Berkley Historical Committee Seeks Photos for Book

Dust off your old photo albums and dig through that trunk in the attic: The Berkley Historical Committee is seeking images to use in an upcoming book about the city's history.

The City Council recently authorized Arcadia Publishing to use images from the Berkley Historical Museum in a tome due out next spring as part of a line of books documenting Metro Detroit's history; committee members hope the community can help to paint an even more rich portrait of Berkley's past by contributing their personal photos.

City Councilman Steve Baker – who serves as liaison to the Historical Committee and will be one of the book's authors, along with committee chairwoman Sue Richardson and vice chairman Jeff Tong – said anyone whose photos are used will receive credit in the book.

The authors welcome school, church, neighborhood, parade and family photos, which will be scanned and promptly returned, Baker said Tuesday.

The Berkley project came about at the request of Arcadia Publishing, which recruited the city's Historical Committee to fill out an application and submit a book proposal, Baker said.

Arcadia Publishing also has produced books about nearby cities including Clawson and Royal Oak that typically have sepia-toned covers featuring a historical photo.

The Berkley book will be produced at no expense to the city – other than the authors' time and effort – as Arcadia Publishing covers the cost of layout, printing, distribution, advertising and marketing, Baker said.

Rather than go to the authors, revenue from the book's sales will go to the Historical Committee to be used for improvements at the , including new display cases and shelving, museum management software and acquisitions, Baker said.

"The authors just care about the city and want this to succeed," he said.

A bevy of photos from the Berkley museum, local churches and the Walter P. Reuther Library in Detroit already have been collected, Historical Committee chairwoman Sue Richardson told the Berkley City Council on July 16.

She said the Arcadia book, which will emphasize photos with extensive captions and some narrative, will lay the groundwork for a more in-depth volume the committee also is working on as part of a fund created by former Mayor Marilyn Stephan.

"Our dream is to have (the Arcadia book) ready for Berkley Days," which is held each May to mark the Berkley's anniversary as a city, Richardson said.

City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa said the book will be available for sale at local book stores, the and once it's produced.

"If anybody has photos they think would be useful, we would love to have them," Richardson said.

Have photos to contribute? E-mail City Council liaison to the Berkley Historical Committee Steve Baker at swbaker@berkleymich.net or call City Hall at 248-658-3300.