Township library hosts historian, organizer

Bloomfield Township Public Library is hosting two events, Organize Step By Step on Tuesday, January 30, and historian Maurice Imhoff on the First Michigan Colored Infantry Regiment on Monday, February 5.

Both events are open to the public and no registration is required.

Emilie Rivard of Organize Step By Step will join the library on Tuesday, January 30 at 7 p.m. to offer guidance on organizing and creating space in your home, workplace, and life focused on accomplishing goals. The talk will focus on how to start, how to keep going, making decisions, and how to focus on sustainable change.

“The library is pleased to welcome Emilie Rivard to our programming. The New Year brings thoughts of organization and cleaning after the holidays. We look forward to learning about effective ways to declutter and better manage our spaces,” said Brooke Hoskins, assistant department head of Adult Services.

Historian Maurice Imhoff will be featured at the library for a lecture on the history of the First Michigan Colored Infantry Regiment, later known as the 102nd United States Colored Infantry, on Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m.

Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the U.S. military formed the United States Colored Troops. Many recruits came from Detroit, southern Michigan and Ontario, Canada, to fight for freedom of family members still held in slavery. Even as Black soldiers fought and died, their citizenship status remained uncertain, and opportunities were limited.

“The library is pleased to welcome Maurice Imhoff to our programming. The history and contributions of Black soldiers from the Michigan area are of great significance. We look forward to learning more about the early authorization of the Regiment to its present-time remembrance,” said Hoskins.