Minorities

David Bonior Papers

drice — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:57:42 -0500

David Bonior (June 6, 1945 -) was a Michigan State Representative from 1973-76, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1976-2002, serving as Democratic Whip from 1991-2002. Bonior was born in Detroit and raised in Hamtramck. He received his BA at University of Iowa and his MA at Chapman University. After college he worked as a probation officer in Detroit before volunteering four years in the Air Force from 1968-72. Upon returning he was elected to the Michigan legislature, and in 1976 was elected to the U.S. House. He was well known for his advocacy of minority rights, environmental concerns, working people’s rights, and Vietnam veterans. He was elected Democratic Whip in 1991, and was the longest Whip in the history of Congress. He left Congress in an unsuccessful bid for Governor of Michigan in 2001-02 where he ran against former Governor Jim Blanchard, and Attorney General Jennifer Granholm. His campaign centered around environmental concerns, minority rights, and the economy. Following his gubernatorial campaign, Bonior taught Labor Studies at Wayne State University and chaired the American Rights at Work program.

Part I of the Bonior Papers include documents relating to his activities in the 10th and 12th Congressional districts of Michigan during his years in Congress, as well as his run for Governor. The collection focuses mainly on Michigan issues, particularly social, labor, and environmental. Bonior’s biographical information, district schedules and participation in events are included in the administrative series. A large portion of the collection centers around his bi-yearly campaigns and includes campaign literature, mailings, events, research, and polling and surveys of his congressional district. Also included are newspaper clippings, newsletters and press releases.

Detroit Latino Records

aorchard — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 14:58:36 -0500

Organizations in this collection include New Detroit, Inc., National Council of La Raza,
Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Additionally, this collection encompasses the work of many organizations involved in the Consortium of Hispanic Agencies, such as the Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (La Sed), Community Health and Social Services Center (CHASS), Latino Family Services, and SER, Jobs for Progress, Inc.

Finally, this collection includes materials created by Detroit Latino Agenda and Coalition, an organization that was started by the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies at Wayne State University in 1990. The organization focuses on challenges and opportunities for Detroit’s Latino community and it creates conferences in order to foster discussion and collaboration in the greater Detroit Latino community.

The Detroit Latino Records primarily contains memorandum, meeting minutes, conference materials, and program materials for Latino community organizations within Detroit, as well as résumés and relevant news articles. This collection also includes materials produced by national organizations and academic programs, including programs within Wayne State University and its Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies, as well as the University of Michigan.

Economic Development Corporation of Greater Detroit: Michael Weston Records

drice — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:48:01 -0500

A graduate of Brown University and the University of Michigan Law School, Michael Weston practiced law at Hill, Lewis, Andrews, Adams, Goodrich and Power (now known as Clark Hill), before serving as Secretary (1969), Treasurer (1970) and President (1972) of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Developed out of the 1967 riots, the EDC of Greater Detroit was a multi-corporate consortium created as the Detroit business establishment’s vehicle to increase opportunities for African-Americans and Hispanics to grow their own businesses. Weston left the EDC in 1973 to accept a position as a university attorney at Northwestern University. He retired from Northwestern in 2001 as vice president and general counsel. The EDC merged with the Inner City Business Improvement Forum circa 1974.

The records of Michael C. Weston reflect the administrative concerns of the EDC during his tenure there and particularly document his work with the organization.

National Sharecroppers Fund Photographs

drice — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 16:19:03 -0400

The National Sharecroppers Fund (NSF) was incorporated in 1943 and grew out of “National Sharecroppers Week,” an annual event intended to rally support for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. NSF was founded to provide financial assistance and information on government aid programs to organizations dedicated to improving living conditions for the rural poor. The photograph collection consists of images documenting NSF activities and the lives of sharecroppers and their families from the 1940s through to the mid 1970s.

The Popular Crimetown Podcast Digs into Detroit Crime by Digging into the Reuther Library’s Collections

mwallace — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:22:50 -0400

The new season of the hit podcast Crimetown will use material from various collections at the Walter P. Reuther Library. Each season of Crimetown examines the “culture of crime” in a different American city. This upcoming season they are focusing on Detroit and using film, video, and sound from the Reuther’s collections. read more »

(38421) Michigan Poor People's Campaign, Demonstrations, 2018

eclemens — Wed, 23 May 2018 14:48:33 -0400

Supporters of Michigan’s “Poor People’s Campaign” carry signs in downtown Lansing.

The events, modeled after the Poor People’s Campaign of 1968, called for racial, economic, environmental and immigration justice. Michigan was one of 30 states participating in the six-week long project.