Clements Library and SMTD Launch Center for American Band History Research
In collaboration with the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD), we have launched the Center for American Band History Research, a new initiative bringing together historical collections, scholarship, teaching, and performance to advance the study of the music, musicians, and social resonance of the wind band in the cultural life of the United States.
A Day in the Life at The Clements Library: Carly Jensen
Join the newest member of the Clements Team, Carly Jensen, as she spends the day in her role as our Digitization Specialist.
New Manuscripts Finding Aids, October 2026
Thanks to the hard work of the Manuscripts Division, over a dozen manuscript collections were made available for research this month! Philadelphia (Pa.) Citizens petition to Andrew Jackson, 1836 This 28-foot scroll is a petition authored by a group of Philadelphians and addressed to U.S. President Andrew Jackson on October 1, 1836. The petition urged Jackson to visit the city before the end of his term, emphasizing their political support and personal affection for the president. The text of...
Cataloging the Edward Surovell Collection of Native American Languages: A Love Story
When life-long book collector Ed Surovell lost his eyesight, he wanted to ensure that his books would be preserved and made accessible for research well into the future. In December 2021, Surovell generously gifted the Clements Library his carefully curated collection of Native American language materials. With over 300 items, this collection represents books printed in more than 20 different Native American languages from North America, with a particular interest in material from the Great Lakes region.
Digitizing Clements Materials
Digitization of Clements collections is an ongoing process, and one we spend a lot of time and energy on! In today’s blog, I’ll walk you through the steps of digitizing an item from our collections.
Turning Over a New Leaf: The Clements Library’s Native Plant Garden
The Clements Library is adding new leaves but not in the form of books. Planted during summer 2026, a native plant garden now sits on the eastern side of the century-old building. Beds of local wildflowers and grasses comprise the biodiverse plot, with some being directly cultivated from seeds gathered around U-M. These plants will contribute new sights and smells to the grounds once established, enhancing the library’s already impressive landscape.
New Graphics Finding Aids, Summer 2026
Over summer 2026, the Graphics Division processed and made available many collections. What follows are some highlights of the summer processing work.
Call for Applications: Funded Research Opportunities at the Clements Library
The William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan welcomes applications for 2027-2028 research fellowships. Interested in joining a community of researchers, scholars, artists, creatives, journalists, and musicians? Join the newest cohort of long-term, short-term, or week-long fellows making use of the Clements archives for their research.
New Manuscript Finding Aids, September 2026
The manuscript collections at the Clements Library include a wide variety of materials: personal correspondence, scrapbooks, inventories, and even some photographs and printed materials that accompanied collections of handwritten items. This month’s batch of manuscript finding aids are no exception! Read on to learn about the collections that have recently been made available for research.
U-M Clements Library Announces New Exhibit on Voting History in America
While the word “vote” appears in the United States Constitution 36 times, the meaning and practice of voting has undergone much transformation since the document’s writing. Changes over the course of the nineteenth century influenced how Americans voted and affected the material culture that surrounded voting. Our new exhibition, Who Counts? A History of Voting in America explores civic engagement, the evolution of the electorate, and the experiences of voters on election day throughout American history.