Director of the Clarke Historical Library announces retirement

Carrie Marsh, director of the Clarke Historical Library, will retire on November 20, 2026. A graduate of Central Michigan University with a B.A. in English and Art History and an M.A. in Literature, Marsh earned her master’s degree in library science at the University of Arizona with an emphasis on special collections. She served in progressive roles at the Claremont Colleges Library in Claremont, California, for 31 years. During her last eight years at Claremont, she served as director of Special Collections and Libraries, before returning to CMU to lead the Clarke Historical Library in February 2022.  

“It’s been an honor to have spent the last years of my library career at the Clarke and to work with a team of experts dedicated to advancing the Clarke’s mission to preserve history and support research and learning,” Marsh said. “The Clarke’s future is very bright.”  

Larry J. Wagenaar, executive director and CEO of the Historical Society of Michigan and president of the Clarke Historical Library Board of Governors, stated, “During her leadership as director of the Clarke Historical Library, Carrie has played a key role in building our collections, improving and expanding access, and raising the profile of the Clarke. As president of the board, it has been a pleasure to work with her and witness her remarkable impact.”  

Under Marsh’s leadership, the Clarke Historical Library employees successfully implemented a 3-year strategic plan, expanded student and faculty engagement, and increased the Clarke's visibility on campus and online. During her tenure, the Clarke received external funding through Congressional earmark funds and a gift from the Meijer Foundation, enabling the library to digitize and make publicly accessible more than 250,000 pages of historical Michigan newspapers and unique Clarke collections as well as publish seven digital collections for research and study. Major gifts-in-kind received during the past four years have deepened the Clarke’s collections, including Congressman Dan Kildee’s digital Congressional papers; the Barbara Madison papers (a specialist in Indigenous genealogy); the angling collection of CMU Emeritus Professor Robert Kohrman; and significant additions to the Ernest Hemingway in Michigan collection and the Michigan PBB disaster archive.  

According to Bryan Whitledge, the Clarke’s public services librarian, “Carrie has been an excellent steward of the Clarke Historical Library since she arrived. Her connections with members of the CMU community cemented the Clarke as a trusted resource for understanding the university’s history. Across the state, Carrie has ensured that the Clarke remains a steadfast partner in digitization efforts and in raising the profile of Michigan’s cultural heritage institutions. I cannot overstate how great it has been to work with her. She is inspired and enthusiastic, thoughtful and compassionate, pragmatic and level-headed, and full of grit and determination. It has been a great pleasure to be part of her team and help make the records and materials in the Clarke meaningful to students, scholars, teachers, and curious minds around the world.” 

Kathy Irwin, dean of University Libraries, added, “Carrie is an adaptable and strategic leader and a collaborative team builder focused on student and service success. We will miss her tremendously and wish her much joy during her retirement!”  

Carrie’s immediate post-retirement plans include a bucket-list trip to New Zealand in the spring of 2027 with her sister; spending time on neglected hobbies like finally making progress on some knitting and stitching projects; and reading through her lengthy TBR book list. As for a longer-term plan, she’s looking forward to discovering what’s possible. 

A retirement reception will be held in Marsh’s honor on Friday, November 20, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in the Clarke Historical Library.