Down in Ann Arbor Town: Pictorial Maps, Campus Traditions, and the Women Who Made Them

Celebrate the centennial of the iconic 1926 “Down in Ann Arbor Town” map by exploring the colorful history, campus traditions, and detailed artistry that made it possible. Created by Jessie Horton Koessler (Class of 1901) to help fund the Michigan League building for women, this celebrated map provides a fascinating view into 1920s campus life and the women who shaped it. Through three distinct exhibit sections, journey from the campus history that led to the map’s creation to a broader look at early 20th-century pictorial mapmaking.

While enjoying the exhibit, pick up a scavenger hunt at the Clark Library desk that will inspire you to notice whimsical details in the maps discussed. Return your scavenger hunt at the desk for a small prize, while supplies last.

Join the curators — Ava Pustulka (’28) and Anna Rohl, map curator at Clark Library — for a presentation on September 24, where they will share the research that went into creating the exhibit.