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Jul 17
ZOOM

Angela Oonk hosts this webinar series discussing history topics with guests. This month, historian and author of Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War’s Deadliest Battle Barbara Franco takes us to Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. A thousand surgeons faced an unprecedented medical catastrophe: 25,000 wounded soldiers needing immediate […]

Graphic advertising the Clements Bookworm featuring the cover of Barbara Franco's "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle," a picture of the author, and details about the event.
Jul 08

Guided Tour

July 8, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

Celebrate America’s 250th with a guided tour of the Clements Library featuring Revolutionary War-era documents before attending U-M President Domenico Grasso’s reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6 pm on the Diag. Highlights include Benjamin West’s iconic painting “Death of General Wolfe,” a trunk that once housed British General Thomas Gage’s papers, and the […]

"Discover the Clements Library" in front of two ornate arches
Jun 28

Revolutionary War Spy Letters

June 28, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET

Step into the world of secret agents and coded messages with the William L. Clements Library! Families are invited to explore real “spy letters” from the American Revolution and see how people shared information in plain sight—without anyone else realizing. You’ll discover clever techniques used to hide messages, from invisible ink and secret codes to […]

Manuscript letter with a mask revealing a secret message. With logos for A2SF and the Clements Library.
Jun 28

Declaration of Independence Readings

June 28, 2026 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM ET

Hear the Declaration of Independence brought to life through a public read-aloud in celebration of its 250th anniversary. With many voices sharing the text, this program highlights the power of words meant to be heard—then and now. 5:45 on the O&W Grove Stage 6:45 in the KidZone 8:00 on the O&W Grove Stage

Portrait of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. With logos for A2SF and the Clements Library.
Jun 26

Guided Tour

June 26, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET

William L. Clements Library

Guided Tour of the U-M Clements Library. Join us for a guided tour to learn more about the Clements’ early American history collections. Highlights include viewing of Benjamin West’s iconic painting “Death of General Wolfe,” a Revolutionary War-era trunk that once housed General Gage’s papers, and viewing our current exhibit Up, Up, and Away: A […]

"Discover the Clements Library" in front of two ornate arches
Jun 19
ZOOM

Angela Oonk hosts this webinar series discussing history topics with guests. This month, historian Kellie Carter-Jackson joins the program to share her research that led to her book, We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance. Jackson examines the breadth of Black responses to white oppression, beginning with the resistance of her own ancestors. Resistance […]

"The Clements Bookworm" with the cover of Kellie Carter-Jackson's book "We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance"
Jun 15

Founder’s Day Ice Cream Social

June 15, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET

Celebrate the Clements Library’s 103rd birthday with free ice cream! See the latest exhibit, get some Clements swag, and enjoy camaraderie on the beautiful portico.

Adult and child blowing bubbles outside of the Clements Library.
Jun 14

Declaring Independence in 1776 Pop-Up Exhibit

June 14, 2026 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM ET

Step into 1776 at a special pop-up display featuring fascinating facsimiles from originals located on campus. Explore copies of early printings of the Declaration of Independence alongside unique Revolutionary-era items from the Clements collections, and take a closer look at the words, ideas, and events that helped shape the country. Drop in during the event […]

Portrait of Thayendanegea (Jos. Brandt). With the logos for A2SF and the Clements Library.
May 31

What’s In Your Attic?

May 31, 2026 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

Join us for an open house-style event where we invite guests to bring their own paper treasures (letters, journals, photographs, prints, books, and maps) for discussion with Clements Curators and guest Americana collectors. Enjoy the community and camaraderie of other history-enthusiasts; see the current exhibit focused on the history of early ballooning. Please note: curators […]

"What's in your Attic?" Background image: multiple unopened trunks.
May 15
Zoom

Angela Oonk hosts a webinar series featuring topics in American history. This month, Clements Curator of Manuscripts joins in a discussion with Derek Kane O’Leary about creation of the first archives in the new United States. Archives, the foundational resource for historical research, do not emerge from a vacuum. What materials are included in the […]

"The Clements Bookworm" with the cover of Derek Kane O'Leary's book "Archival Communities: Constructing the Past in the Early United States"