Michigan's past is at your fingertips
What will you unbox?
Read Civil War love letters. Unfurl early Michigan maps. Discover old football programs. Flip scrapbook pages with family photos.
The Bentley is free and open to everyone.
Storied History
Bentley materials aren't relics—they are invitations.
Each box, photograph, letter, link, and recording opens a door into lived experience, revealing how people navigated their worlds and shaped the one we inhabit today. The incredible stories discovered here become part of magazine articles, exhibits, websites, books, and more.
Find What You’re Looking For

Archives can be Weird
Our materials are unique, and so is the search process. These three steps can help.
About the Bentley
Everyone is Welcome.
That Includes You!
Sharing more than two centuries of history, the Bentley is home to the archives of the University of Michigan and one of the largest collections of materials on the history of the state of Michigan. Access is free and open to the public.
Learn more
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