Neighborhoods--Michigan--Detroit

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.

Detroit Renaissance Records

drice — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:28:41 -0400

The City of Detroit had difficulty rebuilding after the riots of 1967, as its population dwindled,
along with available capital and a supply of suitable housing, which suffered from neglect and abandonment. The Detroit Renaissance, a non-profit organization of business and community leaders, was formed in 1970 by the chief executives of the region's most influential employers to focus on the re-development of Detroit. Promoting urban renewal, this Southeast Michigan business roundtable created a series of programs helping to support virtually every major development project in Detroit, playing a major role in coordinating their funding. During the 2000's, the organization evolved and expanded its focus on regional issues while continuing its support for Detroit's redevelopment. In 2009 the roundtable was united with others across Michigan to form the group, Business Leaders for Michigan.

This collection predominantly contains newspaper clippings on projects and topics related to urban renewal, riverfront development, and living in Detroit during the years of 1974-1993. The rest of the collection is made up of organizational records and materials given to executive members of Detroit Renaissance from 1970-2002. Record types from this section include formal reports, promotional brochures, meeting minutes from various committees within Detroit Renaissance, and budgetary materials. Topics covered include development within Detroit, a proposed riverfront sports arena, and discussions on how to stabilize the city financially. A portion of Detroit Renaissance projects contained in this collection are: Detroit Strategic Plan, Harmonie Park, Renaissance Center, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit PeopleMover, and the Cobo Hall Expansion.

Bruce L. Harkness Poletown Photographs

eclemens — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:35:38 -0500

Bruce Harkness photographed the area known as “Poletown,” a multi-ethnic, multi-racial urban area on Detroit’s East Side, from February to December 1981. These photographs document the hundreds of buildings and businesses that were demolished to make way for the construction of a General Motors assembly plant. In addition, Harkess captured vibrant urban exteriors and interiors, neighborhood landmarks, residents, and street scenes. The collection is comprised of 200 8’x10’ silver gelatin, black-and-white photo prints.

Parkside Homes Records

srafferty — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 11:33:18 -0500

Parkside Homes was one of the earliest public housing developments created in the United States. Built in the 1930s, the housing development was located at Warren and Conner near Chandler Park and constructed with 737 housing units. By the 1990s, Parkside Homes had been fully vacated and a revitalization plan was created by Detroit Department of Housing and Parkside residents. Capital Needs Unlimited, a planning and consulting firm that worked closely with Detroit Housing Department, worked on this plan and its implementation as well. The HOPE VI revitalization plan was adopted by the Detroit Housing Commission in 1995. In 1996 Nathan Johnson, one of Michigan's first African-American architects, began construction on what would become The Villages of Parkside. This collection includes revitalization plans for Parkside Homes. Also included in this collection is a newsletter chronicling the revitalization and construction process of Parkside Homes into the new The Villages of Parkside.

Rosedale Park News Collection

drice — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 11:53:35 -0500

Detroit's Rosedale Park neighborhood was developed in the late 1920s-1940s and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. The "Rosedale Park News" is the official publication of the Rosedale Park Improvement Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of the historic residential area. Published as a monthly local newsletter the "News" has reported on the neighborhood since 1958. Harriett Mottley, a Rosedale Park resident since the 1970s, served as one of its editors (1993-2005). The collection is comprised of past issues of the Rosedale Park News. They document a unique perspective of that community over the course of five decades.

St. Anthony Community Council Records

srafferty — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 12:41:13 -0400

The St. Anthony Community Council was established in the summer of 1961 as a coalition of block clubs in the neighborhood encompassed by Gratiot to the north, Palmer to the south, East Grand Boulevard to the west and Van Dyke to the east. Their group pursued the overarching goals of promoting community cooperation and maintaining and encouraging high standards of community as well as developing individual obligation toward these goals. Their initiatives focused on the issues of housing, urban development, crime, and neighborhood beautification. The group dissolved at the end of 1969. The group received recognition from Michigan legislatures and the Detroit Police Department for their efforts toward community improvement.

Detroit's Corktown Neighborhood

Public Relations Team — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:48:09 -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.

Caitlin Brennecke is a graduate student at Wayne State University in the Library and Information Science program with a focus on archival administration. Her interests include digitization of historical collections and the use of crowd sourcing in archives and libraries. For the past year she volunteered for the Detroit Historical Society at their Collection Resource Center and she recently began working in a private archive. 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: Jewish Detroit Experience

wlefevre — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:52:44 -0400

The Reuther Library celebrates the Jewish holiday of Passover with a look at some of the significant collections housed in the library that deal with the Jewish experience in Metropolitan Detroit.

As the repository for the Jewish Community Archives (JCA), the Reuther Library has a wealth of information on the Jewish community in Detroit and surrounding environs. The JCA holdings include, but are not limited to, the papers of: read more »

(DN_44) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Corktown, Churches, Most Holy Trinity, 1930

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:28:29 -0400

An interior view of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Detroit, Michigan.

Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church serves one of Detroit's oldest parishes and is located at the corner of Porter and Sixth Streets in the Corktown neighborhood. The orange brick and limestone church was completed in 1866, fashioned in the Gothic Revival Style by Irish architect Patrick Keely.

(DN_44_1) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Corktown, Churches, Most Holy Trinity, 1930

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:32:29 -0400

An exterior view of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Detroit, Michigan.

(DN_44_2) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Corktown, Churches, Most Holy Trinity, 1930

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:21:58 -0400

Exterior view of the rectory of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan.

The rectory is located at 1050 Porter Street in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. It was built of red brick in the Romanesque style by the prominent Detroit Architectural firm Mason and Rice in 1886.

(6716) Campus Scenes, Cass Avenue, Merrick Avenue, 1935

eclemens — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:22:00 -0500

A view of Cass Avenue at Merrick Street, looking west from the roof of the Detroit Public Library. Large homes line the west side of Cass Avenue and snow blankets the lawns. Old Main is seen at left

(6717) Campus Scenes, Cass Avenue, Second Avenue, 1935

eclemens — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:16:51 -0500

“Area north of Wayne University between Cass and Second, Warren and Merrick.”
Looking west from the roof of the Detroit Public Library, large homes line the west side of Cass Avenue and snow blankets the lawn areas. Old Main and Webster Hall are visible at left.

(DN_2176_2) Ethnic Communities, Polish, Neighborhoods, c. 1910s

eclemens — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:21:09 -0500

Two women and a three young children stand beside a fence in one of Detroit's Polish neighborhoods.

(DN_36201) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:49:54 -0500

An exterior view of a Victorian-Era duplex on Labrosse Street. At left is the shell of one of Corktown's fabled "shotgun Victorian" homes. A notice from the City of Detroit is posted to its eaves proclaiming its forthcoming demolition and denouncing illegal occupancy.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbull, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area and razed their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_1) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:55:10 -0500

An exterior view of a Victorian-Era block Labrosse Street. At left is the shell of one of Corktown's fabled "Shotgun Victorian" homes. A notice from the City of Detroit is posted to its eaves proclaiming its forthcoming demolition and denouncing illegal occupancy.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbull, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area and raised their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_2) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:52:55 -0500

A view of businesses and residences at Sixth Street and Abbott in Detroit's Corktown Neighborhood. In the background the Book Cadillac Hotel, J.L. Hudson Department Store, and the Broderick Tower are all in view.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbull, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area and raised their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_3) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:53:11 -0400

Architectural details are highlighted in this photograph of a Civil War era Corktown home. A notice from the Detroit Housing Commission posted on its porch proclaims its forthcoming demolition and denounces illegal occupancy.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbull, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area before razing their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_4) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:54:59 -0400

A view of a residential Corktown street slated for demolition. In the distance the J.L. Hudson building is in view. Note: Detroit News staff car no. 151 in the left hand corner.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbull, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area and raised their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_5) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:56:26 -0400

The diverse architectural styles of Corktown are featured in this photograph of a street slated for demolition, including workers' cottages, an apartment building, and a Victorian style home.

Part of a series of photographs taken to document the abandoned buildings around Trumbell, Porter, Abbott and nearby streets. According to a Detroit News article from April 26, 1960, the demolition was part of a larger slum clearance that moved 450 families out of the area before razing their historic neighborhood to make way for "light industry and trucking stations." According to the reporter, Russell Harris, the windows in the area were recently broken by neighborhood children having a bit of fun. The schools and churches, however, were spared from the vandalism.

(DN_36201_6) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1960

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:57:55 -0400

A view of a vacant Victorian era duplex from the interior of a neighboring home.

(DN_36201_7) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Corktown, 1962

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:59:44 -0400

A panoramic view of Corktown, looking north up Trumbull Street. Briggs Stadium is in view at the rear. In the far distance the Fisher Building and the Masonic Temple can be seen. At far left is Michigan Central Station. Note: the tracts of vacant land are the results of the slum clearances of 1960.

(DN_79573) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Customs, Gaelic League, 1973

eclemens — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:34:51 -0500

Irish weavers demonstrate how to spin wool at the Gaelic League, Detroit, Michigan.

Formed on December 9, 1920 with the intention to assist Irish immigrants find jobs and housing and provide a venue to socialize, the Gaelic League later turned its focus towards promoting Irish heritage and remains one of Detroit's oldest and most beloved social clubs.

Left to right: Miss Bernadette McGinley, Mrs. Bridget McShane

(DN_79585) Ethnic Communities, Irish, Neighborhoods, Businesses, Corktown, c. 1890

eclemens — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:45:14 -0400

A view of the Detroit haymarket located at Michigan and Trumbull, the future location of Navin Field / Briggs Stadium.