ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 24, 2003 - Early Michigan legislators circa 1836 were forbidden to read the newspaper or speak to one another while the minutes of the Senate were read. These and other rules for living are outlined in the first edition of the Michigan Legislative Manual, also known as The Red Book. A commemorative edition of the 1836 Red Book published by ProQuest Information and Learning celebrates the Oct. 28 opening of the new Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room at the Library of Michigan in Lansing.

The volume is a facsimile of O.A. Jenison's holographic transcription of the printed edition of the 1836 Michigan Manual. To create the facsimile, ProQuest first scanned the original, then converted it to microfiche for preservation, and finally printed the special bound edition. An archival microfiche copy of the manual nestles in a pocket at the back of the bound volume along with a colophon outlining the hows and whys of its creation. ProQuest's one-step e-beam process minimizes handling the fragile historical materials while providing an archive in two different formats: digital and microfiche.

ProQuest Information and Learning, a unit of ProQuest Company (NYSE:PQE), creates and distributes databases to libraries and educational institutions worldwide. It co-sponsored the commemorative Michigan Manual with Binding Unlimited, Inc./ICIBinding Corp. and the Library of Michigan, both in Lansing.  The special edition is limited to 500 bound copies. It will be presented to invited guests during the Library of Michigan Foundation's opening celebration of the new rare book room facility.

 "The opening of the Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room is a unique, historic event," said State Librarian Christie Pearson Brandau.  "It's only fitting that the guests who join us for the Oct. 28 celebration leave with a memento rich in history and just as rare!"

Design and construction of the new room was funded by the Library of Michigan Foundation during the 175th anniversary of the Library of Michigan. The original 1836 Michigan Manual used to create the facsimile is part of the library's collection. Harriet A. Tenney, former state librarian of Michigan, signed and certified the original as a correct copy on August 31, 1886 and it has been held by the Library of Michigan since 1896.

O. A. Jenison collected Michigan Manuals and other Michigan state government publications. He created his hand-written copy of the 1836 Michigan Manual from a scarce printed copy then held by the Library of Michigan, according to a late 19th-century article in the Lansing State Journal  included in the facsimile edition. It was one of the highlights of his extensive collection of Michigan Manuals, which also included autographs of many Michigan governors, legislators and other state pioneers.

Libraries may receive more information about ProQuest by contacting their account representative at 1-800-521-0600, ext. 2793 (outside the U.S., call 734-761-4700, ext. 2793) or umisalesinfo@il.proquest.com. Editors may call 1-800-521-0600, ext. 6489 or email pr@il.proquest.com.

 

About the Library of Michigan 

The Library of Michigan is the state version of the Library of Congress. This year it marks 175 years of service as Michigan's official state library agency. Since frontier days, the Library of Michigan has worked to ensure the best possible library service for state government and the people of Michigan. Its collection began before Michigan became a state, with territorial laws and government documents, growing into the extensive information resource it is today. In 2002, the Library unveiled the Michigan eLibrary, http://www.MeL.org, accessible to Michigan residents 24 hours a day from any Internet connection.  The Library of Michigan is an agency within the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).  For more information, please visit http://www.michigan.gov/hal.

The Library of Michigan's rare book collection is approaching 17,000 volumes, varying from slender pamphlets less than 3 inches tall to large folios. It includes maps, printed books, portfolios of prints, scrapbooks, letters and deeds, made of paper, leather, bark and parchment. The collection focuses on six areas: natural history, law, angling, travel and exploration, Native Americans and Michigania. In addition to funding the construction of the room to house the collection, the Library of Michigan Foundation is providing funds for the conservation and preservation of rare materials and the acquisition of additional materials.

 

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.