From the Collection

Mysteries of the Archive

Posted June 18, 2012 by jackiezimmerman

“1 Horse taken by the Indians” “50 do. potatoes taken in my cellar by the American troops” These are just a sampling from an itemized bill of goods that Benoit Chapoton sent to the United States government in 1824. Unfortunately, it is not accompanied by any textual information. Who was Chapoton and why did he think the federal government was responsible for reimbursing him $471 (that’s over $11,000 in 2012 dollars)? Was he ever compensated? Another mystery is that the document is dated 1824, but according to the invoice everything was taken during the year of 1813.

Fire Buckets!

Posted June 15, 2012 by robindarling

In the course of processing the biographical file of prominent Detroit figure Shubael Conant (1783-1867), I discovered two of Conant’s fire buckets. So what’s the big deal about buckets? Well, in 1836 the city adopted a resolution that required each building to have one 2.5 gallon fire bucket for every stove or fireplace.

Say What?

Posted June 11, 2012 by Brendan Roney

With the opening of the Gallery of Innovation fast approaching, many of Detroit’s lesser known innovators will be spotlighted.  However, one name that might not mak

Homes of Tomorrow

Posted June 8, 2012 by DHSdigital

Fans of mid-century modern architecture will certainly appreciate these photographs from the Davis Hillmer Collection taken at J. L. Hudson’s Department Store.

Guide for the Groom-Elect

Posted February 14, 2012 by DHSdigital

My, how times have changed! Today we would be surprised to receive a valentine or a how-to guide for marriage from our local retail store, but that was just what Hickeys Men’s Department Store used to do.

Gone With the Wind

Posted February 10, 2012 by DHSdigital

Glitz, grandeur, and glamour were a staple of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but Detroit had its own examples of Hollywood flair. Downtown streets have a long history of highly stylized window displays featuring the latest fashions, but on occasion shoppers were treated to something extra special. Gone with the Wind, David O.

The Brown Bomber

Posted February 3, 2012 by DHSdigital

Since tomorrow is African American History Day at the Detroit Historical Museum, we are sharing some of the objects in our collection related to one of Detroit’s most famous sports heroes, boxer Joe Louis.

Capturing the Invisible Image

Posted January 30, 2012 by DHSdigital

Sure, the idea that historians and archivists are like detectives is clichéd and overwrought; however, it seemed especially apt in regards to this innocent looking photo.

Fabulous Furs

Posted January 27, 2012 by DHSdigital

With winter upon us, let’s look back at some of the seasonal fashions of the 1920s. Fur coats were all the rage, if you could afford one. These images from Annis Furs in Detroit, show just how popular and exotic furs could be.

A Magic Bullet

Posted January 23, 2012 by DHSdigital

Finding a uniquely historic object in the collection is always a thrill. However, finding two items that relate to each other is an unforgettable experience. While cataloging some beautiful old coin purses in the collection, one of our volunteers ran across an object that was obviously not a purse — it was a bullet. What was a bullet doing in the coin purse drawer?

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