Reuther Library

The institute will take place in Detroit, MI. The institute includes bus tours of Detroit’s historic neighborhoods; learning activities at Michigan State University’s Detroit Locations; and local museums. The primary meeting space for the institute will be Wayne State University’s Reuther Library.

The Reuther Library is the largest labor archives in North America and is home to the collections of numerous unions and labor-related organizations. Its collection strengths extend to the political and community life of urban and metropolitan Detroit, the civil rights movement in Michigan and nationally, and women’s struggles in the workplace. The Reuther Library is also the home of the Wayne State University Archives, established by the Board of Governors in 1958 in recognition of the importance and permanent value of the University’s official files, records, and documents.

Lodging Accommodations

Participants in the institute will have an affordable option for lodging on Wayne State’s campus in downtown Detroit if interested.

Cultural Institutions in the City

Participants in the institute will have time built into their schedules and be provided passes to explore the richness of the city, including the following cultural institutions:

Detroit Historical Society‘s mission is tell Detroit’s stories and why they matter. Since its founding in 1921, the Detroit Historical Society has been dedicated preserving the region’s history so that current and future generations can better understand the people, places and events that helped shape our lives.

The Detroit Institute of Arts‘s collection is among the top six in the United States, with more than 65,000 works. The foundation was laid by William Valentiner, who was director from 1924 to 1945 and acquired many important works that established the framework of today’s collections. Among his notable acquisitions are Mexican artist Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry fresco cycle, which Rivera considered his most successful work.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, for more than fifty years, has dedicated itself to exploring and celebrating the rich cultural legacy of African Americans.

Motown Museum is the ongoing heartbeat of the Motown legacy that celebrates the authentic story of Motown from its humble beginnings, to its emergence as the “Sound of Young America” and beyond.

Traveling around the City

Participants will be provided D-Dot bus passes during the institute to make transportation around the city easier.