African Americans--Michigan--Detroit--History--20th century

African Americans and the UAW

mosmith — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:53:30 -0500

The Reuther Library celebrates African American History Month with a brief review of the important role that African Americans have played in the formation and growth of the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW), one of the most powerful unions in American history, and the influence of black UAW members within the polity of Detroit. read more »

Book Announcement: The Color of Law

teller — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:45:25 -0400

Next month metropolitan Detroit authors and frequent Reuther Library researchers Steve Babson, Dave Riddle, and David Elsila are releasing their book The Color of Law: Ernie Goodman, Detroit, and the Struggle for Labor and Civil Rights, which uses information garnered from collections held at the Reuther.

We have many records and manuscript collections that reflect how the local government, legal system, and organizations have addressed the intersection of civil rights, race, and the law in metro Detroit. read more »

Collection Spotlight: Ramon S. Scruggs, Sr. Papers

gstrassel — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:37:14 -0500

Best known as the first African American member of management at both the Michigan Bell Telephone Company and AT&T, Ramon S. Scruggs, Sr. served as an influential civil rights figure in the American business community from the 1940s until his passing in 1984. What separated Scruggs from many other civil rights figures was his focus on improving racial equality through integrating African Americans into positions of management within large corporations. The Ramon S. Scruggs Sr. Papers, recently opened to the public at the Walter P. Reuther Library, chronicle the subject’s numerous accomplishments. read more »

Collection Spotlight: The Edward Stanton Photographs

eclemens — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 10:23:48 -0500

The Reuther Library is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Edward Stanton Photographs. The collection features the earliest surviving work of the Detroit-born photographer, Edward Stanton (1914-2006), and includes images taken in Detroit’s Paradise Valley and Black Bottom neighborhoods in the years surrounding the end of the Great Depression. read more »

Collection Spotlight: Wade McCree's contribution to Detroit and the nation

ljones — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:37:16 -0500

The Walter P. Reuther Library continues to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting the life of Wade McCree and his papers.

In his work as a judge, appointed official, and educator coupled with his sense of civic responsibility, Wade Hampton McCree, Jr. made a unique contribution to the Detroit metropolitan area and beyond. His success in these areas are noteworthy by themselves, but even more so given the barriers to success experienced by African Americans read more »

Recent additions: Black perspectives at the Reuther Library

srafferty — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 18:06:22 -0400

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 »

Records of Jewish Community Council Reveal Mid-Century Concerns and Actions on Social and Racial Justice

aergas — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:30:45 -0500

A lesser-known, and maybe surprising, source for historians and researchers looking at 20th-century race relations in Detroit are the Jewish Community Council Records, part of the Jewish Community Archives at the Reuther Library.

This large collection documents grassroots discussions and actions in Detroit’s Jewish community and the wider urban community particularly from the 1940s to the 1970s. read more »

Subject Focus: Black Revolutionaries

eclemens — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:21:12 -0500

The Reuther Library celebrates African American History Month with a brief look at resources in our collections that deal with the topic of Black revolutionaries. We define Black revolutionaries as persons or groups whose goal was to create a positive change in the lives of African Americans through radical action. The means to this end varied from person to person, organization to organization - the action could be carried out with words or through armed conflict, the desired results could be equality for all or separation of races all together. The following resources chronicle the struggle for identity and equality and highlight the rich legacy of social and political activism and reform within the various revolutionary movements. read more »

(WSAV002727_001) Poletown, Neighborhood Scenes, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

A group of African-American men working on car repairs. Photo taken on Trombly, west of Chene.

(WSAV002727_002) Poletown, Architecture on E. Grand Blvd., 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

A view of an apartment building with Kuehn Building in left foreground. Photo taken on E. Grand Blvd. and Chene.

(WSAV002727_003) Poletown, Businesses, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Exterior view of a corner store, located diagonally across from Immaculate Conception Church. Photo taken on Trombly at Moran.

(WSAV002727_004) Poletown, Churches, Exterior Views, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Exterior view of Holy Cross Church, an Apostolic faith storefront church located on Mitchell Street. A sign notes Elder D.B. Mahone as pastor.

(WSAV002727_005) Poletown, Demonstrations, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

View of a Pro-Central Industrial Park (CIP) Project demonstration on Jos. Campau at Finley.
Photo was taken in February or March of 1981, during the time that Ralph Nadar was in Detroit organizing against the CIP project.

(WSAV002727_006) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Two young African-American men pose for a photo outside of Hupp Billards on Chene, north of Milwaukee.

(WSAV002727_007) Poletown, Residents, Celebrations, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

A view of a child's birthday party, celebrated among family and neighbors in the DuBois Apartments on E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_008) Poletown, Residents, Celebrations, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

A view of a child's birthday party, celebrated among family and neighbors in the DuBois Apartments on E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_009) Poletown, Residents, Celebrations, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

An African-American family celebrates their child's first birthday among family and neighbors at the DuBois Apartments on E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_010) Poletown, Residents, Celebrations, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Friends and family celebrate during a child's first birthday party at the DuBois Apartments on E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_013) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Businesses, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

A view of businesses on Jos. Campau, near Dunn Street, including: Mitch’s Bull Dog Bar and Ruth and Russell Soul Food.

Note: Mitch's Bulldog Bar has a graffiti tag by the Chene Gang on its exterior.

(WSAV002727_016) Poletown, Neighborhood Scenes, DuBois Street, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Two African-American women pose for a portrait in front of a home located at 2190 Dubois (one block north of E. Grand Blvd.).

(WSAV002727_017) Poletown, Neighborhood Scenes, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:20 -0400

Two African-American men pose for a photograph outside of the DuBois Apartments, located on 2420 E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_022) Poletown, Churches, Relocation, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:21 -0400

Moving day for a storefront church, located at Chene and Grandy, name unknown. At right is Murray's Market.

(WSAV002727_025) Poletown, Businesses, Famous

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:21 -0400

Exterior view of Famous Bar-B-Q Restaurant, near Liberty Lounge and Hospital Drug Co., on Chene between Grand Blvd. and Milwaukee.

(WSAV002727_030) Poletown, Residents, Kanter Street, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:21 -0400

A woman poses outside of her home on Kanter Street.

(WSAV002727_034) Poletown, Churches, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:21 -0400

Exterior view of Temple of Faith Missionary Baptist Church (formerly St. Nicholas Byzantine Greek Catholic Church), located on E. Grand Blvd.

(WSAV002727_046) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Trombly Street, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

Children pose for a photo on the porch of a duplex on Trombly Street, west of Chene.

(WSAV002727_048) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Children, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

Four African-American children pose for the photographer in an alley between Trombly and Adele Streets

(WSAV002727_051) Poletown, Residential Views, Piquette Street, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

Exterior view of well-kept homes in vicinity of Immaculate Conception Church, Piquette Street at Moran.

(WSAV002727_053) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Alleys, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

Three African-American men clean up a backyard littered with refuse, on far west side of the Poletown district. Photo was taken from an alley behind St. Aubin Street.

(WSAV002727_056) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Children, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

A group of African-American children play baseball on a vacant lot near the alley between Adele and Trombly.

(WSAV002727_057) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Adele Street, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

An African-American family poses for a photo on the porch of home located on Adele Street near Chene.

(WSAV002727_058) Poletown, Neighborhood Views, Children, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

On far west side of Poletown district, a group of children ham it up for the photographer in a lot on Widman Street, south of Milwaukee. Note: E.J. Hackett is at rear.

(WSAV002727_069) Dodge Main, Demolition, Detroit, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

A view of Dodge Main taken from Dunn Street, partially demolished.

(WSAV002727_070) Trombly and Mitchell Streets, Exteriors, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

Exterior view of a well-maintained home located at Trombly and Mitchell.

(WSAV002727_071) Neighborhood Views, E. Grand Boulevard, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:22 -0400

A view a bend in E. Grand Blvd as it winds though the Poletown District. The Fisher Building is in view at right, back. Just out of frame is St. John Evangelist Church.

(WSAV002727_072) African Americans, Families, Piquette Street, 1981