Blogs

1. What is the best way to learn more about the Reuther’s collections remotely?

Please start by visiting our finding aid search at http://archives.wayne.edu or by using the advanced search bar at the top right of this page.

2. I’m having a hard time navigating your finding aids online. Can I talk to an archivist about my topic before I have boxes selected?

Yes! We’re happy to offer advice on search terms or how to find the collections you might need. Email reutherreference@wayne.edu. We are also able to speak with you via Teams (or Zoom if you prefer).

3. How much material can I have scanned and sent to me remotely?

In order to help as many people as possible, we may need to limit researchers to 10 folders per request. While it is certainly possible to ask for more than 10 folders, you may receive material in several phases. Please speak with an archivist if you need assistance narrowing your request or prioritizing materials.

4. Is the Reuther currently supporting classes or offering class visits?

We are available for remote class visits and (beginning in fall), in-person visits with a limit on attendees. Please email @meghan.courtney@wayne.edu to talk about your needs.

5. What are archivists doing if they’re not available in the reading room?

Most of the Reuther's work is continuing as normal. In addition to serving patron research requests remotely, staff continue to apply metadata, work on arrangement and description, develop classroom tools, work with donor organizations, conduct oral histories, produce podcasts, write blog posts, practice digital preservation, and reach out to potential material donors. If you would like to collaborate beyond a simple research request, please reach out.

6. What if I have material I’d like to donate to the Reuther?

Our field archivist Louis Jones would love to discuss your donation. Please contact him at louis.jones@wayne.edu

7. When will the reading room open to researchers outside of WSU?

We expect to update our policies soon. As access changes, we will post notices here and on our social media accounts, listed at the top left of this page.

The Walter P. Reuther Library seeks the interviewees (or heirs thereof) in our “Black Workers in the Labor Movement Oral History Project” in order to make transcripts available to our researchers online. As a resource that has been widely used in the past, we are confident that online access will spur a greater level of research.  read more »

Detroit’s Black citizens have faced a long, complicated history of struggle and perseverance. While the voices of Black individuals are generally underrepresented in archives, Reuther Library has a number of collections that help document this history in varied formats and perspectives, and we've added more in recent years. Here are descriptions of just a few of these notable collections:  read more »

By EmmaLee Herlocher, practicum student in Wayne State's School of Information Science, Summer 2020

The Ernest L. Horne papers documents the activities of the gay and lesbian liberation movement in Detroit from 1984 through 1996, primarily through the records of three organizations Horne as involved in: Association of Suburban People (ASP), South Eastern Michigan Gay and Lesbian Association (SEMGLA), and Detroit Area Gay and Lesbian Council (DAGLC). For the second half of my practicum, I worked with the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University to create a set of archival documents based on these important records to be used in classroom settings, including a teacher plan to help guide discussions.  read more »