ARTS & RESISTANCE
No. 58 (Fall/Winter 2023)
Developments, Events & Staff News
Developments
As I’ve seen the stories brought forth by my colleagues for this installment of The Quarto as well as the materials being organized for display in our upcoming exhibit, I’ve been struck by the intersection between arts, resistance, and archives. It’s not that I didn’t know the stories were there among our collections—I just can’t help reflecting on the omissions in the narrative of American history that I learned in school. These are creative expressions that have challenged societal norms, advocated for justice, and amplified the voices of marginalized communities. Graphics materials in the archives have a unique ability to represent the complexities of the human experiences and foster empathy, but also create challenges in processing, housing, and conservation as our fastest growing collections area. Bringing these stories to life often requires financial support, making fundraising a crucial aspect of promoting projects that delve into the archives in new ways.
Graphics materials in the archives have a unique ability to represent the complexities of the human experiences and foster empathy, but also create challenges in processing, housing, and conservation as our fastest growing collections area.
By definition, marginalized voices exist at the periphery of mainstream narratives. Taking the time to identify and illuminate hidden details is often the job of collection processors and catalogers and it can be easy to take for granted the time and skill required to ensure that the materials are well represented and discoverable. The Clements Library has demonstrated the impact funding can have on elevating the accessibility and usability of records. Through grants from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, we were able to take the extra research time required on the Richard Pohrt Jr. Collection of Native American Photography to ensure that the correct people are identified in the photos, and to include the various English and Indigenous language versions of their names. And this fall we welcome a 2-year graphics cataloging fellow, Annika Dekker, through new funding provided once again by the Delmas and Upton Foundations to assist in organizing and describing other materials in the Graphics Division. Archivists must carefully curate and provide descriptive metadata to ensure that future generations can comprehend the significance of these artistic pieces accurately.
While you have seen in this issue of the Quarto that there are ample examples of Arts and Resistance throughout the collection, I have been thinking a lot about the Graphics Material Division lately. We bid farewell to Clayton Lewis as he retired as curator in June. Through a crowdfunding campaign, friends and colleagues are raising money in his honor to set up the Clayton Lewis American Visual Culture Fellowship. Supporting the travel of visiting researchers, helps to offset the funding cuts in humanities departments around the country and encourages creative research with the Clements collections.
Events
Centennial Gala
To celebrate 100 years of the Clements we hosted a 1920’s themed gala on May 3 which featured: Charleston dance lessons, a historical cocktail class, and silhouette portraits. We celebrated the past, present, and future of the Clements Library with many familiar faces – and some new ones. We look forward to the next 100 years at the Clements. Thank you to all who attended.
Ice Cream Social
100 years old never looked so good! On June 15, the Clements Library gathered staff, friends, family, students, and the greater community of Ann Arbor on the south lawn of the Clements to celebrate its birthday. The community enjoyed complimentary ice cream and activities such as making their own spy quills containing secret messages, coloring pieces from the Clements collection, and checking out a 1923 Duesenberg. Though it seems the best activity of the evening was the unplanned gathering under the 100 year old portico to avoid the rain shower. There’s nothing quite like the detail from an Albert Kahn building. It was a great birthday party and we can’t wait for more in the future!
Staff News
Celebrating the Retirement of Clayton Lewis
We bid farewell and happy retirement to long-time Curator of Graphics Material, Clayton Lewis, on June 20 at the Ann Arbor City Club. In addition to a reception, the program featured speakers sharing stories as well as presentations of gifts in Clayton’s honor. Clayton worked as adjunct faculty to the University of Michigan School of Art and in the field of commercial printing before becoming the first Curator of Graphics Material at the Clements in 2002. He greatly expanded the holdings of the Clements, and worked with donors to secure major collections including the David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography and the Richard Pohrt Jr. Collection of Native American Photography. We wish him all the best on his travels, with scenery to enjoy and an easel by his side.
New Staff Members
Cameron Robertson joins the Digitization team as the new Joyce Bonk Assistant. She is a first-year graduate student at the University of Michigan School of Information and has previous work experience as a curatorial assistant at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
Annika Dekker, an intern at the Clements Library working with our Graphics collections, is also a first-year graduate student in the University’s School of Information, where she plans to pursue studies in Digital Archives and Library Science/Preservation. Annika’s internship is supported by grants from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation.
The Reader Services Division welcomes Emma Schneider to assist in the reading room and with curatorial projects. Emma graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in religion, and has previous experience working as an outdoor adventure guide, and organizing the archives at Interlochen Arts Academy.