A Conversation with Willis C. Patterson

In this conversation with Willis C. Patterson, the Bentley Historical Library discusses his life of music, art, and advocacy and celebrates his donation of papers to the University’s official archive. Please enjoy this recording of the September 2020 event.

… Complete Story

Help the Bentley Archive U-M’s Pandemic Experiences

To document the different experiences of the University of Michigan community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bentley Historical Library is encouraging University of Michigan community members–including students, staff, and faculty, on campus and at Michigan Medicine–to document their personal experiences during the coronavirus outbreak and contribute them to the University Archives. When future students, scholars,… Complete Story

An Act of Conscience

Jerald F. terHorst was President Ford’s press secretary for a scant matter of weeks. He handed in his resignation after Ford issued a pardon to Richard Nixon, but his collection indicates there’s more to the story than just a political disagreement.

… Complete Story

Do You Zoom?

For your next Zoom meeting, why not use a historic U-M background from the Bentley? With thousands of digitized pictures in our online image bank, there are plenty to choose from. And, to help your selection, we curated some of our favorites below. Click the link to the right of each image to download. New to… Complete Story

Postcards from the Edge

Inside the Bentley Historical Library’s vast postcard collection are pictures and missives from U-M spanning the centuries. We pulled out a few postcards, and their accompanying messages, to take you back to U-M’s bygone years.

… Complete Story

Co-Education at Michigan

One hundred and fifty years ago, Madelon Stockwell became the first woman to attend the University of Michigan, but she did not arrive at this achievement in isolation. Explore our digital exhibit celebrating the anniversary of the admission of women to U-M.

… Complete Story

Coeducation for Democracy

As U-M marks the 150th anniversary of the admission of women, the Bentley invites the public to a lecture by Andrea L. Turpin, Associate Professor of History at Baylor University, for her talk “Coeducation for Democracy: The Changing Moral Vision for Educating the Sexes at the University of Michigan, 1870–1920.”

… Complete Story