Clarke Historical Library

10/29/2026

On Tuesday, October 27, Dr. Catherine Cangany, CEO of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, presented "Ruthless Ingenuity: Detroit's Purple Gang." Watch the recording and learn more about this infamous group of Jewish mobsters who ran Detroit during Prohibition (1920-1933) and who were known for shocking violence and vicious turf wars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6eNH3GR5m8

Photo of a group of Detroit's Purple Gang members from Howell Carnegie District Library

10/29/2026

TONIGHT: Sociology faculty member Cedric Taylor will debut his latest documentary, "A Benton Harbor Story," 6 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 29 in Plachta Auditorium. A fireside chat will follow the film screening. The event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Emma Norman Todd Distinguished Lecturer Series and Critical Engagements.

"A Benton Harbor Story" is a feature-length documentary examining how racism, infrastructural neglect, and the erosion of local democracy converged to create a water crisis in Benton Harbor and how a poor, majority-Black community organized and fought to save itself.

Watch the trailer here: https://bit.ly/3WU8O0k

10/27/2026

Join us tonight, as we welcome Dr. Catherine Cangany for her presentation, "Ruthless Ingenuity: Detroit's Purple Gang."

Jewish mobsters ran Detroit during Prohibition (1920-1933). Known for shocking violence and vicious turf wars, the untouchable Purples were also emblematic of the Detroit neighborhood they called home: scrappy, resourceful, innovative, and proudly Jewish. And yet, the Purples remained sharply at odds with local Jewish communities, which endured shame and retaliatory antisemitism for the Purples' actions in Detroit and mid-Michigan.

This program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm on October 27 in the Central Michigan University Libraries Opperman Auditorium.

Photo of an article titled, "Charge Four with Massacre of Gangsters" from the Sept. 18, 1931 Menominee Herald-Leader.

10/22/2026

Join us on, October 27, as we welcome Dr. Catherine Cangany for her presentation, "Ruthless Ingenuity: Detroit's Purple Gang."

Jewish mobsters ran Detroit during Prohibition (1920-1933). Known for shocking violence and vicious turf wars, the untouchable Purples were also emblematic of the Detroit neighborhood they called home: scrappy, resourceful, innovative, and proudly Jewish. And yet, the Purples remained sharply at odds with local Jewish communities, which endured shame and retaliatory antisemitism for the Purples' actions in Detroit and mid-Michigan.

This program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm on October 20 in the Central Michigan University Libraries Opperman Auditorium.

Photo of an article titled, "Purple Gang Returns to Wreak Terrorism" from the Sept. 19, 1931 Detroit Free Press.

10/20/2026

Today is a day to celebrate the written word -- it's the !

Pictured are documents from the Memering Papers in the Clarke, including an article entitled, "W. Dean Memering of CMU evaluates freshman writing" and Prof. Memering's bibliography on writing for his English 601 class.

10/20/2026

Join us on tonight, October 20, as we welcome Prof. Anne Ruggles Gere for her presentation, "How Indigenous Women Teachers Helped Boarding School Students Resist Assimilation."

Drawing on her recent book, "Agents of Survivance: Indigenous Women Teachers in the Boarding School Era," as well as her research on the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, Dr. Gere adds a new dimension to received accounts of boarding schools by focusing on the contributions of Indigenous women teachers. While acknowledging the many challenges they faced, she identifies specific practices and principles that Indigenous women teachers employed to facilitate survivance among their students.

This program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm on October 20 in the Central Michigan University Libraries Opperman Auditorium.

University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education

10/18/2026

10/16/2026

Join us on Tuesday, October 20, as we welcome Prof. Anne Ruggles Gere for her presentation, "How Indigenous Women Teachers Helped Boarding School Students Resist Assimilation."

Drawing on her recent book, "Agents of Survivance: Indigenous Women Teachers in the Boarding School Era," as well as her research on the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, Dr. Gere adds a new dimension to received accounts of boarding schools by focusing on the contributions of Indigenous women teachers. While acknowledging the many challenges they faced, she identifies specific practices and principles that Indigenous women teachers employed to facilitate survivance among their students.

This program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm on October 20 in the Central Michigan University Libraries Opperman Auditorium.

University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education

10/13/2026

Join us on Tuesday, October 20, as we welcome Prof. Anne Ruggles Gere for her presentation, "How Indigenous Women Teachers Helped Boarding School Students Resist Assimilation."

Drawing on her recent book, "Agents of Survivance: Indigenous Women Teachers in the Boarding School Era," as well as her research on the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, Dr. Gere adds a new dimension to received accounts of boarding schools by focusing on the contributions of Indigenous women teachers. While acknowledging the many challenges they faced, she identifies specific practices and principles that Indigenous women teachers employed to facilitate survivance among their students.

This program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm on October 20 in the Central Michigan University Libraries Opperman Auditorium. University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education

10/12/2026

Across the Great Lakes region, multiple sovereign Tribal Nations entered into treaties with the US Government. The terms of these legally binding documents are at the heart of how Tribal communities interact with the US Government today. On this , take a moment to learn about the history of these treaties and the ongoing impacts.

https://www.cmich.edu/research/clarke-historical-library/explore-collection/explore-online/native-american-material/native-american-treaty-rights/native-treaties---shared-rights-exhibit

Image is a lithograph of J.O. Lewis's painting, "View of the great treaty held at Prarie du Chien September 1825 at which upward's of 5000 Indian Warriors of the Chippeways, Sioux, Sacs & Foxes, Winnebagoes, Pottowattomies, Menomonies, Ioways & Ottowas tribes were present, Gov. Lewis Cass of Michigan and Wm. Clark of Missouri, Commissioners on the part of the United States."