January 03, 2019

“Long Memory is the Most Radical Idea in America:” Field Report from Reuther Collections Gatherer Louis Jones

25 minutes

Dr. Louis Jones discusses his work in building relationships to bring records into the Reuther Library documenting the American labor movement, civil rights, and the history of metropolitan Detroit. He explains how he brought three recent acquisitions into the Reuther Library: the papers of labor activist and folk singer Utah Phillips; the business records of civil rights organization NAACP Detroit; and the records of LGBT Detroit, an organization working to support and advocate for Detroit’s LGBT community. Jones is the field archivist for the Walter P. Reuther Library, and received a Ph.D. in history from Wayne State University.

*Note: Since the recording of this episode, we have received word that our former colleague discussed in the episode now prefers to be known as Perez.

Related Resources

Collection Spotlight: LGBT Materials at the Reuther Library

Collection Spotlight: The Utah Phillips Papers

NAACP Detroit Branch Records – An addition to a long history of fighting for civil rights and community improvement

Related Collections

LGBT Detroit Records

Utah Phillips Papers

NAACP Detroit Branch Records

Episode Credits

Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English

Host: Dan Golodner

Interviewee: Louis Jones

Sound: Troy Eller English

With support from the Reuther Podcast Collective: Bart Bealmear, Elizabeth Clemens, Meghan Courtney, Troy Eller English, Dan Golodner, Paul Neirink, and Mary Wallace

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By Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

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