The Clawson Historical Museum

41 Fisher Court
Clawson, MI 48017

Melodie Nichols, Curator
historicalmuseum@cityofclawson.com
248.588.9169, noon - 4p.m., Monday through Thursday
248.588.9169, fax

Online Exhibits

Volunteer Opportunities

Upcoming Events

Clawson History

Museum Newsletter

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Holiday Hours

The museum will be closed Sunday, July 5th for Independence Day. Join Deloris Kumler at Leon & Lulu, 1-4 p.m. as she signs copies of her new book Clawson the Way it Was.

Regular Hours of Operation

The museum is open to the public Sunday and Wednesday 1pm–4pm. Admission is free. Group tours and research times are by appointment only. The curator hours are 12pm–4pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

About the Museum

The City of Clawson purchased the three story home in 1972 along with other property on Roth Avenue to provide additional parking and a driveway for the library. In November of 1973, the city council allocated two rooms on the second floor to the Historical Commission to be used as a museum.
   The rooms were first opened with fewer than 100 items on December 11, 1973. By 1976, the collection had grown and artifacts were on all three floors and in the basement. On March 14, 1976, the entire building was officially dedicated as the Clawson Historical Museum. The first curator, Deloris Kumler, was appointed in August, 1977. She retired in December, 2007.
   The house was built about 1919 by Oswald and Deborah Fisher and reflects the furnishings of the 1920’s or earlier. A community room has a display of over 200 photographs about the history of Clawson. It also has Clawson High School yearbooks, city yearbooks, and genealogical materials.

   In the office, an extensive collection of newspaper clippings and over 4,000 photographs are stored and available for research, including early local newspapers on computer. Magazines, periodicals, catalogs, clothing patterns and fashion books are also part of the archives and may be viewed on request. We can provide copies of newspaper clippings, photographs and historical information to citizens requesting them. We can also scan photographs and other information that are brought in so that the copies can be filed in the museum archives.
   The museum is owned by the City of Clawson and the operation of the museum is under the direction of the curator and the Clawson Historical Commission. Volunteers serve as guides.

Programs and Presentations

The Clawson Historical Museum offers a variety of entertaining and educational presentations and tours, either at the museum or your site. All programs are offered free of charge, and advanced reservations are required. View the brochure here.

Wanted

The archives is missing the 2003 Clawson High School yearbook. A donation of that year's book would make the CHS yearbook collection complete. The museum is also looking for old movies of Clawson sites or events that can be converted to a video or DVD. Photographs from Kenwood School classes 1958-1959, Parkland School 1966-1972 and Log Cabin School 1964-1968 are needed to add to the archives.

Fund Raisers

The following items are for sale to aid the museum:

• Clawson—The Way It Was, a new book by Deloris Kumler is $20 at the museum, Leon & Lulu, City Hall and the Clawson Community Credit Union
• The book “Images of America: Clawson” is $20 at the museum and Leon & Lulu. (96 W. 14 Mile)
• Prints of the Clawson Water Tower, Class Pharmacy and the original city offices are $5 each at the museum or Leon & Lulu.
• Postcards of 10 different sites in Clawson—1 set of 10 $5.00. A DVD of the Clawson 4th of July 1938 & 1951 is $5.00 at the museum

 

Updated Thursday, June 11, 2009

 

Now Available! Clawson—The Way It Was a new book by Deloris Kumler, is on sale now for only $20 at the museum, City Hall, Clawson Community Credit Union and Leon & Lulu.