Detroit has long been known as the "Blackest city in America." But how does our city's demographic impact the library and archvial collections our information institutions have to offer?

For the first session of this special program, "Now and Then: Black American Librarianship," join us for a tour of the Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection. The tour will be led by Assistant Manager and Archivist of Special Collections, Laura Kennedy.

The tour will feature the following collections:

• Selected African American Resources 

  • Biography 

  • Census 

  • Slave Schedules of U.S. Census for 1850 and 1860 

  • Slaveholders 

  • Church Records 

  • Military Records 

  • Newspapers 

  • Freemen’s Bureau 

  • Ships Manifests 

  • Genealogical Societies 

• Ernie Harwell Sports Collection: Negro Leagues and African American Baseball Players 

• E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Art 

Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. ET *Please arrive at the library at 5:15pm so the tour can begin promptly. 

Location: Detroit Public Library Main Branch - 5201 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

*Upon arrival, please meet in the reading room which is on the first floor in the northeast corner of the building.

Attendees: 20 attendees max

If you have questions, please contact Graduate Student Assistant, Camille Moore at gi7920@wayne.edu.

Image: Portrait of singer Aretha Franklin. Printed on front: "Management info: Rev. Cecil Franklin, A.L.F. Productions, 16305 W. 7 Mile, Detroit, MI 48235. Arista. Photo credit: Norman Parkinson." Facsmilie signature: "Aretha." Physical rights are retained by DPL. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.