New Manuscripts Finding Aids, December 2025
The Manuscripts Division has published one final batch of finding aids for 2025! These materials span a variety of subjects including the Civil War and military history, automobiles, crime, tailoring, and newspaper advertising. As always, these collections are available for anyone to research!
The Clements Library at the Table and the Dance
The Clements Library’s gorgeous architecture designed by Detroit-based architect Albert Kahn has been the subject of many pieces of University of Michigan memorabilia over the years. The building has been depicted in many illustrations, photographs, and, as described here, a plate, tile, and place mat!
A Day in the Life at The Clements Library: Jayne Ptolemy
Welcome to the very first edition of “A Day in the Life at The Clements Library!” Today, we meet with Jayne Ptolemy, Associate Curator of Manuscripts.
2026-2027 Fellowship Applications are open!
The William L. Clements Library is excited to announce that applications for the 2026-2027 Research Fellowships are now open. The Library offers funded research fellowships for a wide array of projects undertaken by graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, independent researchers, creative artists, and undergraduates. All who wish to visit the library’s world-class collections of early Americana are encouraged to apply. The deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle is January 15th, 2026.As the...
Halloween Divination
A nod of the head to Robert Burns and Clara L. Walmer from the Clements Library this Halloween 2025. Over 150 years ago, in the early 1870s, the annual celebration of Halloween in the United States was fading, according to one journalist. In The True Democrat of York, Pennsylvania, they wrote that the day had once featured "extraordinary demonstrations" by young people, but that general observance was dying out, and they anticipated it would one day pass by unnoticed.1 What was Halloween to...
Photo Gallery – 2025 Haunted Histories
Last night, October 29, we hosted our third annual Haunted Histories event. Organized by student intern Sam Huck, the historic murder mystery featured a variety of activities which provided guests with clues to solve the case.
Meet the 2025 Student Interns!
As we settle into a new school year, we're excited to introduce the new (and familiar) faces of the Clements Library student interns! Hailing from multiple colleges within the University of Michigan, these students have a variety of backgrounds, but share a love history and cultural preservation. Many of our internships are funded through donations. If you'd like to support future internships, we encourage you to do so by supporting our internship fund.Theresa Azemar (she/they) Theresa works...
New Manuscripts Finding Aids, October 2025
The Clements Library Manuscripts Division has published eight new finding aids for collections ranging from scrapbooks to financial records. These handwritten materials are now available for anyone to research!
Colorful 19th-Century Board Games and Toys on View at the Clements Library
Earlier this month, the Clements Library opened our new exhibit, For All Ages, highlighting familiar and unique toys and board games throughout American history. Many were not only fun, but also taught practical skills and moral lessons.
Q&A with Joshua Sulser, New Clements Head of Reader Services
The Clements Library is thrilled to welcome our new Head of Reader Services, Joshua Sulser! In this Q&A, we got a chance to learn more about his path to the Clements, his research interests, and his personal collections.