Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Collection

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Metropolitan Offices records, 1877-2012

11 linear feet (in 13 boxes) — 21 oversize volumes — 1 oversize folder — 1.1 GB (online)

Online
Branch of the YMCA; Annual reports, clippings, correspondence, financial records, minutes of meetings, photographs, press releases, published materials, rosters, and scrapbooks; also includes collected branch records for the Railroad branch, 1877-1890, and the Downtown branch, 1890-1909; and publication, Detroit Young Men, 1911-1922.

The records of the Metropolitan Offices of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit consist of annual reports, correspondence, financial materials, minutes (Secretary's records), photographs, published brochures and pamphlets, and scrapbooks. The materials document, somewhat unevenly, the efforts of the YMCA to tend to the spiritual, physical, and social needs of the young men in Detroit. The strengths of this record group are in its minutes (Secretary's records) and photographs, each of which provides detailed and telling insight into the development of Detroit and the YMCA from the nineteenth century to 2006. The scrapbooks created by the YMCA, 1936-1973, are also of interest in that they accurately reflect all newspaper coverage of YMCA events and activities for this decade.

The records have been arranged in four series: Administration, Secretary's Records, Visual Materials, and Scrapbooks.

Collection

The YES Foundation® records, 1992-2017

9.1 linear feet (in 7 boxes) — 58.8 GB (online)

Online
A non-profit organization formed in 1992 by Julia T. Richie. The Foundation was created to empower children and young adults through the implementation, support, resources, and opportunities in employment, education, and enrichment. The record group includes administrative records, records pertaining to the organization's affiliates and partnerships with Detroit Metropolitan area charter and college preparatory schools, material relating to events and programs, as well as publications and photographs.

The records of The YES Foundation® document the organizational structure, affiliations, and programs of the Foundation between 1992 and 2017. The collection is comprised of administrative files, Board of Directors records, program evaluations, marketing material, year-end financial reports, grant applications, employee and volunteer meeting material, employee reference guides, materials related to various events and programs, tribute videos, student profiles, and educational course outlines and evaluations. Records include photographs and video recordings of ceremonies.

Collection

St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Detroit, Mich., Records, 1957-2002

7 linear feet

Correspondence, administrative files, Sunday bulletins, and topical files relating to the activities of the church and its pastors, most notably William Hilliard and William C. Ardrey.

The records of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church have been arranged into five series: Administrative, Topical Files, Correspondence, Photographs, and Sunday Bulletins.

Collection

Social Justice in Michigan Web Archive, 2010-2014

17 archived websites (online; multiple captures)

Online
Web collection of websites created by various organizations and individuals whose focus is on social justice and equality in the State of Michigan, archived by the Bentley Historical Library using the California Digital Library Web Archiving Service crawler from 2010-2015 and the Archive-It web archiving service beginning in 2015.

The Web Archive of Michigan's Social Justice collection contains archived websites created by various organizations and individuals committed to serving social justice in the State of Michigan. The websites have been archived by the Bentley Historical Library, using the California Digital Library Web Archiving Service crawler from 2010-2015 and the Archive-It web archiving service beginning in 2015. Access to all websites archived by the Bentley Historical Library is available at: https://archive-it.org/organizations/934.

Web Archives include websites of, social justice media, organizations, and activists who call the state of Michigan home. The collection is especially strong in documenting organizations that represent ethnic and marginalized communities in Michigan.

The year that appears next to the website title in the contents list indicates the date that the website was first archived. Archived versions of the site from later dates may also be available.

Collection

Ruth Ellis papers, 1910-2000 (majority within 1997-2000)

2.5 linear feet — 3.6 GB (online)

Online
Ruth Ellis of Detroit, Michigan was well known in the Gay community as the oldest known African American Lesbian. She was a business woman, owned a printing company, and held social gatherings at her home at a time when there were few opportunities for Gay African Americans to gather. During the last twenty years of her life she was active in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community and in the Senior Citizens movement. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, and publications.

The Ruth Ellis collection contains correspondence, photographs, and publications related to Ms. Ellis's life and her activities in the Gay and Lesbian community. The papers are arranged in the following series: Papers, Correspondence, and Events; Photographs; and Miscellaneous Materials.

Collection

Religious Communities of Michigan Web Archive, 2010-2014

30 web sites (online; multiple captures)

Online
Web collection of websites created by various religious communities of the State of Michigan, archived by the Bentley Historical Library using the California Digital Library Web Archiving Service crawler from 2010-2015 and the Archive-It web archiving service beginning in 2015.

The Web Archive of Michigan's Religious Communities collection contains archived websites created by various religious communities and institutions of the State of Michigan. The websites have been archived by the Bentley Historical Library, using the California Digital Library Web Archiving Service crawler from 2010-2015 and the Archive-It web archiving service beginning in 2015. Access to all websites archived by the Bentley Historical Library is available at: https://archive-it.org/organizations/934.

Web Archives include websites of churches, mosques, religious community centers and educational institutions who call the state of Michigan home. The collection is especially strong in documenting African American, Arab American, and Native American communities, business, religious, cultural and civil rights organizations, as well as distinguished individuals who belong to these communities.

The year that appears next to the website title in the contents list indicates the date that the website was first archived. Archived versions of the site from later dates may also be available.

Collection

Ramon S. Regan papers, 1953-2014 (with gaps)

3 linear feet

Ramon S. Regan was a Detroit, Mich. lawyer. He was an active member of the Barton-McFarlane Neighborhood Association of Barton-McFarland, which is a historically Black neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. The majority of the materials are related to the Barton-McFarlane Neighborhood Association, of which Regan was a member of the Executive Board. The collection also includes a photograph of the Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 661 (Luzerne, Mich.); the connection between Ramon S. Regan and the Civilian Conservation Corps is unknown.

The majority of materials in the Ramon S. Regan collection are related to the Barton-McFarlane Neighborhood Association, located in the historically Black Barton-McFarland neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. The Barton-McFarlane Neighborhood Association was founded in 1964, but most records present are from 1980 to the early 2000s.

An important issue to the association was related to the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (hereafter COTS), with most of the materials dated 2000-2004. Some issues related to COTS dealt with transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness and housing for people with disabilities.

Records types included in this collection are as follows: correspondence related thee Assocation, member registration papers (including family names and addresses), Executive Board meeting minutes, newsletters, financial records of the organization (including grant information), land deeds, flyers, memos, clippings, and a small number of photographs. The collection also includes a photograph of the Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 661 (Luzerne, Mich.), but the connection of the Civilian Conservation Corps to Regan is unknown.

To preserve original order, most folder titles were retained when rehousing material; this being said, there many be additional related topical material in the "various organizatoinal materials" section.

Collection

Marjorie A. Blackistone and Horace Ferguson Bradfield papers, 1931-1978

0.2 linear feet — 1.6 GB (online)

Online
Marjorie Bradfield was the first African American librarian in Detroit, working for the Detroit Public Library and as head librarian for Detroit Public Schools. Horace Bradfield was an African American Physician at Providence and Hutzel hospitals, and out of offices on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit. The collection contains Marjorie Bradfield's autobiography, audio recordings of interviews with Horace Bradfield, and photographs of the Bradfields.

The Marjorie and Horace Bradfield papers consists of autobiographical material and photographs.

In her autobiography, Marjorie Bradfield describes her first library jobs, and the events that led her to the Detroit Public Library. It highlights Bradfield's professional accomplishments, as well as challenges she faced as an African American woman in the library field. The autobiography includes an appendix with citations of essays and articles written by Bradfield.

Also contained within the collection are recordings of a 1978 interview with Horace Bradfield, facilitated by his daughter, Trudy Bradfield Taliaferro. The first part of the interview, Bradfield discusses his time as a student at the University of Michigan between 1931 and 1935. Throughout the interview, Bradfield describes his experience as an African American student at the University of Michigan during the 1930s. The second part of the interview covers his struggles finding a job as an African American physician in Detroit following his graduation in 1935.

The collection includes a small number of photographs in the collection, primarily portraits of the Bradfields, and a photograph from their wedding day in 1938. One of these photographs is available online as a digital file.

Collection

Marie Dessaw papers, ca. 1956-ca. 1985

0.5 linear feet

Detroit, Michigan civic leader, member and officer of the National Housewives' League of America, chairwoman of the Housewives' League of Detroit. Materials relating to Dessaw's participation and leadership of the National Housewives League.

Correspondence, reports, minutes, and other materials relating to her participation and leadership of the National Housewives League.