The Clarke Historical Library was founded in 1954 through a gift from Dr. Norman E. Clarke, Sr. to his alma mater. Dr. Clarke was a book collector of unusual insight and breadth. His collection was created, in his own words, to “portray the lives, the thoughts, and the culture of the pioneer people to whom we owe so much.”
The institution bearing Dr. Clarke’s name has become one of Michigan’s leading research libraries. The material found in the library honors the spirit of Dr. Clarke’s initial charge, his subsequent interests, and the ongoing needs of the CMU community. The library’s current objectives are defined succinctly in its mission statement:
The Clarke Library exists to document and promote public awareness in three main areas:
- The history of Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory
- Published works that shape the minds of young children, including both educational texts and children’s fiction
- The history of Central Michigan University.
The Library seeks to undertake this mission by promoting use of its materials, with a particular emphasis on serving scholars, the Central Michigan University community, and members of communities served by CMU, and by creating outreach opportunities that thoughtfully inform and broaden the public’s understanding in the areas documented by the Library.
We hope you will explore our web page by selecting one of the links and we look forward to you personally visiting the library to share in the excitement of an exhibit, learn from a speaker, or undertake research of interest to you.