#ArchivesInTheD

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The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

This year’s Midwest Archiving Conference Annual Meeting is pleased to host the reception at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the second largest African American Museum in the country! The museum is a leading institution dedicated to the preservation of the African American experience, featuring the world’s largest permanent exhibit on African American history and culture. Under the leadership of Juanita Moore, the museum has experienced a resurgence post 2011 bankruptcy; now drawing three times the number of attendees, hosting premiere events, and the continuation of its groundbreaking programming such as “Say It Loud : Art , History, Rebellion,”  a commemoration of the 1967 rebellion; and “Oh You Fancy!” – an exclusive celebration of African Americans’ impact on the hair and  fashion industry, examining how these contributions have generated political and social consciousness and global trendsetting. Since 2016, the Wright Museum has hosted the African World Festival, drawing crowds of 200,000 for a three-day weekend celebrating the African diaspora.

A centerpiece to Detroit’s black culture, the museum features a 37-foot terrazzo tile work, the “Ring of Genealogy,” by Detroit’s renowned fresco artist, Hubert Massey. Located on the floor of the Ford Freedom Rotunda, the “Ring of Genealogy” depicts the struggles of African Americans in the United States. Each figure is symbolic of an experience, from slavery to present day violence, the hunger for knowledge, the importance of spirituality and the upward mobility of African Americans.  Bronze nameplates of prominent African Americans in history, surround the piece, and each year new names are added during the Ford Freedom Awards. In 2016, the museum unveiled the "United We Stand" sculpture by Kresge Eminent Artist Charles McGee – a 20-by-20-foot work permanently installed at the museum's front entrance on Warren Avenue. The museum is a foundation for African American contributions in art, music, and culture.

 Founded in 1965 as the International Afro-American Museum, by Dr. Wright and 30 community members, the museum preserves over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials and is home to the Blanche Coggin Underground Railroad Collection, Harriet Tubman Museum Collection, Coleman A. Young Collection, the Sheffield Collection - a repository of documents of the labor movement in Detroit, and other collections representing African American history. 

At the Midwest Archives Conference, we are excited to have access to the Wright’s exhibitions:

 And Still We Rise : Our Journey Through African American Culture

This long-term exhibition serves as the central experience of the museum.  The 22,000 square-foot exhibition space contains more than 20 galleries that allow patrons to travel over time and across geographic boundaries.  The journey begins in Africa, the cradle of human life.  Witness several ancient and early modern civilizations that evolved on the continent.  Cross the Atlantic Ocean, experience the tragedy of the middle passage and encounter those who resisted the horrors of bondage, emancipated themselves and sometimes took flight by way of the Underground Railroad.  Throughout this trip, the efforts of everyday men and women who built families, businesses, educational institutions, spiritual traditions, civic organizations and a legacy of freedom and justice in past and present-day Detroit are hailed.  What an awesome journey!

 The Music and Times: Photographs of Leni Sinclair

Leni Sinclair is a renowned visual historian, photographer, social and political activist. Beginning in the 1960s, she documented live performances of legendary American and world musicians, especially those that performed in Detroit, Michigan. Through her work she has amassed an amazing collection of images that reflect the superb talent and artistry found in live musical performances.

Featured are photographs of extraordinary musicians such as Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and many more, alongside a video presentation encompassing her photo documentation of the wider social and political milieu.

 Inspiring Minds: African Americans in Science and Technology

Inspiring Minds: African Americans in Science and Technology is a comprehensive, high-tech and permanent exhibition highlighting trailblazers, contemporaries and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  African Americans have contributed to the scientific and engineering output of the United States since the 17th century, and this history is brought to life through interactive computer kiosks, a touchscreen video wall, and hands-on activities and play areas teaching basic engineering concepts.  Four disciplines of scientific advancement are explored: Physical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, and Technology & Engineering.  Within these, Inspiring Minds introduces individuals from across the spectrum of fields, levels of renown, and from times past and present, with particular focuses on African American women in science, black aviators, black inventors, medical ethics, and key historical figures such as George Washington Carver. 

  A is for Africa

Featured are photographs of extraordinary musicians such as Bob Marley, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and many more, alongside a video presentation encompassing her photo documentation of the wider social and political milieu.

 Stories in the Stained Glass : The Art of Samuel Hodge

The works of art included in this long-term installation focus on three areas of African American culture and history.  The Musicians celebrates everyday people who have exercised their right to interpret the world as they see it through songs and instruments.  Dance and Dancers, on the other hand, honors those artists who use their bodies as the medium to express non-verbal emotions, themes and ideas.  And Freedom Advocates is dedicated to notable African Americans who fought and died to ensure dignity and freedom for themselves and their people.  Vivid, colorful and luminescent, this exhibition provides extraordinary imagery and stories in a medium seldom used by African American artists.

 Detroit Performs!

The museum is pleased to present Detroit Performs!, a photomontage dedicated to those who gained national and often international prominence in the performing arts.  Although a majority of these artists moved here from other regions, especially the south, they claimed Detroit as their own, usually crediting it as the place where they honed their skills.  Many of these innovators, John Lee Hooker, Tommy Flanagan and Mattie Moss Clark among them, put unique spins on existing art forms such as blues, jazz and gospel.  Other performers, including Aretha Franklin, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Eddie Fowlkes, created whole new genres; for example, soul and techno.

Our salute to the performing arts focuses on three areas: theater, dance and music.  We highlight noted playwrights, choreographers and dancers and a trove of instrumentalists and vocalists who used their talents to bring joy, encourage dialogue and stimulate social change.  We hope this installation provides you with a look at a remarkable and inspiring legacy that continues.

**Exhibit descriptions originated from thewright.org/exhibits

-LL

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Museum fun in Detroit

Not that archivists like museums or anything, but if you’re looking for history, art, or science museums, Detroit and the surrounding area has a variety to choose from.

In addition to their permanent exhibits here are some Detroit area museums with special exhibits during MAC 2019:

Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

·         From Camelot to Kent State: Pop Art, 1960-1975

·         Ruben & Isabel Toledo: Labor of Love

·         Extraordinary Eye, Extraordinary Gift: The Legacy of Margaret Herz Demant

 Charles H Wright Museum 315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

·         Slavery At Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty     

·         Music and Saints: The Art of Jerome Wright

      Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

·         Unfurled: Supports/Surfaces 1966-1976

·         Parallels and Peripheries

·         Useless Utility

·         Gradient Colors

 Michigan Science Center 5020 John R St, Detroit, MI 48202

·         Sun, Earth, Universe

 Arab American National Museum 13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126

The Far Shore: Navigating     Homelands

 Cranbrook Institute of Science 39221 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0801

·         Doom of the Dinosaurs: Are We Next?

 Cranbrook Art Museum 39221 Woodward Ave Box 801, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303 

·         Wild Vinyl: Designer Art Toys

·         The Beach Detroit

·         Daniel Arsham, The Source: A Catalog of Late-20th-Century American Relics

 Detroit Historical Museum 5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

·         Detroit 67: Perspectives

·         Aretha

·         American Black Journal

 Here are some other museums to check out:

·         Motown Museum, 2648 W Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208

·         Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, 6325 W Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48209

·         Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 100 The Strand, Detroit, MI 48207

·         Belle Isle Aquarium, 3, Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207

·         Belle Isle Conservatory, 900 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207

·         The Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd. Dearborn, MI 48124

·         Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, 1100 Lake Shore Rd, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236

·         Meadowbrook Hall, 350 Estate Drive, Rochester, MI 48309

·         Dearborn Historical Museum, 915 Brady St, Dearborn, MI 48124

·         Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3738

·         Detroit Public Library Galleria, 5201 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202      

 Photo source: KM

KM

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Detroit 2019 attendees, have you booked your accommodations?

The Marriott Renaissance Center has added extra rooms!  To make reservations, visit the group rate siteor call Marriott's general reservation line at (877) 901-6632 (note that guests must mention the group name "Midwest Archives Conference" in order to receive the MAC rate).

Located on the famous RiverWalk in downtown Detroit, the Renaissance Center is just steps from all that downtown Detroit has to offer. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Hashing Out the Hashtags

We’d love to connect with you at the conference! Here’s a quick hashtag list you can use when Tweeting, Instagraming, and Facebooking about the MAC 2019 conference in Detroit.

We’re on:

·         Facebook: MAC2019Detroit

·         Instagram: macdetroit2019  

·         Twitter: @DetroitMAC2019

Connect with us for the latest news and fun things to do around the city!

When posting about the conference please use the official hashtag #MAC2019 on every post, if you feel like you need something more, we’ve been using #MAC2019Detroit and #ArchivesInTheD

Here are some additional hashtags for specific events:

·         #MACPals MAC Pals

·         #MACOpeningRec Opening Reception

·         #MACTourMurals Detroit Mural Project tour

·         #MACTourReutherBurton Walter P. Reuther Library/Burton Historical Collection tour              @ReutherLibrary @DetroitLibrary

·         #MACTourBFRC Benson Ford Research Center/Main Storage Building tour              @TheHenryFord

·         #MACTourParadiseValley Black Bottom/Paradise Valley tour

·         #MACTourDIA Detroit Institute of Arts Research Library & Archives & Museum tour                 @DIADetroit

·         #MACPlenary Plenary Session

·         #MACPosterSession Graduate Students and New Professionals Poster Sessions

·         #MACMeeting MAC Members’ Meeting

And if you’re at a session, here’s an example:

·         #MAC2019 #s301 How to Win at Diversity and Influence Archivists

The program has each session hashtag listed as well if you need to find one.

Happy posting!

KM

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Join the MAC Pals Program!

If you would like to participate in the program--as either an experienced member or as a new one--simply check the appropriate box on the 2019 annual meeting registration form. If you already registered but would still like to participate, it's not too late! Please contact Alison Stankrauff at alison.stankrauff@wayne.edu  for more information.

The annual MAC meeting is always such a wonderful opportunity to connect and learn from your colleagues – no matter where you are in your career trajectory. The MAC Pals Program is designed to facilitate that terrific networking.

It gives attendees the opportunity to connect with colleagues in a deep and meaningful way in a mentorship experience for the annual meeting. The program matches newer professionals and/or students with more “seasoned” professionals to act as a guide for the annual meeting.

The program carefully matches meeting attendees and lets them connect at the annual meeting to promote discussion between experienced MAC members and new(er) members and/or first-time attendees. Participants are brought together in a real mentoring opportunity – which is an opportunity for both the more-experienced professional and the less-experience professional.

Conferences and annual meetings can be daunting events and inspire feelings of trepidation, nervousness, loneliness. The MAC Pals Program seeks to knock down those negatives with positives and provide enriching connections to annual meeting members.

Participants connect as they see fit. Once the MAC Pals Program Committee connects mentors and mentees, it is up to them to figure just how they wish to connect at the annual meeting. That can differ widely for different participants – anything from meeting for a meal once through the meeting to attending sessions together, the reception, tours, etc.

Additionally, there’s a great opportunity to connect at the MAC Pals Reception. This will be held on Thursday, April 4th from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the conference hotel’s Michelangelo Room. Come meet up with your pal. Join us for iced tea, lemonade, cupcakes, and excellent and focused connection!

Really – whatever works for you as a participant, you can find an enhanced MAC experience by participating in the MAC Pals Program. If you are an experienced professional, it really can be so rewarding to “pay it forward” to newer members. And for those newer members and students, you can reap the benefits of knowledge from those who have been in the profession for longer than you may have been. It’s certain that if you participate in the MAC Pals Program – whoever you are – you will have a better, richer annual conference experience!

-A. Stankrauff

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Pewabic Pottery

While you’re in Detroit, consider a visit to Pewabic Pottery. For over a century, Pewabic ceramic tiles have graced the walls of Detroit homes and buildings around the country. Known for its iridescent glaze, Pewabic was known as one of the most innovative potteries of its time.

Founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry and Horace James Culkins, the company was first known as Stable Studio. The next year, the studio was renamed Pewabic, the Native American word for the copper mine in Perry’s hometown of Hancock, Michigan. Their offerings expanded, with the Griswold Hotel in Detroit becoming one of their first major customers. As business prospered, a local architectural firm, Stratton and Baldwin, designed a new Tudor revival studio that was built on Jefferson Avenue. It was here in 1909 that Mary Perry discovered the iridescent glaze that would become Pewabic’s trademark finish.

Throughout all of this, Mary Perry became a notable figure in the Detroit arts scene. She was a founding member of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts and a trustee for the Detroit Institute of Arts. Additionally, she established the ceramics department at the University of Michigan and taught ceramics at Wayne State University. In 1918, Mary Chase Perry wed William Buck Stratton, one of the architects who designed Pewabic’s Jefferson Avenue home.

Mary Chase Perry Stratton died in 1961 at the age of 94, but Pewabic, and her legacy, continue. The Jefferson Avenue studio is listed on the State Register of Historic Places, the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1991, the building and its contents were designated a National Historic Landmark. Examples of Pewabic Pottery can be seen at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the Edward McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and Comerica Park in Detroit.

Pewabic Pottery is open Monday through Saturday, 10-6, and Sunday from 12-4. Stop by and find a piece of Detroit artisan history to take home.  

-J. Unger

Photo of Pewabic Pottery mural at the Plymouth District Library. Taken by J. Unger.

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Kid-Friendly Activities In and Around Detroit

Bringing your kids with you to MAC2019 in Detroit? In the city and in nearby suburbs, there’s a wide variety of places to visit and activities to do for kids of all ages! 

In Detroit 

Have a youngster interested in nature? Plan a visit to the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. Outdoor adventures, hands-on activities, simulations, and exhibits await. More nature related activities can be found on Belle Isle, an island in the middle of the Detroit River. The island is home to an aquarium, a conservatory, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. For your little museum lover, there’s the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Michigan Science Center, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, and the Motown Museum.  For more ideas about kid-friendly activities in the city, Little Guide has compiled a list of 75 different ideas.  

Near Detroit 

If you have extra time to venture outside of the city, there’s more to explore! The Detroit Zoo is located in nearby Royal Oak. There’s over 125 acres of habitats, including the new Polk Penguin Conservation Center. The Henry Ford in Dearborn has a wide array of historical and innovative artifacts on display in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. You could also take a tour of Ford’s Rouge Plant and see where the F-150 pickup is made. Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills is the home to two kid-friendly attractions: the SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center.  

-J. Unger

Photo: 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at The Henry Ford. Taken by J. Unger.

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Since 1915, the Burton Historical Collection (BHC) has served as a repository of genealogical and regional historical materials.  As the designated repository for City of Detroit government records, the BHC houses materials from the Detroit Housing Commission, City Planning, Detroit House of Corrections and Mayors’ papers.

Clarence Burton (1853-1932), a lawyer and businessman who founded the Burton Abstract and Title Company, donated his vast historical collection to the Detroit Public Library in 1914.  The collection had been amassed for more than four decades, with a primary focus on the history of Michigan, Detroit, the Old Northwest and Upper Canada.  

The genealogical component of the BHC is worldwide in scope with resources for most ethnic groups and for every state in the U.S., Canada and most European countries.  Types of materials include census, land, military and church records, family histories, obituaries and birth, marriage and death indexes.

Among the many treasures in the BHC are:

A letter from 11-year-old Grace Bedell to 1860 presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln encouraging him to grow “whiskers” to improve his appearance and his chances of winning the election.

The 1769 deed to Belle Isle and wampum belt exchanged between British Lt. George McDougall and the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes. The wampum belt and other items gave McDougall ownership of the island in the Detroit River.

The Lone Ranger and Green Hornet memorabilia from the papers of George Trendle, creator of the radio dramas at WXYZ radio station in Detroit.

To see these items and much more, please come for an hour-long tour of the BHC reading room, underground closed stacks and vault.

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The MAC2019Detroit LAC hopes that you use a very powerful tool, Sched,  during the upcoming conference April 3-6 in Detroit, Michigan. Sched features easy color codes for sessions/events, and a filter-by-day option to enable easy browsing and tracking of MAC 2019 Detroit’s conference schedule.

Visit mac2019detroit.sched.com to create a user profile. Once logged in you can use the application to create your own personalized schedule, check out the speakers scheduled for each session, keep track of where you need to be next, and track where your friends are during the conference.

There are Android and Apple apps available so you can bring your meeting along in your pocket. Sched even makes it easy to connect to your social media accounts so your followers know how much new information you’re learning and how much fun you’ve had. So, don’t miss out, go to mac2019detroit.sched.com to get started now!

-J.M.

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Lions and Tigers and Wings, Oh My!

While attending MAC, you’ll be in one of the premier sports cities in the United States. All four of Detroit’s major sports teams-the Red Wings, Pistons, Lions, and Tigers-all play within walking distance of the Renaissance Center. Even if you’re not able to make a game, visit the stadiums to take pics, grab some souvenirs, and maybe grab some grub. With three of our four city-based teams playing during MAC, welcome to April in the D.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings command the ice at the new Little Caesars Arena (2645 Woodward Ave.). If you’re staying in the city through the weekend, the Wings take on the Buffalo Sabres at 7:00pm on Saturday, 6 April. Tickets available through Ticketmaster or at the box office.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons share Little Caesars Arena (2645 Woodward Ave.) with the Red Wings. The team will be in action on 3 April against the Indiana Pacers and on 7 April against the Charlotte Hornets. Tickets available through Ticketmaster or at the box office.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers take the field at Comerica Park (2100 Woodward Ave.), with their home opener taking place on 4 April against the Kansas City Royals. While we’ll all be enjoying MAC activities that day, the two teams will meet again on 6 and 7 April with a 1:10 games each day. Tickets available through Ticketmaster or at the box office.  

Detroit Lions

While the Lions won’t be playing in April, you can still visit Ford Field (2000 Brush St.) and enjoy lunch at Blitz. Open 7:30am-3pm, Monday through Friday, enjoy a menu of soups, entrees, salads, and sandwiches in the stadium.  

If you want to learn more on Detroit sports history and other events, here are some websites to explore.

10 Most Famous Photos in Detroit Sports History

Craziest Moments in Detroit Sports History

Kronk Gym

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Detroit City FC

-J. Unger

-Photo taken by J. Unger at the Rivalry Series game between the U.S. and Canadian Women’s National Teams, 17 February 2019, Little Caesars Arena

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Podcasts in the D

Looking for a fun way to learn more about Detroit before you arrive for MAC2019? Check out these podcasts and learn a little more about the people, places, and events that make Detroit the great city it is. 

Digging Detroit A good local history podcast that also has videos. 

Better On Draft  A focus on beer, breweries, bars, drinking events, and any activity you can do with a beer in your hand.  

Detroit’s Back Discover some hidden gems of Detroit not yet experienced by the universe. 

Comeback City History, people, and places associated with Detroit. 

A Drink With Sitting down with the most interesting and influential industry leaders...one drink at a time. 

Reuther Library at Wayne State University While not necessarily Detroit related, the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University holds premier collections relating to work, labor, and life in the city.  

Detroit History Podcast Another local history podcast that tells the city’s story through its cultural, social, political, musical, and automotive heritage. 

-J. Unger

“Don Shugg at Amateur Radio Station W6ETY, circa 1930, THF288653. From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

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MAC Detroit 2019 Workshops

There's still time to take advantage of the MAC Detroit early bird rates, and while you're at it, don't forget to register for one of these pre-conference workshops:

Records and Information Management: The Archivist's Loyal Friend Who Should Attend? Anyone who wants to provide guidance on identifying records that should/should not come to the archives or to those interested in building support for a RIM program.Text and Data Mining Basics for Beginners Using Open Source, Off-the-Shelf ToolsWho Should Attend? Anyone curious or interested in text and data mining research methods. No coding skills required!

Digital Preservation Peer Assessment Workshop

Who Should Attend? Anyone interested in evaluating current digital preservation practices at their institutions.

All workshops are $50 and will be held Thursday morning, April 4th from 8:00am-12:00pm.  For a full description of each, visit the conference program or Sched.

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Reminder! Scholarships are still available

2019 Archie Motley Scholarship for Minority Students

MAC is soliciting applications for the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival administration and to encourage ethnic diversification of the MAC membership and of the archival profession as a whole. Two $750 scholarships, accompanied by one-year memberships to MAC, will be awarded. Applications are due in March 1, 2019. Further details can be found at this site http://www.midwestarchives.org/motley.

Other Opportunities: Society of American Archivists' Mosaic Scholarship

The application period for the Society of American Archivists' (SAA) Mosaic Scholarship is currently open, with a deadline of February 28, 2019. The Mosaic Scholarship was established to provide financial and mentoring support to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science, to encourage students to pursue careers in archives, and to promote the diversification of the American archival profession. The award is given to applicants who demonstrate excellent potential for scholastic and personal achievement and who manifest a commitment both to the archival profession and to advancing diversity concerns within it.

Up to two scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded, contingent on available funds. In addition, each scholarship recipient receives a one-year complimentary membership to SAA and complimentary registration to the Society's Annual Meeting for the year in which the scholarship was received. For more information on the scholarship, eligibility requirements and application instructions, please visit: http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-mosaic. Click here to apply!