The record group for the Buildings and Grounds Department is primarily comprised of visual materials that document the construction projects which the department oversaw. The bulk of the records are from the 1920s, with the photographs composing the largest portion of the collection. Non-original images of some university buildings from the 1800s are also included.
The records are arranged into six series: Architectural Drawings, Photo Albums, Photographs, Lantern Slides, Glass Plate Negatives, and Topographical Maps.
During the late 1800s the maintenance of the buildings and grounds on the campus of the University of Michigan was the job of a group of loosely organized workers. Janitorial services were not provided by a central department. Instead, janitors worked under the direction of the Business Office. In 1910 James Harmon Marks was appointed the first superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. Under the guidance of Marks, Buildings and Grounds became a centralized department, to which many previously independent units reported. The main focus of the department was to maintain the interiors and exteriors of buildings and to deliver coal for heating the university's buildings. In the 1920s Buildings and Grounds constructed a series of tunnels throughout the campus which connected all of the campus buildings to the Washington Street Power Plant. The tunnels enabled Buildings and Grounds to provide all of the heat and electricity for the buildings from a single source. In subsequent years the department began to oversee many other university units related to the expansion of the campus. To reflect Buildings and Grounds' changing role the Board of Regents changed the Buildings and Grounds Department name in 1930 to the Plant Extension Services Department. The duties of the newly organized Plant Extension Services included serving as a liaison between the university units responsible for financial accountability, construction engineering, engineering services, the university architect's office and the university planner's office. In addition the department monitors and coordinates all new construction as well as the expansion of existing buildings.
The Buildings and Grounds record group is largely composed of photographs which document the period of expansion that began when Marion L. Burton took office as the president of the university in 1920. That same year, the Board of Regents appointed a committee to evaluate the spatial needs of the university. In January 1921 the committee reported to Burton and the Regents that the university would need $19,000,000 for a suitable building project to commence. The university petitioned the state legislature and was given a large portion of the money. A committee was created which oversaw all of the plans for expansion. The committee was called "the committee on the comprehensive building program," but is generally referred to as "the committee of five;" its members were: Regent William L. Clements, President Burton, Secretary Shirley Wheeler Smith, architect Albert Kahn and Professor John Shepard. The buildings that were constructed under the initial wave of expansion were: East Medical (Clarence Cook Little), Literary Building (Angell Hall), East Engineering Building, Model (University) High School (School of Education), New Physics Laboratory, the expansion of University Hospital (Old Main) and the addition to the Dental Building. The university bought many of the surrounding houses and properties in order for some of the new buildings to be constructed. The university expansion peaked the interest of private donors which resulted in the money that built the Clements Library and Yost Field House. With the success of the first phase of building the university again asked the state legislature for more funds to continue the building efforts. The state granted the university money which resulted in the construction of an addition to the power plant. At the same time more donations led to the construction of the Lawyer's Club and Couzens Hall. President Burton made a third appeal for money to the state, but prior to it being granted, he died. His request was approved and the funds resulted in the building of a new museum and the Architecture Building (Lorch Hall) in 1925.
Additional material relating to the Buildings and Grounds Department and President Burton's building projects can be found in the University of Michigan Plant Extension Services record group as well as the proceedings of the Board of Regents and the papers of the presidents.
