Located in the Rose and Robert Skillman Branch of the Detroit Public Library, the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC) is regarded as the nation's premier public automotive archive documenting the history and development of the automobile and other forms of motorized, wheeled land transportation in the United States and abroad.

Since the late nineteenth century, the DPL has aggressively collected automotive print materials such as books, periodicals, advertising literature, photographs, specifications, service and owner's manuals, and personal and business papers. In recognition of this effort, the library established the NAHC as a collection in 1953.

The Ernie Harwell Sports Collection began in 1966 when sportscaster Ernie Harwell made his initial donation. It consists of books, team annuals, media guides, programs, scorecards, baseball cards, clippings, photographs, video and audio tapes. Baseball is the principal sport represented. A printed finding aid, available at the reference desk of the Burton Historical Collection, and the library’s online catalog provide access to the Collection.

An exhibit area called “The Lulu and Ernie Harwell Room” in the Main Library, 5201 Woodward Ave., houses a portion of the collection, in addition to seats from Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Trumbull and a mock broadcast booth.  Please call (313) 481-1401 for an appointment.