Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

University of Michigan faculty group interested in the history of the university. Sound recordings and videotapes of interviews with former University of Michigan faculty, regents, administrators, and other interested individuals about the history of the university.

The materials in the Historica Critica collection are arranged first according to the medium on which the interview is preserved: Reel-to-Reel Audiotapes, Cassette Audiotapes, and Videotapes. Within each medium, the materials are in alphabetical order according to the subject of the interview. Some of the reel-to-reel audiotapes have more than one interview subject; these are arranged alphabetically according to the primary subject. It appears that the interviewers transferred the materials on reel-to-reel audiotapes directly to cassettes in several cases. This facilitates the arrangement of the cassettes into alphabetical order according to subject. The dates listed in the finding aid are the dates of the interview. Summaries of the interviews, prepared by Virginia Harris, are found in Box 1.

The University of Michigan committee appointed by president James Duderstadt to facilitate the preservation, promotion, and appreciation of the history and traditions. Material includes oral history interviews with university presidents and their wives, administrative and academic officers, regents and faculty members, as well as administrative records.

The bulk of the History and Traditions Committee records consists of interviews (recordings and transcripts) with University of Michigan presidents, wives of presidents, regents, and administrators. Also included materials pertaining to the University of Michigan history, and administrative records.

Oral histories of University of Michigan Business School faculty members, conducted by Enid Galler 1976, 1990-1992, 1999, and 2005 discussing their background, education, careers, and the business school and university.

The Ross School of Business (University of Michigan) oral history interviews are comprised of typed transcripts and sound recordings, primarily audiocassette tapes of seventeen interviews with retired faculty members recorded during an oral history project undertaken by the School's Alumni and Development Office. The interviews were conducted by Enid H. Galler between 1990 and 1992, 1999, 2005, and one earlier interview identified as being from 1976. The typed transcripts include subject indexes. There are discrepancies between the dates on the transcripts and the dates on the tapes - different dates also appear on the cover sheets of the transcripts and the transcripts themselves. The transcripts and sound recordings are arranged alphabetically by the subject's last name. For consistency, the transcript dates are taken from the cover sheets, and the sound recording dates are taken from the dates on the audio item, except in one case where an item is undated. The date for this interview is taken from the date on the transcript.

Interviews typically include information on the subject's background, education, and family, and commentary on his or her career and overall involvement with the university. The interviews also contain a great deal of information on the administration of, and issues within the School, as well as on the operation of the university as a whole.