History

    An adult-education class brought Black history to life in a Depression-era Ann Arbor classroom. Newspaper clippings pasted inside a scrapbook showcase the excellence of Black Americans.

    … Complete Story
  • Dictionary page for the word "reparative"

    Language Lessons

    What do you do when the descriptions of archival collections are outdated, even racist? A new initiative at the Bentley is tackling a strategic, long-term fix.

    … Complete Story

  • Thousands of Ann Arbor Photos

    Historical photos of Ann Arbor and surrounding communities are now available digitally as part of the Bentley Historical Library’s contribution to the Ann Arbor Bicentennial.

    … Complete Story