Celebrating 100 years on Woodward, the Detroit Public Library has ranked as one of the most beautiful buildings in Detroit—an important landmark as well as a significant monument serving generations of Detroit’s community. Authors Barbara Cohn and Patrice Merritt will discuss the conception and highlight the art and architecture of the 1921 Main Library Building. This lecture unites the interests of history buffs, art enthusiasts, library lovers, and Detroit-area locals with a tribute to one of the city’s most impressive structures.

This virtual event is free and open to the public. A link will be sent to those that register before the program.

Barbara Madgy Cohn created the art and architecture tour of the Detroit Public Library in 2013. She is the co-author (with Patrice Merritt) of the book “The Detroit Public Library: An American Classic”. Cohn is on the Board of Directors of the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, Vice-President of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, and active docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. She is currently finishing a Masters in Museum Studies at John Hopkins University.

Patrice Rafail Merritt received her Masters Degree in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and has served as a librarian and library fundraiser for over 30 years. During her tenure as Executive Director of the Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation, she supported and implemented the library tour program. Now retired, she resides in Rancho Mirage, California where she continues to pursue her love of libraries serving as Chairman of the Board of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory Foundation.