(Left) Robert Sarow, Bay City attorney and bibliophile. (Right) William Clements, Bay City industrialist and bibliomaniac.
WILLIAM CLEMENTS: His Two Lives to be Subject of Talk by Bob Sarow
May 30, 2013
By: Dave Rogers
Bob Sarow, Bay City attorney, will present two classes June 17 and 24 elucidating the life of a man few Bay Cityans know much about, but should.
The story of William Clements' life has been the subject of books and articles, but few authors know Clements as well as Mr. Sarow, who has made a long study of the man and his accomplishments.
The presentation is entitled "The Two Lives of William Clements: Industrialist and Bibliomaniac."
The full details of Mr. Clements' two lives will be presented at Saginaw Valley State University's OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) on succeeding Mondays, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bibliomania is described by Webster's Dictionary a "a craze for collecting books, especially rare ones."
Certainly Mr. Sarow will tell how a prominent industrialist like Mr. Clements came to deserve such a title. Only accomplished book collectors like Mr. Sarow, who perhaps could be termed a bibliophile, have any idea how many, and how rare, were the books collected by Mr. Clements.
A recounting of the gems of the Clements collection, much of which was originally housed in his mansion at Center and Park avenues, will amaze even knowledgeable Bay Cityans.
Not just books were collected by Mr. Clements. Maps, papers and other documents are part of the collection. For example, attendees at the lectures will no doubt learn about the process of obtaining the papers of the British generals commanding in the United States during the American Revolution.
William L. Clements, born April 1, 1861, was educated at the University of Michigan then went to work as an engineer with the Industrial Works in Bay City, Michigan. He gradually worked his way up in the company, being promoted to the position of superintendent and manager, and then in 1898, to the office of president.
Clements was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in 1909 and served until 1933. He was also founder of the William L. Clements Library of early Americana at the university and donated much of the collection as well as the building in which it was to be housed. He died November 6, 1934.
The Clements Library is closed for 18 months, a historic occasion itself. Fortunately, the university is engaged in the first total renovation of the building since its construction in 1922.
The entire Clements Library collection has been moved out of the iconic building on South University Avenue in Ann Arbor so it can be renovated.
The Clements Library temporary location is 1580 Ellsworth Road on the south side of Ann Arbor. That building will include a reading room, and the collections should be fully accessible for research.
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