Research Guides

The collections at the William L. Clements Library document the varied and rich histories of African Americans, with particular strengths on the history of slavery, antislavery and abolition movements, the Civil War, and emancipation.

The William L. Clements Library cares for world-renowned primary source materials on the American Revolutionary War.

The Map Division of the Clements Library cares for an outstanding collection of printed and manuscript cartography.

The Clements Library’s holdings on the American Civil War are broad in scope and span all four divisions. Particular strengths include the experiences of individual soldiers and civilians, popular media representations of events, and post-war reflect …

The David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography consists of over 100,000 images in a variety of formats, primarily made up of vernacular photographs of everyday life in Michigan.

Learn more about doing research using digitized collections at the Clements and beyond.

The James S. Schoff Civil War Collection consists of thousands of manuscript soldiers’ letters, hundreds of regimental histories and other Civil War titles, hundreds of photographs, including those by Matthew Brady and Alexander Gardner, and pieces o …

The James V. Medler Crime collection consists of more than 900 pamphlets, books, broadsides, and manuscripts relating to crime literature and criminal activities.

The Clements holds materials documenting a wide range of legal issues and concerns with a particular focus on 18th and 19th century American legal development, legal systems and institutions.

The William L. Clements Library holds numerous collections related to Native American history. Topics of particular strength include Native American material culture & traditional customs, Indian Wars, Indian-settler interactions, trade, negotiations …

Clements Library materials support research on Native American education ranging from the 18th into the 20th century, encompassing day schools, reservation schools, and mission schools as well as boarding schools.

How to find Clements Library collections documenting the spaces and places of Native American life.

The William L. Clements Library’s holdings relating to the West Indies are particularly strong in relation to colonial administration, slavery, military engagements, cartography, and American travel and trade in the region.