What’s in Your Attic? Treasures Big and Small
The William L. Clements Library invited members of the public to join us on Sunday, September 30, 2018, for an event we called “What’s in Your Attic?” We encouraged attendees to bring their own paper treasures, such as letters, journals,...
Announcing the Illustrated Manuscripts Project
One of the great joys about working at the William L. Clements Library is that while we preserve historical records and make them accessible for research, we also get to explore and discover the human experience across time. Stories of heartbreak and joy, historical...
In Celebration of Bad Poetry Day
No commemoration of Bad Poetry Day would be complete without a nod to the (in)famous poet (and native Michigander) Julia A. Moore. The Clements Library is the proud owner of several editions of her collected poems. Born in Plainfield, Michigan, in 1847, Julia Moore...
Copycats: A Closer Look at Vues d’Optique
People often say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. At first glance, the rationale behind this expression would seem to have played a critical role in the creative process of many European and American artists, etchers, engravers and lithographers of...
John Louis Ligonier Letter Books, 1757-1761
Post by Meghan Brody, Clements Library Volunteer University of Michigan History Major, Class of 2019 I received my first introduction to the Clements Library during a class visit in the winter semester 2017. I immediately knew that I wanted to become a volunteer. ...
Keep Your Powder Dry — And Your Map Too
The Clements Library map collection comprises some 30,000 examples of cartography with American subject matter drawn or printed between the years 1492 and 1900. This body of material represents a variety of plans and maps ranging from the most detailed small-scale...
Edward Walsh Watercolor Sketches Now Digitized
The watercolor sketches of Edward Walsh, M.D. are some of the most frequently reproduced materials from the Clements Library. These sketches, done between 1803 and 1806 while Walsh served as a surgeon for the 49th Regiment of Foot at Fort George, Ontario, are vital...