This collection documents the personal research done by Philip Everette Bursley between 1939-1954 on the birth places and final resting places of five of the founders of the University of Michigan, as well as the first eight presidents of the university.
The Topical Files series contains research material including research correspondence, publication drafts, and hand drawn maps.
The Visual Material series consists of photographs of birth places and resting places of the founders and presidents, photographs of the founders and presidents or of paintings depicting the founders and presidents, and a scrapbook created by Bursley.
Notable individuals researched include University of Michigan founders General Lewis Cass, Governor William Woodbridge, Judge Augustus Brevoort Woodward, Reverend John Monteith, Father Gabriel Richard, as well as presidents Henry Philip Tappan, Reverend Erastus Otis Haven, Henry Simmons Frieze, James Burrill Angell, Harry Burns Hutchins, Marion LeRoy Burton, Alfred Henry Lloyd, Clarence Cook Little, Alexander Grant Ruthven, and Harlan H. Hatcher.
Philip Everette Bursley was born on September 20, 1880 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the brother of Joseph Aldrich Bursley, who served as both an instructer and as the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan. Philip Everette Bursley graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree in 1902, and returned to complete his master’s degree in 1909.
During his time as a master’s student, he worked as an assistant in the French and History departments. He married Flora V. Peters in 1910. By 1911 Bursley was working as an instructor in the Romance Languages department. He stayed in that position until 1918, at which time he served for a year in Paris, France as the Staff Secretary of the American University Union in Europe -- a union dedicated to supporting students and professors from the United States while they studied and worked in France. After his return, Bursley functioned as the Assistant Professor of French and Spanish, until his appointment to Director of Orientation and Counselor to New Students from 1930-1947. In 1950, Bursley was recognized by the university with the title of Assistant Professor Emeritus of Romance Languages.
