Today in History: The Sinking of the Titanic
Guest post by Meg Hixon, Project ArchivistThough the Titanic saw her last glimpse of daylight exactly 100 years ago this Sunday, the tragedy continues to fascinate the modern imagination in many ways, both as a symbol of the era's social hierarchies and customs and as a backdrop for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. The Clements Library holds several items related to the famous shipwreck, including several letters from Americans sharing their first reactions to the news. Their...
Ann Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Thirty Fourth AnnualAnn Arbor Antiquarian Book Fair Sunday, May 20, 11am to 5pmAdmission: $5.00Michigan Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor530 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MICome see some 40 booksellers, map and print dealers gathered in one location. You will be able to find first editions, old and collectible books, literature, children’s books, Americana, prints and more. Your $5 admission fee benefits the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. For more information call:Jay...
From the Stacks: Irish Emigrant’s Guide for the United States
Guest post by Molly Malcolm, Clements Library volunteerMarch was Irish American Heritage Month, which prompted us to showcase a wonderful book here at the Clements Library, The Irish Emigrant's Guide for the United States, by Rev. J. O'Hanlon.The cultural ties between Ireland and the United States are as old as any other European connection with this land; it was Irish-born Patrick Maguire who was the first of Christopher Columbus’ crew to step off the ship and set foot on North American soil...
From the Stacks: A False Deathbed Confession
Thomas Skinner, Another Voice From the Grave (Philadelphia, 1819). A handwritten note on the cover of this pamphlet hints at the intriguing story within: "This tract is an entire fiction. The particulars were fabricated by a base woman (Mrs. Sayres) and imposed on Dr. Skinner. The detection of the imposture produced very great excitement."The pamphlet is Another Voice From the Grave, or, The Power of Conscience Exemplified in the Dying Confession and Exercises of an Unfortunate...
Upcoming Event: Afternoon with the Curators: Founder’s Day Lecture, April 19, 2012
Afternoon with the Curators: Founder's Day LectureApril 19, 2012, 4:00 p.m.Main Room, Clements LibraryPlease join the division curators as they highlight and display some of their favorite items from the various collections at the Clements.Free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Library at (734) 764-2347 or visit our website: www.clements.umich.edu.William L. Clements Library 909 S. University Ave. Ann Arbor, MI
Clements Library Fellowships Awarded for 2012
The Clements Library is pleased to announce the list of fellowship recipients for 2012. See the Clements Library Research Fellowships page on our website for full descriptions of the fellowships offered.Post-Doctoral FellowshipsHOWARD H. PECKHAM FELLOWSHIP ON REVOLUTIONARY AMERICAProf. Ruma Chopra, San Jose State University: “Imperial Governance After the American Revolution: The Logic of British Rule in Canada, in the Caribbean and in India.”EARHART FOUNDATION...
Upcoming Exhibit and Conference: “Proclaiming Emancipation: Slavery and Freedom in the Era of the Civil War”
ExhibitOctober 15, 2012 - February 18, 2013Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library, Room 100 GalleryMartha S. Jones and Clayton Lewis, curators. Sponsored by the Program in Race, Law & History and the William L. Clements Library, in cooperation with the Hatcher Graduate Library. It will feature rarities from the Clements and other sources.ConferenceFriday, October 26, 2012Graduate Library Room 100 Gallery and Clements Library Great HallThe objective is to develop a critical analysis of this...
Recent Acquisition: Map of Grenada
Warin. Carte de la prise de la Grenade par Mr. Cmte. D'Estaing. le 5 Juillet 1779.The Map Division of the Clements Library has recently acquired a rare Revolutionary War-era manuscript map of Grenada in the West Indies. This battle plan may provide the only contemporary visual record of the first phase of the battle for Granada between French and British forces during the American Revolution. It depicts the events on July 2, 1779, when 2,500 French troops attacked the British forces on...
Current Exhibit: “The David P. Harris Collection: A Collector’s Look at the War of 1812,” February 27 – June 1, 2012
"The David P. Harris Collection: A Collector's Look at the War of 1812"February 27 - June 1, 2012Curated by Barbara DeWolfeCurator of ManuscriptsIn the exhibit case at the east end of the Main Room, this exhibit supplements our main exhibit, The War of 1812: A Bicentennial Exhibition. It presents selections from the David P. Harris Collection on the War of 1812, a significant addition to the Library's holdings on this topic.David P. Harris, a graduate at Kenyon College, received his...
In the News: Researching a Recipe
Ruth Gretzinger's post this week on the Michigan Marketing & Design blog provides a delightful example of the power of historical research. Ruth came across a reference to "democrat cake" in a novella set in 19th century New Mexico, and wondered what it could be. She contacted JJ Jacobson, Clements Library Curator for American Culinary History, to find out more about this mysterious food. JJ was able to locate a recipe in an 1886 book called The Queen of the Kitchen. Mystery solved!...