Michigan's First Book
The first book printed in Michigan was Barthe'lemy Baudrand's,
L'ame penitente, ou le nouveau pensez-y-bien; consideration sur les ve'rite's eternelles, avec des histoires & des exemples. The volume was published in Detroit in 1809 under the auspices of Father Gabriel Richard, the pastor who served the spiritual needs of the city's Roman Catholic population.
Richard was both a religious and a civic leader. Michigan's first printing press, which came to Detroit largely at Richard's instigation, combined these two interests. The press published spiritual material such as this volume for the benefit of his congregation. But Richard was also a man of the secular world, and he used the press to publish the first newspaper west of the Allegheny Mountains. Richard was deeply interested in education and founded many schools. He is often remembered as the co-founder of the University of Michigan.
The Clarke Library's copy of L'ame penitente arrived as part of Dr. Norman E. Clarke Sr.'s original gift, which established the institution. It was among the treasures of that founding bequest.