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Ask an Archivist

Your Gift Will Make History

To preserve the past and create a better future, we need your help.

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bhl-courtyard-students

Every Gift Matters

Our support strengthens our ability to collect, preserve, and share the University’s and the state’s most meaningful records, ensuring that Michigan’s history continues to inform, inspire, and lead. Join us in safeguarding the past to better inform the future. Thank you for supporting our work!

Ways to Give

There are many ways you can support the Library.

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Financial Donations

Every gift makes a difference.

Give Financially
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Material Donations

Donate your papers to 
the archive.

Donate Materials
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Other Ways to Give

Giving options abound.

Learn How
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University Records

U-M units: start here to donate materials.

Learn More
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Preserving Michigan’s Story

For what’s next, look to the Bentley

The Bentley actively records history as it unfolds, ensuring that today’s discoveries, debates, and decisions endure. This work is never finished.

To fully realize our responsibility as witnesses to history in real time—and to ensure broad, meaningful access to these materials—we have set an ambitious $12M Look to Michigan campaign goal.

Your investment in the Bentley will shape a better future by helping preserve the past.

Stories Unboxed

From scrapbooks to scholarships, read about the donors who have helped shape history.

Impact | February 9, 2026

Robert’s Story

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Learn more

Impact | February 9, 2026

A Sporting Chance 3

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Impact | January 26, 2026

Impact Story 1

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Learn more
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By The Numbers

Look what we’ve done together!

Donor support helps make history. Together, we made this last year one for the boxes.

77,000

Linear Feet

and 14 terabytes of material relating to U-M and the State of Michigan are held in the archives.

360

Audio/Video

files were digitized for protection of At-risk analog materials and in direct support of researchers.

90

Recordings

were captured to enhance access to digitized audio/visual materials.

1,293

Students

form 53 different courses came to the Bentley for class instruction.

6,100

Supporters

received the Bentley email Newsletter once a month.

6,904

People

followed the Bentley across all social media platforms.

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Your Gift Can Leave a Legacy

Learn more about the ways you can become part of an active, engaged archive that celebrates and shares its rich collections.

Contact:

Natalie Giannos
ngiannos@umich.edu
734-764-3482