Ann Arbor News Photographs In Color

The Ann Arbor District Library Archives is home to over 2.3 million photographic negatives, the vast majority of which are in black and white. For decades color photography was nonexistent, prohibitively expensive, or its processing was inaccessible. Since photography’s earliest days people have experimented with applying color by hand to bring images closer to capturing our vivid world.  Many of the postcards in our Making of Ann Arbor collection were hand-colored to create a truer-to-life image of the city's landmarks than the photographic technology of the time allowed.

Below is a selection of photographs from our Ann Arbor News collection that have been colored through a combination of automation and hand-applied hues. In most cases it is impossible to know what colors were originally present, so these should be viewed as an artistic interpretation rather than an accurate depiction of what was.  But adding color to these images, whether accurate or not, allows us to see our past in an entirely new way.  Enjoy!

Kathleen & Johnny Dolan On Horses Entered into the Northville Show, May 1938, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: Kathleen Dolan on Goldie. Johnny Dolan on Sheba.

University of Michigan Cheerleaders, September 1947, Ann Arbor News

Ice Cream For Everyone, June 1957, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY'S EATING CONES: Ann Arbor's finally getting some summer-like weather, so, to help commemorate National Dairy Month and also to please their palates, this group of pals downs ice cream cones. They are (left to right) Rodney Spencer, 5, his friend, "Major,", Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity mascot, and Judy Tsuchuira, 3.

Bethel AME Church Groups and Leaders, July 1944, Ann Arbor News

Barton Boat Club Member L. Clifford Dickason Rides the Rail of Craft, September 1947, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: L. Clifford Dickason, of 1013 Rose Ave., rides the rail of his sailing craft as he comes about on Barton Pond, where Boat Club members congregate every Sunday from April through November to race their boats. A club grand championship is decided at the end of each season.

Children Listening to Story at Dunbar Center, December 1940, Ann Arbor News

Randall H. Nelson & His Leader Dog Sonny, December 1951, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: AIDED BY LIONS CLUB WORK: Randall H. Nelson of 1201 E. University Ave. (above), a doctoral student in political science at the University who was blinded by a German shell burst in World War II, is one of many sightless persons reaping benefits from a statewide program of Lions Clubs. Michigan Lions, including those from the Ann Arbor organization headed by President S. D. Casey, contribute heavily to "Leader Dog" training at Rochester, Mich. Each dog, such as Sonny, the German boxer pictured with Nelson, costs an estimated $1,200 to train for the task of guiding a blind master. The dogs are purchased from the Leader Dog League for a token payment of $250.

Members of the Devil Dogs Motorcycle Club, Ann Arbor, 1938, Ann Arbor News

Boys Eating Lunches During Nutrition Drive, Mack School, October 1942, Ann Arbor News

Washtenaw County Court House, September 1948, Ann Arbor News

Award-Winning "Let's Play" With Her Trainer Don Webb, September 1939, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: ANN ARBOR DOG WINS FIRST PRIZE: This 11-month-old cocker spaniel, "Let's Play" won first place in the American bred black female class at the dog show sponsored by the Jaxon Kennel Club of Jackson. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harold G. Ristine, 580 Allison Dr., Ann Arbor, the dog was shown by Don Webb of Ypsilanti (above), handler and trainer. Let's Play was sired by Rennard's First Chance of Plymouth, and her dam is Lady In Red VI, owned by the Ristines.

UM International Student & Refugee On Campus, December 1941, Ann Arbor News

Rubber Salvage, Dixboro, July 1942, Ann Arbor News

Pete Brown At Model Airplane Meet, July 1948, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: YOUNGEST CONTESTANT EXCELS: Five-year-old Pete Brown, son of Howard C. Brown of 827 Brookwood Pl., squats beside the gasoline model he entered in yesterday's model plane meet. A few minutes later he successfully launched and guided the plane for a five-minute flight and brought it in to a perfect landing. He was the meet's youngest entrant.

Ski tow at Barton Hills, January, 1951, Ann Arbor News

Ted Donahue Feeds Treppy At The University of Michigan Zoo, November 1946, Ann Arbor News

Original Caption: Intrepidus - the University's domesticated wolverine - is not eating his gamekeeper's hand, as the above picture seems to indicate, but rather is enjoying a dinner of dog food which Ted Donahue is feeding him by hand at the zoo behind the University museum. Treppy (short for his Latin name) is far more dainty in his table manners than a dog, Donahue relates. Although he usually sits up for his dinner, Treppy did not have the courage to do so when the above picture was taken, due to the fact that The News photographer was standing in the opposite corner of the cage. Donahue is a returned veteran and a student at the University.