Join us as archivist and President Gerald R. Ford specialist Bill McNitt discusses Ford and his legacy.

Due to a fortunate confluence of water, geography and entrepreneurial vision, Detroit at the end of the 19th century was poised to experience unprecedented growth. Even before the Ford Motor Company was established in 1903, Detroit was a major industrial center and transportation hub. All this commercial activity and prosperity led to a building boom of incredible proportions at a time when the most popular architectural styles were Beaux Arts, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, and Art Deco.

Drop by and pick up an African American history tour map that you can use to visit some local sites that are relevant to the history of African Americans in Ann Arbor. 

Then, watch and listen to AADL's Living Oral History Project as local residents recount recall their past.

The Living Oral History Project is presented in partnership between the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County and the Ann Arbor District Library.

Join us to watch the livestream of Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit, Michigan, where luminaries, stars, and singers will pay tribute to her in song and story. 

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, died Thursday, August 16 at the age of 76. 

Join us for the launch of Phase V of the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County's Living Oral History project. The Ann Arbor District Library is a proud partner in this community project, now in its fifth year, to interview black residents about their experiences growing up, living, and working in the Ann Arbor area. Come and meet this year's interviewees Gwendolyn Calvert Baker, Premail Freeman, Larry Hunter, Essie Helton and Joetta Mial, watch a highlight reel from the interviews, and enjoy refreshments.

Join kit house researchers Andrew and Wendy Mutch and learn about the fascinating history of catalog and kit homes, including Michigan's role in the kit house industry.

The presentation explores the steps of buying and building a catalog house through the story of one Ann Arbor family's home. Attendees will also be taken on a photographic tour of some of the more than 200 catalog and kit houses located in and around Ann Arbor. They have some new discoveries since their last visit!

Learn about the immigration experience from the perspective of Indian people who became citizens of the United States in the 21st century.

This screening will include a Q & A with the film's co-producer, Dr. Arifa Javed.

Automotive writer Russell Doré discusses the origins of four major automobile companies of the 20th Century.

Learn how the Studebaker Brothers, the Packard Brothers, Charlie Nash, and Joseph L. Hudson grew their companies and what lead to their ultimate disappearance from the industry. Find out the interesting interactions between these leaders and other major automotive entrepreneurs.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Debi Hollis, Russell Levine and sculptor Larry Halbert of the Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial project will describe their work and Michigan’s role in the “War that Changed the World”.

At this event, Ann Arbor District Library staff will also unveil a new online collection of over 500 photographs of WWII military personnel, many previously unpublished, from the Library's Ann Arbor News photographic archive.