Originating with the first French settlers who landed on the banks of the Detroit River in 1701, the Catholic Church has evolved into one of Detroit's most influential institutions. In this new publication, the prodigious expansion of the Archdiocese of Detroit is brought to life in a fascinating retrospective featuring over 200 vintage images.
In the 20th century, the rapid ascent of the automobile industry after World War One and the tremendous increase in Detroit's population triggered a parallel growth in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Witness the lean years of the 1930s when the Depression gave rise to Detroit's most famous cleric, Father Charles Coughlin, the "radio priest" of Royal Oak. March to the battlefront in the 1940s as Monsignor Joseph Ciarrocchi used the printed word as his weapon in America's fight against fascism. Relive the prosperous 1950s as the post-war baby boomers made their presence felt in every parish school. Finally, reflect on Catholic Detroiters during the turbulent 1960s.