You are searching the:

Like a traditional library catalog, this will help you find published materials such as books or maps. Learn More.

Go to Catalog

Finding Aids are like a table of contents for collections to help you find specific boxes and folders. Learn More

Go to Finding Aids

The website search allows you to search and find content on the website.

Ask an Archivist

About the Bentley

The Bentley Historical Library is one of the largest archives documenting Michigan’s people and organizations.

The brick front entrance to the Bentley Historical Library showing the name of the building, and surrounded by green trees and bushes.

Welcome

What Is the Bentley Historical Library?

At the Bentley Historical Library, you can learn about the legacy of both the state of Michigan and the University of Michigan. Millions of historical primary sources are available here for anyone to use.

Are you researching your church history? Trying to find out about U-M’s history of activism? Looking into the policies of a former governor? The Bentley has a wealth of original materials – from 200 years ago to the present — that can give you insight into Michigan’s people and past.

A small card catalog drawer is pulled open, and a library patron browses the cards. Only the patron's hand is visible.

Get Help

Contact Us

Our Reference Services Team can help address your questions about the archive, the collections, or digital services. Please call 734-764-3482 or email reference at [email protected].

Two researchers, a man and a woman, sit at a table in the Bentley Historical Library's reading room. To the left in the photo is an archivist who is wearing a black dress and leaned over slightly to help them look at historical materials.

More About the bentley

Work with Us

The Bentley isn’t just papers, it’s also people. Our staff of roughly 40 archivists, digitization techs, reference assistants, communicators, conservators, administrative staff (and more) aim to contribute all we can to the archival field as we work toward the future. Let’s collaborate.

A male archivist stands on yellow stairs, while a female archivist stands near the stair railing. Behind them are a wall of boxes from the Bentley's collections.

Our Commitment

The Bentley's Mission

We promote learning, discovery, and scholarship by actively partnering with communities to build, preserve, and make accessible a record that reflects the unique and complex history of the state and University of Michigan.

Several shelves from inside the Bentley Historical Library's stacks, holding several books on the left and boxes on the right.

Stay Informed

News and Stories

Bentley collections make the best stories. The library regularly publishes news and articles, while also hosting the Making Michigan monthly speaker series. In collaboration with the Inclusive History Project, the Bentley also maintains the History of U-M website.

Detroit Observatory

Where Michigan’s History is Written in the Stars

The historic Judy and Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, located on the University of Michigan’s central campus, is a division of the Bentley Historical Library. Come see the stars and explore U-M's past through tours, observing, presentations, exhibits, and more!

Visit the Observatory