Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The records of the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan include council proceedings (1834-1919); assessment rolls (1830, 1839, and 1958-1959); scrapbooks relating to city government (1904-1951); and records and photographs detailing the city's waste management and recycling program beginning in the 1980s. Miscellaneous materials include plats of the wards, 1912; election returns, 1847-1852; records of the former city of East Ann Arbor and the Village of Ann Arbor (Lower Town); and minutes of the Ann Arbor Park Commission (1905-1956). Also of interest are files concerning the Ann Arbor Railroad and the city's street railway and interurban system.

The series in this record group include: Election returns; Bonds; Assessment Rolls; Miscellaneous; City of East Ann Arbor; Council proceedings; Scrapbooks; Ann Arbor Park Commission; Village of Ann Arbor (Lower Town); Photographs; Recycling and Environmental Issues; and Other City Records.

Papers of Douglas D. Crary (1910-2005), professor of geography at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor City Council member, and active participant in numerous civic and community affairs, particularly those related to development and planning. The series in the collection are: Municipal Affairs; University of Michigan; Political Affairs; Huron River Watershed Council; Community Activity; Ann Arbor Planning Commission; Clippings; Miscellaneous local activities; and World War II activities.

The personal papers of Douglas Crary reflect his public activities rather than his private life. The papers have been divided into nine series: Municipal Affairs, 1962-1976; University of Michigan, 1965; Political Affairs, 1964-1970; Huron River Watershed Council, 1965-1973; Community Activity, 1981-1988; Ann Arbor Planning Commission, 1965-1977; Clippings, circa 1965-1980, Miscellaneous local activities; and World War II activities.

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.