OU Libraries adds local news archive to online collections

Oakland University Libraries has digitized a portion of its Pontiac Press newspaper archive, which is now freely available online.

Spanning August 17, 1953 to December 31, 1969, the digitized issues capture a transformative period in local history, covering Oakland County's rapid suburban growth and demographic shifts, as well as chronicling important developments in Oakland University's history.

In addition to offering a unique window into the social, economic, and political landscape of Oakland County, this searchable collection includes coverage of the civil rights movement, automotive industry developments and significant local history such as the Detroit Rebellion of 1967. It also contains classifieds, political cartoons, community events, and advertisements, providing a rich cultural snapshot of Southeast Michigan.

In 2017, The Oakland Press, formerly known as The Pontiac Press, donated a historic archive of photographs, articles and bound-papers to Oakland University, with a goal to make the collection available for public use.

"The collection certainly gets significant use from the community, and we're so pleased to have it," said Emily Spunaugle, associate professor and coordinator of Archives and Special Collections at OU. "The community has used it for a variety of reasons, including connecting with Pontiac's history and locating relatives. It's even been used to help overturn wrongful convictions."

The digitization was funded through the generosity of OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, a grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan on the occasion of the 2020 bicentennial of Oakland County, and additional funds from the Charter Class Challenge and other donors.

Oakland University Libraries staff members Jocelyn Baldwin, Dominique Daniel, Krystelle Datu-on, Margie Friant, Geoff Johnson, Shawn Lombardo, Molly McGuire and Shirley Paquette digitized and preserved the collection.