A sunny day on the Diag, taken between 1890 and 1901. This image is part of the Detroit Publishing Co. collection and is housed at the Library of Congress. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection, [LC-D4-10167 L]

The sunshine we’ve been having lately (and are supposed to have continuing on to this weekend) has made me eager to post this photograph. This is another from the Library of Congress collection, taken somewhere between 1890 and 1901.

After doing some digging, it would appear that we are looking east on the Diag, directly facing the old Chemical Laboratory. Built in 1856 by architect A. J. Jordan, the Chemical Laboratory remained on campus through various additions until both it and the adjoining Economics Building fell victim to arson in 1980. On the right edge of the frame, we see a small portion of the old General Library (which will have its own upcoming post), easily identifiable by the unique rounded walls of its reading room. On the left-hand side of the photograph, a group of ladies leaning up against a wooden fence facing what appears to be (according to this map and a matching of the dates) one of the old Steam Heating Plants built in 1879.

Of the historic photographs that I have seen of U of M’s campus, this is one of my favorites so far. Perhaps this weekend with its sunny forecast would be the perfect time to stroll our current Diag and take it all in much like the ladies leaning on the fence.

The Library of Congress page associated with this image can be found here.

Elizabeth Palmer is the Customer Advocate at AnnArbor.com as well as a contributor. She writes about food and food traditions, sustainable development and her experiences as a curvy girl. She has a bachelor’s degree in photography and is finishing her masters in historic preservation. Elizabeth also teaches a course on sustainable development at Eastern Michigan University. You can contact Elizabeth by e-mailing her at elizabethpalmer@annarbor.com.