Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Student papers, 1930-1987 prepared for classes in history at the University of Michigan (primarily Michigan history class taught by Lewis G. VanderVelde, but also including research papers for classes taught by Sidney Fine and others); topics concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; and local community history.

The student papers are organized alphabetically by author in two series, which are similar in date range and topics covered. Topics of papers concern Michigan social and political history; Michigan biography and bibliography; local community history and University of Michigan history. A topical index to the papers is available in the first box of the collection.

Mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1978-1985. Mayoralty files and photographs.

This collection of Belcher's papers is confined exclusively to his tenure as mayor of Ann Arbor, 1978-1985. As mayor, Belcher received copies of many of the memos and letters sent to and from the various city departments. Hence this collection represents, to some extent, the records of the city administration as a whole, not just the papers of the mayor. But there are significant gaps in the collection, and some gaps represent major concerns of Belcher's mayoralty. There is virtually no material concerning the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) or the Housing Commission. (Indeed, of the five principal city commissions, only Planning is represented here.) Most of the city offices and departments have folders in the mayor's files except the Assistant to the City Administrator for Labor Negotiations and Relations, the Data Processing office, and the Bicycle Coordinator of the Transportation Department.

The arrangement of the papers generally reflects their original order. To be sure, in most cases the original order was maintained even though cumbersome and duplicative, because the file system seemed to reflect the priorities, attitudes, and procedures of the mayor's office. When possible the contents list provides cross-references to assist the researcher in overcoming some of the complications of the arrangement. The Belcher mayoralty papers are arranged in seven series: Personal; Official Communications; City Government; Planning File; Conferences, Leagues, and Councils; Topical File; and Photographs.