Bit by Bit: Digitizing Clements Collections

Help Bring History to the World—Support the Clements Library Digitization Campaign

The William L. Clements Library is home to some of the most significant and rare primary source materials in American history—manuscripts that shaped a nation, maps that traced its growth, pamphlets and ephemera that captured everyday life, and graphic materials that reflect the richness and complexity of our shared past.

Now, we need your help to ensure these treasures are no longer limited to those who can visit our reading room in person.

By supporting our digitization campaign, you’re helping open the doors of history to the world.

Every dollar you give will help us digitize more of our extraordinary collections—thousands of letters, diaries, rare books, prints, and other irreplaceable artifacts—and make them freely accessible online to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Researchers, educators, students, genealogists, amateur historians, and lifelong learners across the globe will benefit from your generosity.

Digitization isn’t just about preservation—it’s about access. It’s about breaking down barriers to knowledge and bringing history directly to those who seek it. Whether it's a U-M student writing their first college research paper or a scholar uncovering a forgotten narrative, your gift helps bring the past to life in meaningful, immediate ways.

Clements Library board members have kicked off the campaign with a 1:1 matching gift of up to $5,000, providing a springboard for success. Will you join us?

Join us in building a digital future for the Clements Library.
Give today. Share history tomorrow.