The Way We Worked Opening Reception and Presentation

Exhibit Opening Reception and Presentation | 6 - 8:30 pm  

Be among the first to explore the exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in the library lobby! The exhibition explores the places Americans worked, from farms to factories and mines to restaurants, as well as in homes. It examines not only the effects of technology and automation, but also how workers striving for better working conditions, wages, and hours changed America’s work history. 

Work in Southeast Michigan: A Tour of the Past 150 Years | 6:30 pm  

Professor Dan Clark’s talk will focus on trends in labor in this region over the last century and a half. From agriculture to industry, from carriages to automobiles, from non-union to union jobs, this overview will provide local context for The Way We Worked exhibition.  

Look to our fall newsletter for more programming based on the theme of our exhibit, which is that work is part of every American’s life, whether for professional satisfaction and personal growth or to ensure the well-being of their families. *The Way We Worked, an exhibition created by the National Archives, is adapted for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and made possible with the generous support of the United States Congress.