City planning

Carl Almblad Papers

abarker — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:56:15 -0400

An urban planner, Carl Almblad worked with the Chicago Plan Commission, the Detroit Plan Commission, the City of Detroit Community and Economic Development Department and the Detroit Historic District Commission. The papers of Mr. Almblad relate to urban planning, urban renewal, and historic district development in the cities of Chicago and Detroit.

Mel Ravitz Papers

cwesterman — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:22:23 -0500

Professor and Detroit community advocate Mel Ravitz held various posts in Detroit politics, including positions such as the Detroit City Plan Commission Director of Community Organization, on the Detroit City Council and as staff director of the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Services Board. As a professor at Wayne State University, Mr. Ravitz assisted in the formation of the University’s Department of Urban Planning.

Mr. Ravitz’s papers reflect his interests in community organizing and neighborhood revitalization, and serve to document the history of Detroit politics and the social and economic changes that the city faced during the later half of the twentieth century. In addition there are files relating to his activities to 2005.

The collection is in three parts.

Jerome P. Cavanagh Photographs and Other Material

drice — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:06:29 -0400

The Jerome P. Cavanagh Photographs and Other Material consists of numerous photographs, the majority of which were taken during his time in office. These photographs cover events such as the 1968 Olympic Bid, visits from Lyndon B. Johnson, aftermath of the 1967 unrest, and Mayor Cavanagh with various prominent Detroit business people, union members, and politicians. Also included in the collection is memorabilia from his 1966 Senate campaign, 1968 Olympic information, and other various memorabilia during his time in office.

Merle Henrickson Papers

drice — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:22:40 -0400

Merle Henrickson served as president of United Public Workers Local 275 of Detroit in the late 1940's. From the 1940s through the 1980s, he was involved
with the neighborhood and community councils of Detroit, particularly the Brightmoor
District Council. He was a major figure in the citizen movement to improve public
schools in Detroit and as such, he was deeply involved in school desegregation in the 1970s. His wife, Wilma worked for 15 years in Detroit Public Schools and was active in the same city and community associations as her husband. She was a prolific writer, her works including Detroit Perspectives, a compendium of Detroit history that she edited.

Part 1 of Henrickson's papers include material on the United Public Workers, United Office and Professional Workers, Michigan CIO Council, CIO Political Action Committee, and the Greater Detroit and Wayne County Industrial Union councils.

Parts 2 and 3 reflect both Merle and Wilma's work and activities in Detroit schools and communities.

Alan W. Mather Papers

drice — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:23:03 -0500

Alan Mather was an architect in New York, Detroit, and Chicago, working for various well-known firms. His papers reflect his architectural career and his interest and activity involving unionization of architectural employees.

Michael W. Kerwin Papers

srafferty — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:17:13 -0400

Mike Kerwin moved to Detroit in 1950 and began work at American Metal Products Co. which led to his membership with the UAW Local 174. Mike Kerwin also served as an Editor of the Local 174 newsletter, Union Voice. After 3 years in this position and becoming increasingly involved in Local 174’s Education Committee, Kerwin began working directly for the UAW as a Technician in the Education Department. Kerwin worked in the UAW Education Department until his retirement, creating educational programs for union members. Kerwin’s work with the UAW, as well as his own interests, led him to be very active in a number of Detroit and Michigan area groups related to the Democratic Party, Detroit Public Schools, Catholic faith, and labor. Among his many accomplishments, Kerwin helped found the Michigan Labor History Society in 1977 where he remained an active member until his passing on July 19, 2021.

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Records

drice — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:43:34 -0400

SEMCOG grew out of primarily the Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission (DRPC) and the Supervisors Inter-County Committee (SICC) in an effort to consolidate regional planning agencies and avoid duplication of programs and services. SEMCOG has continued its predecessors' work of assisting local planning programs, collecting area planning data, and providing an infrastructure for procurement of federal aid.

Records in Part I document SEMCOG's predecessor, the DRPC, and its transition to and early operation of the Planning Division of SEMCOG, through the office files of Paul Reid, Executive Director at the time of transition. Contained therein are findings of various planning projects and studies conducted by the two entities.

Records in Part II relate primarily to the administration of SEMCOG and the environmental, transportation, and economic issues it dealt with.

Records in Part III related to SEMCOG's work in environment, transportation, and urban planning. Documented are the activities of executive directors John Amberger and Paul Tait, and the Executive and Advisory Council from SEMCOG's inception through 2003. The records of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) a private-sector sister organization to SEMCOG are also included.

Coleman Young Papers

drice — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:14:06 -0400

With a background in labor activities and civil rights, Coleman Young captured a Michigan State Senate seat in 1964, representing an east side Detroit district, and rose quickly to leadership posts in the Lansing legislature. Michigan Democrats elected him in 1968 to become the first black member ever to serve on the Democratic National Committee. In 1973, pledging to restore peace between the people and police of Detroit, Coleman Young announced as a candidate for Mayor of Detroit. He defeated the City's former police chief, John Nichols, in a bitter election contest in January 1974 and was re-elected in 1977,
1981, 1985 and 1989. He was one of the first African-Americans to be elected mayor of
a major U.S. city and served a total of twenty years. He was considered by many of his
constituents as a champion of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. During Young’s
mayoral years, the city of Detroit faced numerous economic, political and social
challenges.

The papers in Part I of this collection reflect the years of Young's state senatorial service. The materials in Part II of this collection represent a portion of Coleman A. Young’s
correspondence and other documents from his tenure as mayor of Detroit, 1973-1993.

Michigan Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Public Relations Team — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:10:03 -0400

In the Winter 2012 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Amy Seipke is a student in Wayne State's School of Library and Information Science. read more »

University City

Public Relations Team — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:56:11 -0400

In the Winter 2013 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Kelly Kietur is a student at Wayne State University working towards her Archival Administration Certificate.

The tightly packed Wayne State campus is a familiar sight to students, but at one point in time, Wayne State had ambitious expansion plans in mind. The controversial University City project, developed in the early 1960s, was a plan to build a university community with housing, shopping, and schools on 300 acres of land around Wayne State’s campus. read more »

(vmc10489) Michigan Avenue, Before widening, Detroit, 1930

eclemens — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 14:05:05 -0400

A high angle view of Michigan Avenue before it was widened, looking east toward 8th Street from Church Street. Vernor Furniture Company, American Rescue Workers, Beresh Jewelers, and Peoples Wayne County Bank are in view.

(1743) Washington Blvd, Book-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:34:21 -0400

A view of Washington Blvd. that shows the crowds of people and cars outside of the Book-Cadillac Hotel during an undisclosed event, Detroit, Michigan.

(2878) Streets, Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:28:09 -0400

An aerial view of the future site of the National Bank of Detroit Building at Woodward Ave. between Fort and Congress, Detroit, Michigan. Businesses on the block include The Richmond & Backus Co., Pontchartrain Bar, Whalings, Stouffers, Multi Color Co., La Fond Tocacconists, and Lombardi Restaurant.

(2879) Streets, Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan

eclemens — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:26:34 -0400

A panoramic view of the future site of the National Bank of Detroit Building at Woodward Ave. between Fort and Congress, Detroit, Michigan. Businesses on the block include The Richmond & Backus Co., Pontchartrain Bar, Whalings, Stouffers, Multi Color Co., La Fond Tocacconists, and Lombardi Restaurant.

(2938) Parks, Grand Circus, Downtown, Detroit, 1956

eclemens — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:23:12 -0400

A panoramic view as work crews excavate for an underground parking structure at Grand Circus Park on Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan. St. John Episcopalian Church and the Fox Theatre are in view at center.

(10003) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1955

eclemens — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:02:16 -0400

The area surrounding the proposed Civic Center is excavated for the construction of the Ford Auditorium underground parking structure, Detroit, Michigan. At left rear the entrance to the Windsor Tunnel and the Ford Auditorium are in view.

(10004) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1956

eclemens — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:58:48 -0400

An overhead, panoramic view of the Civic Center area, later known as Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan. At center is the nearly completed Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium. At lower left the Mariner’s Church can be seen in it’s new location. At upper right the boat to Bob-Lo Island is moored at the docks at the foot of Woodward Ave. At far left is the area that will be cleared during the 1970's for the construction of the Renaissance Center complex.

(10006) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1957

eclemens — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:07:31 -0400

Workers lay down sod in front of the newly constructed Civic Center, Detroit, Michigan. At right is the new City County Building. The Hotel Norton, American Savings, and Kerns buildings are also in view.

(12000) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1955

eclemens — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:09:03 -0400

Shows the parts of a city block that was raised to make way for the Civic Center developments, Detroit, Michigan. Old Mariner’s Church can be found in its original location at the center, right. At rear right is the Vernor’s Ginger Ale factory. The steel structure at rear left is the Ford Auditorium in an early stage of construction. The street running north/south is Woodward Avenue.

(10002) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1955

eclemens — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:05:42 -0400

Shows the city block that was raised to make way for the Civic Center developments and the moving of Old Mariner’s Church, Detroit, Michigan. Jefferson Avenue runs through the foreground and the Ford Auditorium, in an early stage of construction, is seen at center.

(10005) Districts, Civic Center, Hart Plaza, Detroit, Michigan, 1988

eclemens — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:56:18 -0400

An aerial view of Hart Plaza and the Detroit Riverfront, Detroit, Michigan. At left is the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium. Inside of the plaza is the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain (locally known as the Noguchi Fountain). At right rear is the Minoru Yamasaki designed Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building, currently known as One Woodward.

(29750) Urban Renewal, Wayne State University, University City, 1964

eclemens — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:31:16 -0400

A view of the neighborhood at the corner of W. Warren Avenue and Lincoln. The area was targeted for demolition to make way for Wayne State's "University City," an area of mixed residential and educational development west of the main campus.

(30381) Plans for Proposed Incinerator, Detroit, 1960s

eclemens — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:56:52 -0400

Architectural rendering of a proposed garbage incinerator to be located at 7501 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

Source: Mel Ravitz Collection

Podcast: Assembly Line Housing: Walter P. Reuther, George Romney, and Operation Breakthrough – Part 1

teller — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:45:14 -0400

In the first of a two-part series, Dr. Kristin Szylvian explains the role of the American labor movement, and UAW president Walter Reuther in particular, in lobbying for and shaping fair housing programs and legislation in Detroit and nationally after the Second World War. That influence paved the way for an unlikely alliance in the 1960s between Reuther and George Romney, the former Republican governor of Michigan, when they joined together in the late 1960s to launch Operation Breakthrough, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program to use union-made manufactured housing to alleviate the housing crisis in minority communities while also creating job opportunities and encouraging racial and income integration in the larger community. read more »

Podcast: Assembly Line Housing: Walter P. Reuther, George Romney, and Operation Breakthrough – Part 2

teller — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 09:04:23 -0400

In the second of a two-part series, Dr. Kristin M. Szylvian explains how racial segregation and the fear of declining property values ultimately scuttled Operation Breakthrough, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Program early in the Nixon administration to use union-made manufactured housing to create racially- and economically-integrated housing communities throughout the country. read more »