Chronicling the Community

I am working on my family history since 2008, and here recently, I have been using my Library of Michigan card to do more research. One of the many platforms I have access to is ProQuest, which houses many books, newspapers, and documents. One of the newspapers that are archived and housed here is the Michigan Chronicle. The former offices for the Chronicle, located at 479 Ledyard in Detroit's Cass Park is shown here in September 2012 on the left and November 2018 on the right. The Chronicle is a black-owned newspaper and was part of the Sengstacke newspaper chain, which is now a part of Real Times media.They covered important information that was pertinent to the black community. They also covered events that the Detroit News and Free Press would not way back when. What most impressed me was the coverage of weddings, bridal and baby showers, Sweet Sixteen parties and the Chronicle's annual Churchwomen's survey reception, which honored women who were involved in the activities of her church. The Sweet Sixteen parties impressed me, because, depending on what the young lady's parents could afford, ranged from a casual party at home to a formal dance at a hotel ballroom with a young man the young lady or her parents knew (sometimes her parents' friends' son), escorting her. the weddings ranged from intimate weddings at the bride's parents' home, with the bride carrying a prayer book with flowers down the aisle, to large weddings at church with a fancy reception at home or at a large hall with many guests attending. The bridal and baby showers were equally impressive with card games taking place after all the gifts were opened and seen.  While looking through the Chronicle archives, I find many family members on both sides of my family, especially on my mother's side. I didn't realize how social Mom's side was, with club meetings and parties, debutante balls, sweet sixteen parties, and other functions. Dad's family was pretty social as well. I found my Dad in a couple articles from when he was in high school and when he was working. Dad went to high school with the editor's son, who I wrote about in a previous entry, who was his class president.