African Americans--Michigan--Detroit--History--Pictorial works

Estelle Wolf Photographs

eclemens — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:46:02 -0500

The Estelle Wolf photographs consist of 280 photographs Ms. Wolf took during her tenure as a WPA photographer in Detroit. Under the WPA, her assignments involved taking photos of workers on federally funded projects or of the people who benefited from these projects. The collection was originally housed in three scrapbooks. The photographs have been removed from the books, placed on archival backings, and are numbered by the original order. Some of the photographs in this collection were published within Progress in Michigan, a newsletter issued by the Michigan Works Progress Administration. Copies of Progress in Michigan can be found at the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Other examples of Wolf’s work can be found within the collections of the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress. For further information on Ms. Wolf's life, please consult her oral history within Grand Valley State University's Digital Collections.

Collection Spotlight: Dale Rich Collection

cdavis — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:04:08 -0500

In honor of Black History Month, we highlight the Dale Rich Collection.

Over fifteen years ago, Mr. Dale Rich, professional photographer, longtime newspaperman, and historian, came to the Reuther Library to research African Americans and labor. As I, Access Archivist Carrolyn Davis, began working with him, he soon showed me hundreds of photographs he had taken over the years of the 2006 Detroit Public School Teachers Strike, of organizing groups supporting the teachers, of himself reenacting a black Civil War solider at the Elmwood Cemetery, and of the Detroit Labor Day Parade, especially the trucks driven by the Teamsters. 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 »

(24860) NAACP, Members, Fight for Freedom Dinner, 1960

eclemens — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:46:10 -0400

Members of the NAACP pose for a picture during the Fight for Freedom Dinner at the Latin Quarters, Detroit, Michigan.

Left to right, Front: Dr. Wendall Cox; Harry Golden; Mrs. Marguerite Belefonte; Dr. DeWitt Burton

Left to right, Back: Damon J. Keith; Governor G. Mennen Williams

(28650) Riots, Housing, Sojourner Truth, 1942

eclemens — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:11:00 -0400

Dozens of African Americans meet outside of a home after families attempting to move into the Sojourner Truth Housing Project were met by over 1200 angry, white demonstrators.

(47203) Rosa Parks Papers opening reception, 1976

eclemens — Thu, 08 May 2025 11:35:02 -0400

Civil Rights icon and beloved Detroiter Rosa Parks shares a smile with friends during a reception held to celebrate the opening of her collection.