The Archives at 50: Remembering our Dedication Day, May 23, 1975

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. The establishment of a dedicated building for our collections had long been the dream of the Archives’ founder, Dr. Philip P. Mason, and the completion of the building was the result of nearly a decade of planning, fundraising, and negotiating. Once construction concluded in early spring 1975, it took nearly six weeks to move approximately 40,000 boxes of collection material from the basement of the Purdy/Kresge Library, which the Archives had long outgrown, to the new building. To say the opening of the library was a monumental task would be an understatement.

A day-long celebration was held to commemorate the building’s opening. Festivities began with a private luncheon for members of the Reuther family and UAW leadership at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center. Afterwards, there were private tours of the building, and Senator Hubert Humphrey held a press conference with members of the local media.
At 2:00 p.m., the official ceremony began across Reuther Mall at the Community Arts Auditorium with remarks from WSU President George E. Gullen. Distinguished guests included Leonard Woodcock, President of the United Auto Workers (UAW); Irving Bluestone, UAW Vice President; Coleman Young, Mayor of Detroit; and Dr. Philip P. Mason. The event also featured a screening of Walter, a film about the life of the late UAW President Walter Reuther, for whom the new building was named.

Senator Humphrey, a longtime associate of Reuther, spoke on the labor leader’s legacy in his keynote address. He shared a prediction that “this center of labor history and thought will be on the frontier of labor action. Through its work, the voice of America’s workers will continue to be effectively heard and counted in the important public decisions of this nation. This is indeed a most fitting memorial to a man who understood this more precisely and valued it more highly than any American labor leader of our time.”

Following the program, attendees were guided across Reuther Mall – passing a group of approximately 30 spirited demonstrators who came to protest Senator Humphrey – to tour the newly completed building. The day concluded with a 7:00 p.m. banquet at the Student Center Building, featuring remarks by former Secretary of Labor Willard Wirtz.

More than 1,000 guests from the labor, political, and academic communities attended the Reuther Library’s dedication ceremonies. Since then, we have welcomed thousands of researchers, students, and visitors through our doors. Join us in celebrating our golden anniversary by sharing your memories, attending an event, following us on social media, or simply exploring our galleries and collections in the Reading Room. We are open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Clemens is an Audiovisual Archivist at the Walter P. Reuther Library.