Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor & Urban Affairs

For ten years, Wayne State University Giving Day has brought our community together to spark ideas, fuel breakthroughs, and open doors for students whose curiosity transforms the world around them. Every gift, no matter the size, acts as a catalyst for innovation and expands opportunities across our campus, throughout Detroit, and beyond. We invite you to make a donation to the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, which is home to the largest labor archive in North America. Your support helps preserve the history of the labor movement, Metro Detroit, and Wayne State University. When we Give Green, we propel Wayne State – our students, faculty, and community – forward. Together, we celebrate Ten Years Strong and are just getting started. Visit the link in our bio or go to go.wayne.edu/givereuther2026 to make a donation.

For ten years, Wayne State University Giving Day has united our community to inspire ideas, drive breakthroughs, and create opportunities for students whose curiosity shapes the world around them. Every gift, no matter the size, acts as a catalyst for innovation and expands opportunities across our campus, throughout Detroit, and beyond. We invite you to make a donation to the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, which is home to the largest labor archive in North America. Your support helps preserve the history of the labor movement, Metro Detroit, and Wayne State University. When we Give Green, we propel Wayne State – our students, faculty, and community – forward. Together, we celebrate Ten Years Strong and are just getting started. Visit the link in our bio or go to go.wayne.edu/givereuther2026 to make a donation.

The Walter P. Reuther Library is proud to announce the 100th episode of its podcast, Tales from the Reuther Library. Hosted and produced by Reuther archivists Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English, each episode features conversations with experts, usually an interview with someone who did extensive archival research at the Reuther Library on a topic. The result has been 100 episodes of informed discussions as unique as our one-of-a-kind archival collections. So far, the podcast has been downloaded over 29,000 times, and listened to in 96 countries.
Tales from the Reuther is available through most major podcast services, including iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Blubrry, as well as the Reuther Library’s website.
Learn more: https://reuther.wayne.edu/node/15454

UPDATE: Remote operations will continue on Monday, January 26, 2026. We apologize for the inconvenience. Stay warm!

Here we go again! The Reuther Library building will be closed on Friday, January 23, 2026, due to inclement weather.

As always, staff will be available to help you with research remotely via [email protected].

Due to inclement weather, the Reuther Library building will be closed on January 15, 2026.

Please feel free to send your reference questions to [email protected], and an archivist will get back to you as soon as possible. Stay warm!

Last Friday, members of UAW Local 2256's Education and Civil Rights committees teamed up to visit Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor & Urban Affairs as a resource for deepening their knowledge of UAW history.

Thanks to UAW Archivist Gavin Strassel, members received a tour of the facility and heard stories to share with members of the local in Lansing, MI.

Pictured: UAW Archivist Gavin Strassel at the Reuther Archive in Detroit with members of UAW Local 2256 Jenna Catallo, Alan Harris, Sonya Bennett, Nicole Bell-Blair, Sarah Higgins, and Chavae Tower.

🚨 Exciting news! 🚨
In partnership with the WSU Department of History, we’re hosting our first-ever student poster competition — Archives in Action! 🗂️✨
Open to all undergrads who’ve used Reuther materials in research between Fall 2024–Fall 2025. Accepted posters will be displayed in the Reuther atrium, and cash prizes 💰 will be awarded to top entries!
📅 Apply by: January 30, 2026
🎤 Presentation day: April 24, 2026
🔗 Apply here: bit.ly/wsuarchivesprez26
Tag a student or professor who should know! 🙌

This past Saturday, September 7th the Rivera Court at the Detroit Institute of Arts buzzed with energy and memories during the unforgettable Harriet Berg Tribute! Family members, students, and colleagues from all corners of the country gathered to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Harriet Berg, the legendary choreographer, teacher, performer, and arts advocate who passed early this year.

Born Harriet Jean Waratt in 1924 in Detroit, Harriet Berg inspired generations through her passion for the arts. With a B.A. in Art Education and an M.A. in Humanities from Wayne State University, she was a trailblazer who studied dance in the bustling streets of New York City. Beginning in the 1950s, she became a pivotal figure at Wayne State University, where she established an iconic dance program at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and its Camp Tamarack.

Harriet Berg’s mentorship of dancers and dance companies, as well as her championing of the arts in Detroit and Michigan, is legendary. She is the founder of the Michigan Dance Archives at the Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University.

The celebration featured dazzling performances showcasing an array of dance styles from ballet to dynamic modern dance and traditional Polynesian Hula! Dancers from the WSU Dancers and Drummers, Detroit Dance Collective, and esteemed artists like Spencer Barefield, Elaine Serling, and Joan Belgrave took the stage and left the audience spellbound. To dive deeper into Harriet Berg’s inspiring journey and explore the rich resources of the Michigan Dance Archives, pay a visit to the Reuther Library or check out our exciting digital collections. The legacy of Harriet Berg is alive and thriving!