Blog Post
Finding Grant Funding For Community Nonprofits
by hillary dorwart
Wednesday March 20, 2013: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Looking to boost your grant-seeking skills for your community nonprofit organization? Join us for this workshop!
Karen Downing, UM Foundations and Grants Librarian, will discuss and demonstrate the various web-based funding databases currently available. Additionally, there will be discussion about matching sponsor and nonprofit priorities, and resources to help with proposal writing.
There is no registration for this event.
Blog Post
Business Side of Youth Basics Training starts February 23
by K.C.
Interested in business and how it works? Thinking about starting your own business? You can learn all about it when a 10-week 40 hour youth entrepreneurship training program gets underway on Saturday, February 23 at EMU’s Rackham Hall, Room 219.
Designed for youth ages 13 to 21, you’ll learn about business, developing a business plan, and job readiness skills. Conducted by B. Side: The Business Side of Youth, a program of Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU) Office of Academic Service-Learning.
An early enrollment discount of only $25 (normal enrollment costs $50) is offered to those who send in their application by Wednesday, February 20th. For more info call 734-487-6570.
Check details and fill out the application. “If you can’t find a job, make a job!”
Blog Post
Google Community Office Hours
by monkk
Google Ann Arbor is excited to offer Community Office Hours as an opportunity for local small businesses and nonprofits to get their questions related to a variety of Google products answered in person by Google Gurus. If you have technical questions about Google AdWords, Analytics, and Apps, Google Gurus can help. Schedule time with a Google Guru during Community Office Hours and meet a Googler in the lobby at 201 S. Division Street. This is the place for free advice, insight, and friendly, hands-on technical guidance. Google Gurus are available by appointment only so please schedule in advance. Appointments must be scheduled by 5:00 pm the day before office hours.
Blog Post
Small Business Financing Expo
by monkk
Are you a small business owner with money questions? Join the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center on January 17 from 8:30am-12pm at the Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building for the Small Business Financing Expo. Financing is an area of great importance and mystery for many small business owners. Through a combination of workshops, information tables and individual conversations, small business owners at all stages of development can better understand their financing options. Register now! If you have questions, call 734-477-8762 or email sbtdc@wccnet.edu.
The Story of Argus Camera
The story of the Argus Cameras, Inc. is one of ideas, perseverance and adaptability.
Founded in the Depression years by businessmen who were as tough as the times, it employed, at its height, 1300 workers and occupied 2 city blocks on 4th Street.
In 1929, local inventor Charles A. Verschoor and Mayor William E. Brown Jr. started a radio manufacturing business with support from local bankers called the International Radio Company. In 1932 they produced the Kadette, the first radio that used tubes instead of a large transformer. Verschoor then traveled to Europe researching the idea of producing a camera (like the Leica) but made and sold for $10. With the first camera rolling off the assembly line in 1936, the name of the company was changed to Argus, after the Greek mythological god of 1,000 eyes. The Model A camera was so popular, it sold 30,000 units by Montgomery Ward in the first week.
In the 1940s, with stiff competition from cheaper Japanese cameras available on the market, Argus diversified its product lines with projectors, optical and specialty equipment for several United States Department of Defense contracts during WWII, and the Korean War, thus saving many local jobs.
Local historians like to point out that Argus Cameras, as one of Ann Arbor’s early industries, was 100% Ann Arbor: 100% Ann Arbor capital, 100% Ann Arbor brains, and 100% Ann Arbor people. The Old News staff have gathered decades of news articles, photos and videos that trace the rise and decline of this very important manufacturer in local history.
While the business no longer exists, Argus cameras remain much sought-after collectibles. (See them at the Argus Museum Exhibits and photos taken by AADL photographer Tom Smith). The original Argus buildings still stand, now used by various departments of the University of Michigan, and inspired local author Steve Amick’s second novel Nothing but a Smile (2009).
AADL has partnered with the Argus Museum to digitize a wide variety of images and documents that build a fuller picture of what it was like to work at Argus Camera, its products, people, and impact.
Ann Arbor News Articles
AADL has digitized hundreds of articles from the Ann Arbor News documenting the history of Argus Camera as it happened. These articles include announcements of new products, changes in the company, and the company's impact on the Ann Arbor Community. Argus Camera's role as an industry leader and a major employer in the area assured that coverage by the Ann Arbor News was in-depth.
Argus Eyes
AADL has digitized the Argus Eyes, the employee newsletter of Argus Camera. This publication includes details about the company and its workers, from descriptions of new product lines and facilities to birth announcements and company picnics. And of course, given its source, it is also full of spectacular photos, many of them from the Ann Arbor area.
Podcasts
AADL has conducted the following interviews regarding the history of Argus Camera: -Cheryl Chedister, Argus Museum Curator -Milt Campbell, Art Dersham, and Elwyn Dersham, long-time Argus Camera employees -Art Parker, long-time Argus Camera employee
Argus Camera Publications
In addition to the Argus Eyes, the Argus Museum and AADL have made available digitized copies of many of the publications created by the Argus Camera organization over the years. These include instruction manuals for many of Argus's products, parts lists for the same, and educational booklets on how to take better photographs using Argus cameras.
Photos
The Argus Museum and AADL have also made available a collection of photographs of Argus products and the museum itself. These include high-resolution photos of some of Argus Camera's most iconic creations, from the Kadette Radio to the Argoflex camera.
Argus Videos
We've also digitized two historic films about Argus cameras, Argus Eyes for Victory, from 1945 and Fine Cameras and How They Are Made, from 1953.
Blog Post
AADL Talks to Argus Employees and Museum Curator
by oldnews
Do you ever wonder what it was like to work for one of the largest employers in Ann Arbor and one of the most prestigious and well-known camera manufacturers in the world?
AADL talked to Art Parker, an avowed “Townie” who spent nearly 20 years with Argus Camera. Art talked about his family’s long history with Argus and the company’s social life that included Christmas parties, teen dances, summer camp, scholarships and profit-sharing.
We also talked with Milt Campbell, Art Dersham and Elwyn Dersham about their years at Argus during its heyday in the 1940s and 50s and the challenging years of the 1960s and 70s as the company’s fortunes declined and Argus left Ann Arbor forever.
Cheryl Chidester, the Argus Museum curator shared the history of the company, its products and innovations, and its role in United States’ victory in World War II. We also learned about the founding of the Argus Museum, its missions in preserving the history and material culture of this early Ann Arbor industry significant to generations in the community.
Blog Post
AADL Talks to Cheryl Chidester, Argus Museum Curator
by oldnews
We would like to thank the Argus Museum, located in the original Argus Building at 535 W. William St. for generously sharing its resources, artifacts, and archival materials in preparing this AADL exhibit on the Argus Camera, Inc.
A special thank you goes to Cheryl Chidester, the Argus Museum curator. In this podcast, she shared the history of the company, its products and innovations, and its role in United States’ victory in World War II. We also learned about the founding of the Argus Museum, its missions in preserving the history and material culture of this early Ann Arbor industry significant to generations in the community.
We can see photos of the Museum and its exhibits as well as samples of the Argus Eye, a monthly newsletter produced by the Argus employees from the Museum’s archive.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| AADL_Talks_To-Cheryl_Chedister.mp3 | 13.14 MB |
Blog Post
The Blind Pig
by oldnews
The Blind Pig is Ann Arbor’s legendary live music venue. It is best known for being the local venue where Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and Nirvana performed. Established over thirty years ago, the Blind Pig, or the Pig as referred to by locals, continues to be a premiere live music venue for indie, rock, hip hop, and electronic bands. Originally the venue functioned as both a bar and café, but now functions solely has bar/club with frequent live band performances. In addition, the 8 Ball Lounge located below the Blind Pig is now a well-known dive bar with a cult following all its own.
Click here for more articles about the Blind Pig
Blog Post
Corner of Main and Liberty to Lose A Landmark
by amy
Several local restaurants have recently joined the ever-expanding list of Ann Arbor's Lost Eateries. Champion House closed suddenly last week, as did Old Country Buffet over the weekend. But I was particularly saddened to hear that the Parthenon Restaurant, which has stood on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets since John and Steve Gavas opened in 1975, will be closing its doors. Later this year Cafe Habana, formerly located on East Washington, will be moving into 226 North Main.
The Parthenon has command of possibly the best-known intersection in town, located on the same corner as Cunningham's Drugs and Mack & Co. a generation earlier.
We found some articles, a photo, and restaurant reviews on the Parthenon in our Ann Arbor News clipping file and have digitized them here for you to savor. While you're at it, you can also read about the Flim Flam Restaurant, which recently closed its doors after 30 years in business. Don't miss the Flim Flam's recipe for their famous eclair!
Blog Post
Small Business Marketing Guide on Webopedia
by Stewart
Check out the free web marketing tools and strategies for small businesses on Webopedia. Get tips for email, social media, search engine optimization, blogging, and mobile marketing. Webopedia is brought to you by The IT Business Edge Network, an Internet and Technology news and information network.