March 18, 2026
Bloomfield Township Public Library is pleased to introduce a new digital archive, part of its reimagined History Collection.
The History Collection includes digitized copies of The Afterglow, a monthly lifestyle magazine published from 1925 to 1927 that included news of society notables, club activities, and views of new estate homes in Bloomfield Township. It also includes digitized copies of the Bloomfield-Birmingham Eccentric Newspaper from 1882 to 1964, oral histories originally recorded in the 1970s, a trove of research on notable local homes from historian John Marshall, and more.
“With the launch of this modern, searchable archive, curious residents, local history buffs, and researchers can access pieces of Bloomfield Township’s history from anywhere,” said Laura J. Kraly, Adult and Teen Services Department Head. “The digital archive gives us the potential to deepen our knowledge of the places and people of our community along with a place to share future acquisitions,” she added.
The Library is actively collecting items such as yearbooks, city directories, photographs, printed ephemera (menus, advertisements, postcards), and unique local publications like newsletters. If you have an item that you’d like to donate to the History Collection, please call the Library and ask to speak with a staff member in the Adult and Teen Services Department.
Learn how to access the digital archive and the rest of the History Collection at two sessions of History Comes Alive on Thursday, April 16 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The same information will be covered in both sessions. Register for this program at btpl.org/events.
Discover the Township’s rich history through the digital archive, genealogical resources, and local history holdings at https://btpl.org/adult/history-collection/.
