1815

Government land surveyors sent to southern part of Michigan Territory; surveyors record swampland.

1818

First Methodist Church built on Rouge River; first Protestant house of worship in the Michigan Territory.

1825

Surveyors began laying out a military road from Detroit to Chicago.

1826

Gabriel Richard, Congressman representing Michigan, secures federal authorization for territorial roads.

1830

Michigan’s first Baptist Church built in Detroit.

1831

Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer begins publishing in Detroit; paper later became the Free Press.

1833

Michigan territorial governor signed a bill incorporating the “Michigan and Huron Institute,” later Kalamazoo College.

1837

First session of the Michigan Methodist Conference held in Detroit.

Michigan admitted to the Union as the 26th state.

The Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad put the first locomotive ever to run on Michigan tracks on Adrian to Toledo route.

The state legislature authorizes the relocation of the U of M from Detroit to Ann Arbor.

1839

State legislature grants a charter to the first nonpublic, non-religious college, which becomes Marshall College.

1844

Michigan’s first public high school opens in Detroit.

1847

“Crosswhite incident” occurs when Kentuckyian slave owners attempt to kidnap escape slaves settled in Marshall.

1848

Democratic Party nominates Lewis Cass of Michigan as presidential candidate; Cass loses to Zachary Taylor.

1850

Fugitive Slave Act mandates that runaways slaves be arrested and held in any state where they are found.

1855

State legislature prohibits use of county jails to detain escaped slaves, in direct counter to Fugitive Slave Act.

1861

The Wesleyan Seminary at Albion becomes Albion College.

1863

Riots of angry whites in Detroit, following Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

First MI Colored Infantry mustered as the 102nd US Colored Infantry Regiment.

Henry Ford born on a farm near Detroit.

1866

Hope College chartered.

The state’s first bill on women’s suffrage defeated by one vote.

1869

Michigan Supreme Court rules in case of Joseph Workman v. Board of Education in Detroit (segregation case).

Detroit Medical College, forerunner of Wayne State University, opens.

Knights of Labor organized (1878: Detroit branch founded).

1870

Detroit citizens hold a celebration to officially close the state’s underground railroad.

Regents allow women to attend University of Michigan for the first time.

Michigan State Woman Suffrage Association formed in Battle Creek.

Madelon Louisa Stockwell of Albion becomes the first woman admitted to the University of Michigan.

1875

The statewide Women’s Christian Temperance Union formed in Grand Rapids.

1878

Virginia Watts of Ann Arbor is the first African-American woman to enroll at the University of Michigan.

John Harvey Kellogg appointed a member of the Michigan Board of Health.

1880

F. Elizabeth Palmer of Albion is the first woman in Michigan elected to a board of education (school suffrage).

1881

Joseph Lowthian Hudson opens a men’s, boy’s and furnishing stop in a space leased at the Detroit Opera House.

1884

Michigan Equal Suffrage Association formed in Flint.

1885

Saginaw lumbermill workers led by Knights of Labour strike over hours, and National Guard called out.

1889

Michigan Federation of Labor organized, with Jo Labadie as its first president.

1895

Michigan Federation of Women’s Clubs organized in Bay View

First recorded black women’s club organized (“In AS Much Circle of King’s Daughters and Son’s Club”) in Detroit.

1898

First attempt to organize black women’s clubs on statewide basis, when Mary E. McCoy of Detroit and Lucinda S. Thurman of Jackson found The Michigan Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

1896

Charles King of Detroit is the first person to test drive a gasoline-powered automobile in Michigan. Three months later, also in Detroit, Henry Ford drives his gasoline-powered quadricycle.

1899

The Detroit Business Woman’s Club, the first professional woman’s club in the nation, is founded.

1901

Tigers play in the first American League game ever.

1903

Ford Motor Company incorporated.

1904

Second annual convention of Michigan Co-Operative League and Lincoln Memorial Celebration held in Battle Creek.

1908

Ford introduces the “Model T.”

William C. Durrant chartered General Motors Company.

1911

The NYSE lists GM securities, the fist automobile stock to be approved for listing in that body.

1913

Strike in Detroit Studebaker plant.

Ford Motor Company hires a crew of linguist to convey orders to 16,000 workers who spoke ten different languages.

Strike of 15,000 UP copper minders demanding an 8 hour workday and recognition of the Western Federation of Miners as their bargaining agent, strike ends in April, 1914, with four dead.

The Michigan Association Opposed to Equal Suffrage formed.

1914

Henry Ford starts assembly line production.

1916

Urban League formed in Detroit (National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes).

1917

The US Army drafted the entire Michigan National Guard into WWI service (August).

US Congress declares war on Germany and a wave of anti-German sentiment sweeps across Michigan.

1918

Three thousand trainees given identification tags at Fort Custer, BC.

Social workers broadcast a “stay away from Detroit” message to young women in cities throughout Michigan and the East Coast. The social investigators reported that many women who had flocked to Detroit after the outbreak of WWI to earn big wages in factories had found jobs in short supply and ended up becoming prostitutes.

A year and a half before national prohibition took effect, MI voters approved a prohibition and the state went dry; speakeasies and illegal importation of Canadian liquor becomes widespread.

US Department of Justice instructs “war bureaus” in Michigan to arrest German aliens not registered.

Michigan Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club founded.

1919

At Grand Rapids, the Michigan American Legion held its first state convention (October).

More than 250,000 Michigan workers idled when the US fuel administrator ordered nonessential industries to close
because of a coal shortage caused by a national month-long coal minter’ strike (December).

1920

Eva M. Hamilton elected as the first woman state legislator in Michigan, representing Grand Rapids in the State Senate.

1921

Federal officers pour the contents of 1,500 confiscated bottles of liquor into the sewers at the Detroit Federal Building.

Detroit Association of Colored Women’s Clubs founded by Veronica Lucas.

1922

Michigan’s last horse-drawn fire wagon retires.

1924

Cora Reynolds Anderson of L’Anse elected as the first woman elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.

1928

The Chrysler Corporation buys Dodge Brothers to become third largest automobile manufacture behind Ford and GM.

1929

Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, born in Detroit (November 28).

1930

The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel opens to automobiles.

Detroit Mayor Charles Bowles, associated with Prohibition-era corruption, becomes the nations’ first recalled city mayor.

Unknown men shot and kill popular radio commentator Jerry Buckley, who had campaigned against Bowles’ corruption.

Fannie Peck starts the Detroit Housewives League to encourage African-American women to improve their communities.

1932

Riots at Ford Factory in Dearborn; four killed.

Recording gospel and jazz artist Della Rees born in Detroit.

1933

Two hundred men from Detroit set up Camp Raco, Michigan’s first CCC facility in Chippewa County (May)

After fifteen years of prohibition, alcoholic beverages become legal in Michigan.

Durant Motors declare bankruptcy,

Michigan Legislature set up State Emergency Welfare Commission to administer relief.

Detroit Tigers win the American League Pennant.

1934

Detroit Lions play their first National Football League game in the University of Detroit Stadium.

1935

UAW officially organized in Detroit.

Detroit Lions win their first NFL championship.

WPA makes funds available to provide employment on public projects in Michigan.

1936

After joining the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the UAW staged a sit-down strike to win recognition from GM.

UAW-CIO members take over Fisher Body and Chevrolet plants in Flint; strike settled on February 11, 1937

Detroit WPA worker kidnapped and murdered, exposing the “Black Legion,” an underground society that used violence and intimidation against those who opposed their anti-Jew, antiblack, anticommunist and anti-Catholic philosophy.

1937

Members of the Ford Factory Police brutally beat Walter Reuther near Ford’s River Rouge plant.

Joe Louis defeats James Braddock to win his first heavyweight championship.

MI legislature raised drinking age for all alcoholic beverages to 21. From 1933 to 1937, 18-21 year olds could drink
beer and wine.

General Motors guaranteed for the first time that it would recognize the UAW as its employees bargaining agent.

1938

Frank D. Fitzgerald (Rep) elected Governor.

Henry Ford, on his 75th birthday, receives Hitler’s Supreme Order of the German Eagle.

1939

Del Shannon born in Grand Rapids.

1940

William “Smoky” Robinson, the creative kingpin of Motown Records, born in Detroit.

1941

UAW pickets Ford.

Beginning of Michigan’s conversion to war production. In September, 1941, auto companies ordered to reduce number of
cars assembled in preparation for producing weapons. In April of 1942, the last cars for civilian use are assembled. In May of 1942, the last civilian trucks are completed. Michigan is the “Arsenal of Democracy."

Lila M. Neuenfelt of Dearborn is first woman circuit court judge in Michigan, serving the Wayne County Circuit Court.

Waunetta McClellan Dominic co-founds the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association to secure treaty-based rights for the non-reservation Ottawa and Chippewa people of Michigan.

WWJ-FM (Detroit) becomes Michigan’s first FM radio station.

Seventy percent of the Ford Motor Company’s workers voted to have the UAW-CIO represent them.

1942

3,000 desperate, unemployed auto workers marked toward Henry Ford’s Dearborn Rouge Assembly Plant to demand
relief for laid-off employees, union recognition, and better working conditions. Police and Ford security guards kill four.

The Ford Motor Company’s Willow Run plant completed assembly of the first WWI B-24 Liberator Bomber. The plant
produced at its peak 18 of the huge planes each day and, over the course of the war, a total of 8,500 B-24 Bombers.

White mob attacks blacks moving into the Sojourner Truth housing development in Detroit.

USO Club established in Jackson.

1943

R.J. Thomas, president of the UAW-CIO, offers a program to prevent the recurrence of racial clashes. He asks for increased park and recreational facilities, and increased housing for blacks.

In June, workers at the Packard Motor Company go on strike to protest the promotions given to black workers.

Beginning of low rent housing developments with help of government funds in industrial areas where workers are migrating.

Riots in Detroit. Michigan state troops, state police, and federal troops called in after several days.

1944

Diana Ross born in Detroit.

Floyd M. Edwards of Kalamazoo becomes the first Michigan veteran to take advantage of the GI Bill.

1945

200,000 members of the UAW strike at all GM plants, and after 119-day walkout, secure an 18.5 cent hourly raise.

1947

Henry Ford dies in Dearborn.

Ford Motor Company starts the automobile industry’s first pension program.

The state’s first TV station - WWJ-TV Detroit - begins daily broadcasts.

1948

The US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, upholds a Michigan law prohibiting women from working as bartenders.

UAW-CIO President Walter P. Reuther severely wounded by a shotgun blast through window of his Detroit home.

1949

Detroit’s Joe Louis announces his retirement after a record 11 yrs, 8 months as heavyweight champion.

The Flame Show Bar opens; it becomes a showplace for top Black talent in Detroit during the 1950s.

1950

Stevie Wonder born in Saginaw as Steveland Morris Hardaway.

Ruth Thompson of Muskegon becomes the first Michigan woman elected to Congress.

Charline Rainey White of Detroit becomes first African-American woman elected to Michigan House of Representatives.

1952

Cora Mae Brown of Detroit is the first African-American woman elected to the Michigan Senate.

1953

Tornado hits Flint, killing 116.

1954

Charles Diggs elected to the US Congress as a representative from the 13th District (Detroit), to become Michigan’s first African-American Congressman.

1958

The Tigers obtain Ozzie Virgil from the SF Giants, the first black to ever play for Detroit.

1959

Berry Gordy, Jr. founds Motown Records.

1960

Berry Gordy co-writes and records “Shop Around," performed by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This hit establishes
Motown Record Corporation as one of the nation’s most important Record Labels.

Detroit’s Cobo Hall officially opens.

1962

S.S. Kresge Company opens the nations first K-Mart at Garden City.

1963

MLK leads 125,000 marchers down Detroit’s Woodward Avenue in a “Walk to Freedom” demonstration.

Registrations for the first freshman class taken at Grand Valley State College in Allendale.

1964

Federal grand jury convicts International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James Hoffa of attempted jury tampering.

1965

Deadly tornadoes rip through central and southern MI, killing 49 and injuring 732.

On a road from Selma to Montgomery, AL, members of the KKK kill Viola Liuzzo, a white civil rights worker from Detroit.

1967

Michigan’s first state income tax goes into effect.

The Michigan Sate Police swear-in Kay Whitfield and Norreen Hillary, their first two women officers.

Jack Hall, former Benton Township police officer, sworn in as Michigan’s first black state policeman.

1968

For the first time in over fifty years, allowed to serve liquor on Sunday.

1969

John Porter becomes for first African-American state superintendent of public instruction on the Board of Education.

Shirley Washington, a 19 yr. old Detroit model, crowned the first Miss Black America in a pageant in Jew Jersey.

William G. Milliken takes over from George Romey to become Michigan’s longest-serving governor.

Michigan’s first chapter of NOW convenes in Detroit.

1970

Walter Reuther, UAW president, killed when his chartered plan crashes.

The First Independence National Bank, the first bank in MI to be owned and operated by blacks, opens in Detroit.

1971

State Legislature establishes a lottery to provide additional revenues for the state.

1972

Dennis Franklin starts as first black quarterback in the U of M history before playing for the Detroit Lions.

Grand Rapids becomes first Michigan city to have a black Santa Clause in its Christmas parade.

MI voters, by a 3-1 margin, end a 137-year old constitutional ban on lotteries.

1974

Governor William G. Milliken designates the second Sunday in January as a legal Michigan holiday honoring MLK.

1975

The MI Attorney General rules that a woman’s surname does not automatically change when she marries.

Michigan’s first black owned and operated television station, WGPR-TV (Detroit) goes on the air for first time.

Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappears from a parking lot of a suburban Detroit restaurant.

1977

The Rev. Meredith Hunt becomes the first woman ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in Michigan.

Detroit’s River Front Renaissance Center, built to revitalize the city, is dedicated.

1978

Michigan experiences its worst blizzard of the century.

1979

73 striking teachers in Macomb County’s Elementary School become first Michigan teachers to use a sit-in strike.

Clarence S. Carter awarded a Detroit Chevrolet dealership to become GM’s first black auto dealer in Michigan.

Mary Stallings Coleman of Battle Creek becomes the first woman to be Chief Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court.

1980

State of Michigan loaned the nearly bankrupt Chrysler Corporation $150 million.

Earthquake tremors move noticeably through Michigan.

Tornado rips through Kalamazoo, leaving five dead.

Republican National Convention held in Detroit.

1981

Major flooding in southeastern Michigan.

1982

Martha W. Griffiths becomes first woman elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.

1983

Governor James Blanchard creates temporary Michigan Youth Corps, which create jobs for 25,000 unemployed youths ages 18-21. The corps clears litter from road and landscapes parks and recreation areas.

Sojourner Truth is the first of seventeen women to be inducted into the new Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in Lansing.

1984

Governor James J. Blanchard creates Michigan Conservation Corps as part of a six-month pilot program to provide public works jobs at department of natural resources residential camps for 500 unemployed young adults.

1987

Candice Miller of Macomb County is the first woman to become a Michigan Secretary of State.

1992

Michigan State University hosts the third and final presidential debate.

1995

The first publicly funded domestic abuse shelter in the country is founded in Ann Arbor.

Detroit newspaper unions begin strike.

1997

Approximately 2,800 UAW workers begin a strike at the GM plant in Warren.

1998

Chrysler merges with the German auto company Daimler-Benz, forming Daimler Chrysler.