On Monday, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced that the Archives of Michigan has released a collection highlighting the preservation of Michigan’s 1961-1962 Constitutional Convention, which was made possible by a $50,000 grant through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ (CLIR) Recordings at Risk program. The Archives of Michigan digitized 612 magnetic tape audio reels and two 16mm films documenting the 1961-1962 Michigan Constitutional Convention that resulted in the state’s current 1963 constitution.
“We are excited to release this collection that marks a pivotal time in Michigan’s history,” said Mark Harvey, state archivist of Michigan. “The audio reels documenting Michigan’s last constitutional convention were fragile and at risk of being lost. Through the CLIR Recordings at Risk program, we can provide these recordings to the public for years to come.”
In addition to the audio recordings, the Archives team also digitized images, transcripts, and contextual items that highlight the 1961-1962 convention, which was the last time the State of Michigan completed a constitutional convention. The release of the collection comes at a time when Michiganders will be asked on the November 2026 General Election ballot to decide whether another constitutional convention should be held.
The collection can be viewed on the Archives of Michigan website at www.michigan.gov/archivesofmichigan/collections/michigan-convention-and-constitutions.
—1961-1962 Constitutional Convention Facts
• It was the first time women and Black delegates were able to participate in a state constitutional convention.
• During the convention, Michigan became the first state to encode civil rights in a state constitution.
• In 1847, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty; the 1963 constitution made it permanent.
• Today, there is one living delegate from the convention.
“We are excited to release this collection that marks a pivotal time in Michigan’s history,” said Mark Harvey, state archivist of Michigan. “The audio reels documenting Michigan’s last constitutional convention were fragile and at risk of being lost. Through the CLIR Recordings at Risk program, we can provide these recordings to the public for years to come.”
In addition to the audio recordings, the Archives team also digitized images, transcripts, and contextual items that highlight the 1961-1962 convention, which was the last time the State of Michigan completed a constitutional convention. The release of the collection comes at a time when Michiganders will be asked on the November 2026 General Election ballot to decide whether another constitutional convention should be held.
The collection can be viewed on the Archives of Michigan website at www.michigan.gov/archivesofmichigan/collections/michigan-convention-and-constitutions.
—1961-1962 Constitutional Convention Facts
• It was the first time women and Black delegates were able to participate in a state constitutional convention.
• During the convention, Michigan became the first state to encode civil rights in a state constitution.
• In 1847, Michigan became the first state to abolish the death penalty; the 1963 constitution made it permanent.
• Today, there is one living delegate from the convention.
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