Collections

The mission of the South Africa Initiatives Office at the University of Michigan is to understand and assist South Africa's continued transformation into a democratic and equitable society through scholarship, outreach initiatives and collaboration. The record group of the South Africa Initiatives Office includes manuscript and printed records related to the University of Michigan's effort to foster cultural exchange with South African universities in the years immediately following the end of apartheid. Administrative records of the SAIO directors and staff, grant program applications, promotional materials, and materials gathered from South African universities are included. In addition, there is some material related to the career of Kenneth Lutterman, Assistant Dean for Research, School of Social Work, who had research interests in South Africa.

The record group of the South Africa Initiatives Office (SAIO) includes manuscript and printed records related to the University of Michigan's effort to foster cultural exchange with South African universities in the years immediately following the end of apartheid. Administrative records of the SAIO directors and staff, grant program applications, promotional materials, and materials gathered from South African universities are included. In addition, there is some material related to the career of Kenneth Lutterman, Assistant Dean for Research, School of Social Work, who had research interests in South Africa.

The Mellon Program, 1997-1999 series, the Moody Exchange Program, 1998-2000 series, and SAIO Research Grants, 1997-2007 series relate to the core function of SAIO: administering and distributing grants to support research of Michigan faculty and students in South Africa, and to bring South African scholars to Ann Arbor to further their research. Within all three of these fund granting series, files are arranged alphabetically. Files have been weeded to remove any confidential student information such as transcripts, recommendations or social security numbers. What remains are the research proposals, and reports, program evaluations, and lists of recipients.

The Southeast Asian Art Archive is composed of seven collections, including the Southeast Asia Art Foundation Archive (SAAF), the Breezewood Collection, the Ajanta Caves Collection, the Walter Spink Indian Caves Collection, the Walter Spink Collection, the Borobudur Collection, and the American Council for Southeast Asian Art (ACSAA) Collection. The collection contains photographs and slides of Southeast Asian monuments, sculptures, Indian rock-cut architecture, and more.

The Southeast Asian Art Archive is composed of seven smaller collections, including the Southeast Asia Art Foundation Archive, the Breezewood Collection, the Ajanta Caves Collection, the Walter Spink Indian Caves Collection, the Walter Spink Collection, the Borobudur Collection, and the American Council for Southeast Asian Art Collection (ACSAA). The Southeast Asia Art Foundation Archive contains photographs, collected by John Adams Thierry, that document sculptures, monuments, and archaeological sites in Cambodia, Java, and Thailand. Many of these sculptures and monuments were vandalized, damaged, insensitively restored, or destroyed. The Breezewood Collection focuses on the art and architecture of Thailand, but also includes examples of sculptures, decorative arts, ceramics, and paintings from Burma, Cambodia, India, and Indonesia. The Ajanta Caves Collection contains the research work of Walter Spink and photographically documents 29 of the 31 rock-cut caves. The photographs range from panoramic views of the Ajanta complex to detailed photographs of the façades, porches, courts, shrines, and interiors. The Walter Spink Indian Caves Collection further documents the research of Walter Spink by looking at rock-cut architecture of other caves throughout India, including Aurangabad, Badami, Bagh, Bedse, Bhaja, Elephanta, Ellora, Kanheri, and others. The Walter Spink Collection contains additional research of the rock-cut architecture of temples, shrines, and monuments throughout India. The Borobudur Collection documents the Buddhist monument of Borobudur, found in Central Java, in detail. The last collection is the American Council for Southern Asian Art (ACSAA) Slide Distribution Collection. This collection contains a wide array of materials depicting Southern Asian art and architecture.

Records of the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association (SEMJA) covering the history and activities of the organization.

The Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association records collection includes organization's administrative and financial files and visual material related to various SEMJA programs and activities.

Publications of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments covering various issues facing Southeast Michigan.

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments publication collection includes both serial and non-serial publications covering various issues facing Southeast Michigan. Also included are publications of a predecessor organization, the Detroit Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Commission. Topics covered include regional planning, population and housing, transportation, water quality, recreation and parks development, and land use planning.

Interracial, non-profit, non-partisan community service organization in Battle Creek, Michigan (formerly Battle Creek Area Urban League) founded in 1966 and affiliated with the National Urban League. Series include: History, Administration, Correspondence, Reports, Meetings, Programs, Community Memberships, Public Relations, Events, Battle Creek Area Urban League Guild, and Visual, Audio, and Digital Materials.

The records of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League span the years 1962-2007. The League's mission of providing and administering services for minorities and the disadvantaged, as well as internal operations, are reflected in the records, which consist mainly of administrative and program materials, correspondence, minutes, reports and proposals. While the years represented incorporate tenures of numerous executive directors, the records most fully document leadership provided by Benjamin Richmond (1982-1987) and Joyce Brown (1988-1992).

The Southwestern Michigan Urban League Records are relevant to the study of the administration of African American social service organizations, especially Urban Leagues, within the context of particular communities. The collection is strong in illuminating the effectiveness of collaboration -- civic, business and educational groups addressing interrelated community issues. Both Richmond and Brown maintained high profiles on numerous boards and committees working in Battle Creek to solve social problems and promote economic development.

University of Michigan office operating since 1971 that deals with human sexuality and gender identity support and advocacy for students, faculty, and staff. Records consist of administrative and topical files of the Spectrum Center and its predecessor offices and relate to the operation of the office; outreach programs; advocacy efforts; background on university housing issues; same sex benefits; as well as local, state, and national issues pertaining to LGBTQ rights. Documentation also includes posters; photos of rights marches, gay pride events, and celebration events; audio-visual material; and oral histories.

The records of the Spectrum Center document the activities of the center from 1976 to 2012, 2019-2021 (bulk 1987-2012). Materials in this record group consist of correspondence (including electronic mail printouts and memoranda), clippings, educational training manuals, minutes, reports, topical files, photographic materials, audio and visual materials, and oral histories.

For earlier records of the office, see the Lesbian-Gay Male-Bisexual Programs Office series within the James W. Toy papers, which is also held at the Bentley Library. Note that there is some overlap between the records in the James W. Toy papers and this record group.

Ann Arbor, Michigan Episcopal Church; vestry and parish records, liturgical materials, Christian service and educational materials, administrative records, printed material, and photographs.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church has created a rich body of material which documents both its own history and its place within the history of Ann Arbor. The records of the parish have been arranged into nine series: Vestry; Registers; Church Programs; Administrative Records; Scrapbooks; Diocese of Michigan and other non-parish material; Liturgical Materials; Publications; and Photographs.

The records of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Clawson, Mich.) document the history of the church from its beginning in 1951 to its closing in 2011. Records include church registers, parish directories, bulletins, newsletters, photographs in analog and digital formats, and other administrative records.

Saint Andrew's Church created and kept many records which document the activities and membership of the church. The record group is divided into several series: Register of Church Services; Registers of Marriages, Baptisms, Confirmations, Burials, etc.; Vestry Records; Chronological Series; Church Bulletins; Church Newsletters; Parish Directories; Organizational Record Books; and Other Records. Analog photographs of members and events are scattered throughout the collection. The Other Records series contains digital photos of the church and church events.

The records document both the administration and activities of the church. Of special interest to the genealogist are the Registers of Marriages, Baptisms, Confirmations, Burials, etc. These volumes contain dates and other information about members of the church parish. Other membership information will be found in the Parish Directory series. The Vestry Records contain minutes, reports, and other items related to the administration of the church. This series should be supplemented with the Chronological series which is made up of annual folders containing correspondence, reports, photographs, and other items from each year. For information on events and services of the church, researchers should examine the Church Bulletins and Church Newsletters. The run of newsletters is fairly complete but only a sampling of the bulletins were retained, enough to document every decade in the church's history.

Collection documents the personal and professional life of Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Michigan inventor and pioneer in the field of amorphous materials; his work emphasized photovoltaics and batteries, among other areas. Includes correspondence, business files, technical publications and presentations, and related records documenting Ovshinsky's life, activities, accomplishments, and interests.

The Stanford R. Ovshinsky papers comprise materials documenting his long scientific career. Though the collection includes some information about his personal life, the files primarily provide insight into Ovshinsky's professional activities and involvement in the field of amorphous materials.

North Muskegon, Michigan, local historian. Collection includes written works and screenplays.

Biography of Frank R. Adams of Whitehall, Mich., and writings on Western Michigan historical topics, including treatments for proposed films. Also includes Woodard's writings and screenplays.