The William L. Clements Library houses original resources for the study of American history and culture from the fifteenth through the nineteenth century.
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ALT “Clements Library Can Be Found On…” with the Bluesky, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube logos.
ALT Mansions of Happiness Board games of today can trace their origins to Mansions of Happiness. First published in the United States in the 1840s, this was the first true board game in America. (Salem: S. B. Ives. Boston: D.P. Ives & Co. 1864.)
ALT Old Maid and Old Bachelor “In curating the exhibit, something that stood out is how many of these 100+ years old games we still play today — the design, themes, craftsmanship and gameplay have stood the test of time,” says Sierra Laddusaw, co-curator of the exhibit. And while many of us are familiar with Old Maid, the lesser-known Old Bachelor levels the playing field. (New York: McLoughlin Bros. 1892.)
ALT Panama Souvenir Playing Cards The emerging idea of childhood, children’s rights movements, and an emphasis on children’s education coincided with improvements in printing technology, most notably chromolithography, which enabled large-scale manufacturing of games and toys with a ready-made consumer audience. (P: Gold Edges. Cincinnati: The U.S. Playing Card Company. 1910. | Columbian Souvenir Playing Cards. Chicago: G.W. Clark. 1893.)
ALT Magnetic Fish Pond For many, gameplay dynamics are the defining feature of an exciting game. Play can start as early as game setup. Magnetic Fish Pond’s instructions begin with how to build the pond. (New York: McLoughlin Bros. 1891.)
ALT A postcard featuring an image of the southern entrance of the Clements Library.
ALT General Thomas Gage’s handwritten draft orders to Lt. Col. Francis Smith for the Concord Expedition in the exhibition at William L. Clements Library.
ALT One of Thomas Gage's 12 secretarial trunks in the exhibition at William L. Clements Library.
ALT A close-up of one of the Gage papers in the exhibition at William L. Clements Library.
ALT Roman coins, one with a scallop shell and one with a wand of two entwined snakes, from 280-276 BCE.
ALT “Giving Blueday 03.19.25 your gift today supports what’s next.” The front of the William L. Clements Library.
ALT "Historic Petite Pi(e) Day 03.14.2025 #GLPBO Great Library Pie Bake Off" flyer with library logos and cherry pie with scalloped crust and heart shaped cut-out on a fruit filled background
ALT Amidst a crowd of spectators on the deck of a ship, a cannon explodes at right, with several men reeling back from the flying shrapnel.
ALT Black and white photograph of the Alamo.
ALT Sheet music for “The Alamo” by Jennie Myers and Ella Rodeffer. The title portion of the cover sheet has been edited over the music.
ALT “The Clements bookworm #76 ‘Scattered and Fugitive Things: How Black Collectors Created Archives and Remade History’ Author Conversation with Laura Helton February 21 @ 10 AM.” Includes cover of the book which has an illustration of a woman holding a book.
ALT Manuscript inventory of books purchased by the South Mansfield Sunday School Library, July 1872.
ALT Cover of the board game Chiromagica created by the McLoughlin Bros. of N.Y. Features a wizard pointing to a circle enclosing a sun and a pointing hand directed at the outer ring. The wizard is surrounded by books, scrolls, and a globe.
ALT Disc with various questions including “Who was our 1st President?” placed inside of a ring of portraits, names, and dates. A small hand is pointing towards George Washington’s portrait.
ALT Card with flower and lace decor with a frame that pops up with the text “Look at my Beloved”
ALT Card with flower and lace decor with an open frame showing a cracked mirror
ALT A Valentine's Day display at Chester Roberts Gifts on State Street in Ann Arbor, featuring a large heart with the words "Be Sweet to Your Sweetheart" written on it, a figurine of cupid, and Valentine's Day gifts.