eclemens's blog
Holiday Closure: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Posted January 16th, 2025 by eclemens
The Reuther Library and Wayne State University will be closed Monday January 19, 2026 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We hope you'll take the time to reflect on Dr. King's life and work. Our collections offer some opportunities:
• The creation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Dr. King's support of the Memphis Sanitation Worker Strike of 1968
• Dr. King's first delivery of the "I Have a Dream" speech at Detroit's TCF Center (then Cobo Hall)
As always, we are happy to assist you in finding materials related to Dr. King (or any topic) via Ask an Archivist.
Stories from the Collections: The last portraits of Jimmy Hoffa
Posted July 30th, 2025 by eclemens
On the morning of July 30, 1975, Tony Spina, the Chief Photographer for the Detroit Free Press, had no idea that a routine assignment would connect him to one of the defining mysteries of the late 20th century: the disappearance of former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. read more »
On Display: Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit
Posted June 6th, 2025 by eclemens
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- Agricultural laborers
- Air traffic control
- Airlines--Strikes and lockouts
- Boycotts
- Calumet (Mich.)--History
- Copper miners--Michigan--Calumet--1910-1920
- Copper mines and mining--Michigan--Calumet Region--History--20th century
- Dearborn (Mich.) -- Demonstration, 1932
- Detroit Free Press
- Detroit News
- Flint Sit-Down Strike, 1936-1937
- Ford Motor Company
- Industrial Workers of the World
- UAW
- UFW
Michigan Labor Actions case exhibit
February 10, 2025 – July 3, 2025
Come by the library and explore our latest case exhibit, Michigan Labor Actions. This display features photographs, ephemera, and artifacts from our collections that highlight key collective actions in Michigan’s labor history. Events showcased include the Copper Country Strike (1913), Studebaker Strike (1913), Ford Hunger March (1932), Flint Sit-Down Strike (1937), UFW Grape Boycotts (1970s), D.R.U.M. Wildcat Strikes (1970s), P.A.T.C.O. Strike (1981), and the Detroit Newspaper Strike (1995–1997). read more »
The Archives at 50: Remembering our Dedication Day, May 23, 1975
Posted May 23rd, 2025 by eclemens
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This blog post is part of a series celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Reuther Library's building.
May 23, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the Walter P. Reuther Library building – home to the largest labor archives in North America and the Wayne State University Archives. read more »
