Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

Records of the administrative office responsible for developing and coordinating affirmative action programs for women, minorities and disabled faculty, staff, and students. Documentation includes topical files, minutes, reports, photographs and audio and video tapes. This record group also includes records of the Commission for Minority Affairs and the Commission for Women.

The records of the Affirmative Action Office span 1969 - 1993 and document the activities of the office and its predecessors, and provide information about affirmative action programs at the university and the status of minority, women, the disabled and other groups on campus. The records have come to the library in a number of accessions.

The Affirmative Action Office record group is organized into five subgroups: Affirmative Action Office, 1969 - 1993; Commission for Minority Affairs, 1971 - 1980; Commission for Women, 1970 - 1985; Council for Minority Concerns, 1979 - 1983; and Advisory Committee on Affirmative Action Programs, 1977 - 1986. The Affirmative Action Office subgroup includes records created or acquired by the Office. The other subgroups represent various university units that were merged into or whose function were taken over by the Affirmative Action Office.

Records of the University Human Resources and its predecessors. University Human Resources plans, administers, and monitors the university policies regarding personnel and employee relations and nondiscrimination. This office coordinates with various executive officers and deans of the schools and colleges.

University Human Resources records (27.4 linear feet) are divided into three subgroups: Affirmative Action, Personnel, and Human Resources and Affirmative Action.

The Solar Car Team is an interdisciplinary student organization at the University of Michigan whose objectives are to design, finance, build and race a solar-powered vehicle from scratch. The collection documents the activities and experiences of several generations of the team, including team organization, design, fundraising, construction, testing and racing.

The records of the various U-M Solar Car projects have been received in multiple accessions and are generally described by accession. Accessions are typically organized around specific vehicles, but do contain material carried over from previous cars and races reflecting the fact that students learned from and built on the work of previous teams. For this reason, researchers are advised to review all accessions. The records contain a wide variety of documentation on the design, building, financing and racing of the solar cars and administrative and project management records.

Records include group reports; topical files; and binders containing newsletters and bulletins, and administrative and technical information for the cars; also included are videocassettes detailing design, building, and racing of the Sunrunner solar-powered automobile; photographs and albums of snapshots of team members performing general team tasks and captures of the Solar Car Team website.

A race desegregation assistance center based at the University of Michigan, the Program for Educational Opportunity (PEO) was established by funding through the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The program was expanded to encompass race, gender, and national origin equity in public schools in the Great Lakes region. The PEO ceased operation in 2011. Administrative files, topical files, workshop and task force material, handbooks, and material pertaining to desegregation and equality in public schools in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and elsewhere in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. Materials include reports from school districts, histories of desegregation, and recordings of conferences/workshops (1970-1993) including speakers Charles D. Moody, Junious Williams, Edward H. Steinman, and other notable individuals.

The records for the Program for Educational Opportunity, 1969-2002, (36.2 linear feet) are divided into twenty-two series: Administrative, Correspondence, Committees and Task Forces, Conferences and Workshops, Handbooks, Reports, Desegregation, Project for Fair Administration of School Discipline (PFASD), Public Schools, Topical Files, Administrative, Conferences, Center for Sex Equality in Schools (CSES), Desegregation Assistance Center, PFASD, Public Schools, Topical Files, Programs, Reports, CSES, Topical Files, and Recordings of Conferences and Workshops. All folders within series are arranged alphabetically. Series titles repeat due to multiple transfers of material received at different times.

Researchers of desegregation efforts and the controversy of school discipline will find many valuable resources in the record group such as research reports, case studies, and conference materials. Also well documented is the Ann Arbor Area School District within the general Public Schools series which includes information on various programs within the district, records from the Board of Education, community surveys, and statistical data on staff and students. The Conferences and Workshops and Committees and Task Forces are also series that are particularly well documented; included are conference and workshop materials, reports, and in some cases, evaluations. The Recordings of Conferences and Workshops (1970-1993) includes 515 audiovisual recordings and covers topics such as human relations training, recruiting minority staff, combating racism and sexism in the curriculum, multi-cultural education, student rights and discipline, and the development of staff counseling skills.

An interdisciplinary research program at the University of Michigan, Comparative Study of Social Transformations (CSST) studied theoretical categories and questions around social change within past and present societies. Records include a complete run of the working papers, a collection of flyers and presentation papers from CSST sponsored colloquiums and faculty seminars, posters, and two video cassettes. Included within the working papers are both the original grant proposal for the funding of the CSST and working paper #21, "Taking Stock: The First Year of CSST," February 1989.

The records for Comparative Study of Social Transformations (CSST) contain a complete run of CSST working papers, Speaker Series flyers and presentation papers, photographs, and three video cassettes from the Dean's Lecture Series. The materials are organized into three series: Speaker Series, Working Papers, AV Materials, and Minutes.

Archives of folklore collected by students in the course "Survey of American Folklore" offered by the University of Michigan Program in American Culture and first taught by Bruce Conforth in 2005. Collected folklore reports compiled by students in American Folklore course based on oral interviews with informants. (Interviews are included on a variety of physical formats--cassettes, microcassettes, CDs, VHS tapes). Reports include essays, transcripts on topics ranging from popular folklore to campus legends and traditions.

The American Culture Folklore and Oral History Archives consists of folklore collection reports prepared by undergraduate students in the American Folklore course offered by the University of Michigan Program in American Culture. Prior to the transfer to the Bentley Historical Library, the folklore reports were organized according to general topics by students in the course and placed in archival folders and boxes under the direction of the professor. That order has been retained. Very often the media and objects included in the report have remained. The collection is meant to directly serve students who may take the Survey of American Folklore class in the future, and indirectly to those who, years from now, may re-discover and research aspects of American folklore that were pertinent during present day.

There is considerable overlap in subject matter between the categories of collecting topics. In the collection, folders for the first set of reports in a series are ordered according to their pre-assigned number (which can be found in the Administrative Files series) and not according to the last name of the student or title. For the second set, however, where no such number exists, the reports are ordered by surname of the student. In this finding aid, only the student's name and title of the report is listed. Further in the series names will appear to be in alphabetical order when the pre-assigned numbers were not continued.

Materials related to the inaugurations of University of Michigan presidents, including Marion Leroy Burton (1920), Robben Fleming (1968), Harold T. Shapiro (1980) and Mary Sue Coleman (2003).

This collection is arranged into four series, one for each University President represented: Marion Leroy Burton, 1920, Robben Fleming, 1968, Harold T. Shapiro, 1980 and Mary Sue Coleman, 2003. Although the contents of each series vary slightly, they generally contain planning materials, lists of invitees and/or guests, correspondence, and ceremonial greetings and certificates sent by other universities. The two latest series also include audiovisual recordings.

The Office of the President records group includes the records of University of Michigan Presidents Robben Fleming, 1968-1978 and 1988 (interim); Allan Smith, 1979 (interim); Harold T. Shapiro, 1980-1987; James J. Duderstadt, 1988-1996; Homer Neal, 1996-1997 (interim); Lee C. Bollinger, 1997-2001; B. Joseph White, 2002 (interim); Mary Sue Coleman (2002-2014); and Mark Schlissel (2014-present). The record group includes annual files from the Office of the President, which include topical files and schools and colleges files. Other series in the record group include supplemental files for each president, search files, committee appointment files, audio and visual materials, development files, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) files, and ephemera.

The records of the University of Michigan President contain the central files created and collected by the President and members of the President's staff. There is some content inherited from earlier presidents, but the record group effectively begins in 1967 with the administration of Robben W. Fleming and continues through successive administrations. (Records of Presidents prior to Fleming are cataloged under the name of the individual office holder).

The University of Michigan President's records are organized into the following series: Topical Files; Schools and Colleges Files; Supplemental Files; Search Files; Committee Appointment Files; Development; Facilities; Freedom of Information Act; Audio-Visual Material Files; Ephemera; Archived Website. Three first three series are major recurring series (Topical, Schools and Colleges, and Supplemental Files). The additional series (Committee Appointment; Searches; Development; Facilities; Freedom of Information Act; Audio-Visual Material Files; Ephemera; Archived Website) are not consistently created or predictably transferred.

Although the series are collectively described, the actual ordering of the boxes in the contents listing are not necessarily consecutive given the timing and sequence of transfers. For a summary bringing all boxes together under a particular series, see the Summary Contents list for a collective representation of boxes.

Records, 1907-1996, of Plant Extension Services, liaison unit concerned with the monitoring of new construction projects and the expansion and renovation of existing buildings at the University of Michigan. Minutes of construction meetings, summary financial statements, site and building plans and proposals, blueprints, and visual materials; including files relating to the Detroit Observatory and the Natural Science Building; include undated sketch of North Campus, unsigned, but attributed to Eero Saarinen.

Plant Extension office records include detailed minutes of construction meetings, monthly reports, summary financial statements, site and building plans and proposals, and blueprints. The material is arranged alphabetically, usually by building name. Among the blueprints are files relating to the Detroit Observatory and the Natural Science Building and an undated sketch of North Campus, unsigned, but attributed to Eero Saarinen

University of Michigan unit responsible for admitting applicants to the university's various undergraduate programs. Includes the correspondence and topical files of former Director Ted Spencer and Associate Director Marilyn McKinney, Board of Admissions meeting minutes, admissions guidelines and related material, minutes and data of the Enrollment Working Group, and audiovisual and photographic material. Also included are numerous publications produced or collected by the office, such as newsletters, reports, brochures, and procedures.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions (University of Michigan) records documents the activities of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, particularly its leadership and outreach activities. Material is dated from 1911-2022 and includes the correspondence and topical files of former Director Ted Spencer and Associate Director Marilyn McKinney, Board of Admissions meeting minutes, admissions guidelines and related material for various university units, minutes and data associated with the Enrollment Working Group, and audiovisual and photographic material. Also included are numerous publications produced or collected by the office, including newsletters, reports, brochures, administrative materials, applications, information on recruitment programs, transfer and application guides, recruiting videotapes, and admissions data reports aimed at prospective students, admitted students, transfer students, international students, high school guidance counselors, as well as faculty and staff.

Office designed to serve students new to the University of Michigan, including orientation program, university mentorship program, and welcome to Michigan program, as well as information and referral service for first-year students. Records relating to new student orientation program largely concerning diversity training and selection and training of counselors. Includes manuals, guides, and videotapes.

The Office of New Students Programs records consist of files relating to new student orientation program largely concerning diversity training and selection and training of counselors. The records includes manuals, guides, and videotapes and are divided into four series, Administration/Organizational Files, Evaluations of the Diversity Program, Audio-Visual Material and Publications. The Administration/Organization Files, Evaluations of the Diversity Program and approximately half of the VHS tapes from the Audio-Visual Materials series were acquired by the library in 1997. The rest of the material was acquired in a separate accession in 2007.

University of Michigan unit established in 1990 concerned with the university's international research and teaching activities. Series in the record group include: Presidential Initiatives Fund, Units, Topical Files, Correspondence, and Visual Materials including photographs and videocassettes primarily depicting visit of University of Michigan delegation to South Africa in 1991 in part to present honorary degree to Nelson Mandela.

The records of the Office of International Academic Affairs document the international affairs and concerns of the University of Michigan. The records span the years 1968-1993; the bulk of the materials cover 1989-1992. The records are divided into five series: Presidential Initiatives Fund, Academic Units, Topical Files, Correspondence, and Visual Materials

Established in 1995 as the Korean Studies Program, it was upgraded to the Center for Korean Studies in 2007, and renamed the Nam Center for Korean Studies in 2010. The mission of the Center is to promote research and study on Korea. It works to strengthen the study of the Korean language, promote graduate training, and sponsors events to showcase Korean culture. The records group focuses on the events and programming and contains some information on the background of the program.

The Nam Center for Korean Studies Program records date from 1995 to the present. The information is sparse, with the main focus being events sponsored by the program. Some information regarding the history of the program is also included.

The record group is divided into two series: Administration and Background and Events.

Formed in 1996, the M-Pathways Project was charged with the design and implementation of new administrative information systems for the University of Michigan, which had previously used the Michigan Terminal System (MTS). As part of this project, the University was a Beta partner for the development of the PeopleSoft Student Administrative System. Includes Strategic Data Plan, project charter, scope documents, project methodology, performance support plans and project design and implementation deliverables relating to the organization and processes of the M-Pathways Project. Also contains archived websites and snapshots of the Lotus Notes databases used to store the design deliverables for the project. The databases include information related to the technical infrastructure, technical issues, and development of technical standards.

When the M-Pathways Project started in the Fall of 1996, several decisions were made about the way the design and implementation of the five new information systems would proceed. One of these decisions was how to organize project documentation. It was decided to centralize the team's work in a number of Lotus Notes databases. While project communications within Lotus Notes indicate that using "Notes" was very new for most project members, however, it was considered the most useful electronic storage format at the time. Several databases were initially set up, and over the course of the project additional databases were added. The earliest databases include the Big Ten Discussion and the Strategic Data Plan Documentation Library. For each of the databases, whether stored in paper or electronic format, the archivist has documented the original structure and views available within the database. This documentation includes title of database, date created, quantity, bulk dates, preservation format, and database views. This information is in a folder titled "Archivist's Documentation on Lotus Notes Databases" located in Box 1 of the record group. The record group consists of six series: Communications, Organizational, Student Administration, Technology Administration, Videotape, and Website.

Interdisciplinary unit established in 1955 to conduct a program of basic research in mental health and the behavioral sciences. Administrative files, committee records, and correspondence of directors James Miller, Gardner Quarton, and Bernard Agranoff, and photographs and films.

The record group is divided into 6 series: History/Background, Administrative Files, Committees, Directors Files, Personnel Files, and Visual Materials.

Volunteer service unit established at the University of Michigan Hospital in 1941. The Volunteer Services program expanded from patient registration and guide services to encompass a number of programs and outreach activities that extend beyond the hospital. The materials in the University of Michigan Health Systems Volunteer Services collection contain information on the service beginning with its formal establishment in 1941. Items include topical files, photographs, and audiovisual materials covering programming, volunteer recruitment, and especially volunteer recognition.

The University of Michigan Health System Volunteer Services collection covers the years from 1937 to 2007. The majority of the material covers the years 1981-1995. The records include some history and establishment information, but a majority of the information deals with the annual volunteer recognition program. There is also a significant amount of photographs, including photographs of individuals volunteering as well as photographs from the annual volunteer recognition program. The collection has been organized into five series: Topical Files, Publications, Volunteer Recognition, Audio-Visual Materials, and Ephemera.

Unit responsible for fundraising and event programming involving alumni of the University of Michigan Medical Center and Health System. Includes topical files, Medical Center Alumni Society meeting records, and photographs and videotapes of development events and programs, including named professorship dedications.

The collection includes the records of the Office of Medical Development and Alumni Relations, as the Michigan Medicine Office of Deveolopment was known previously (5.5 linear feet). The records date from 1960 to 2001 and are organized into three series: Topical Files, Medical Center Alumni Society (MCAS) Files, and Audiovisual Materials. The records include programs, photographs, minutes, reports and videos reflecting programming and educational activities and the changing organizational structure and mission of the Office of Medical Development and Alumni Relations over time.

Office established to plan and coordinate events, exhibits, and publicity for the University of Michigan Medical School sesquicentennial. Records include committee minutes, event schedules and planning material, press releases, clippings, articles, publicity, script and production files for sesquicentennial video, and student life photographs. Also includes videotape and audio tape of media coverage of events and lapel pins and merchandise created for the sesquicentennial.

The records consist of material created and compiled by the staff of the Medical School Sesquicentennial Office. The records include a variety of information about the planning and production of special events, and publications and publicity for the 150-year anniversary of the Medical School.

The collection is divided into eight series: Sesquicentennial Committee Materials, Publicity, Exhibits and Displays, Events, Audio-Visual, Publications, and Artifacts.

The University of Michigan's first professional school; the Medical School record group includes historical and administrative records related to the school and its faculty and administrators, 1850-2010.

The records of the Medical School span over 160 years, beginning in 1850 and continuing through 2010. They include 389.7 linear feet of material, 10 oversize volumes, 9 oversize folders of miscellaneous documents, and 3.3 GB of digital material stored online. The records include dean's correspondence and subject files, executive committee minutes, faculty minutes, annual reports of departments, school accreditation and review files, a variety of special reports and studies, and extensive files on the Replacement Hospital Project (Taubman Center). The record group also contains photo prints depicting faculty, students and facilities, including a remarkable series of photographs taken by J. Jefferson Gibson circa 1893.

The Medical School records have been organized into five subgroups: Dean's Records, Subordinate Administrative Officers, Faculty Records, Audio-Visual Materials, and Miscellaneous records. Within each subgroup there are a number of series and these series may be further subdivided to reflect the date span of the records received in each accession.

The Medical School records have been received in several accessions and the physical arrangement of the records (the number order of the boxes) reflects the various installments in which they were received. The accessions sometimes reflected the tenure of a particular dean or other administrator, but frequently appear to have been somewhat arbitrary transfers of files. Records from individual subgroups, series and subseries often continue across multiple accessions--sometimes with consecutive date ranges, but often with overlapping date spans.

In this finding aid the records are described in their intellectual order -- subgroups and series are brought together irrespective of the particular accession in which they were received. As a result, in the detailed contents listing the box number order will not always be consecutive.

The television production studio and media services unit of the University of Michigan, commonly referred to as "Michigan Media." It was formed in 1978 through the merger of the university Television Center and the university Audio-Visual Education Center. The Television Center began producing educational programs for broadcast on commercial and public stations in 1950. The Audio-Visual Education Center produced films for the university and operated a film distribution library. The Media Resources Center closed in 1986. The collection consists of documentary type film and video and film and video of television programs produced by the Media Resources Center and its predecessors.

The University of Michigan Media Resources Center Films and Videotapes collection consists of "archives" film footage produced or collected by the Center and television programs and films produced by the Center. The "archives" films are divide into three series; Archives Film (Series AF), Film File (Series AF) and Audio-Visual Education Center Film File Series AVEC Film File. The television programs are organized based on the

Archives Films

The "archival films": consist of documentary style, 16mm film footage of a variety of University of Michigan events, buildings, and personalities. The series originated in 1959 when the Television Center began a project to create a "university film archives." Some of this footage was shot for the purpose of being incorporated into television programs, but much of the filming was done simply to create a film record of the university. Filming was done on a regular basis through about 1972. After that date the Michigan Media collection includes comparatively few "archival" films.

The subject matter of the archival films falls into several broad categories:

1. Series AF -- Archives Films and Series FF -- Film File
   • Ceremonial - including footage of awards ceremonies, inaugurations, graduations, building groundbreakings and dedications
   • Campus scenes - buildings and construction sites, students on the Diag, and general activity on campus
   • Athletic events and marching band performances
   • Student activities -- including protests, fraternity/sorority activities, homecoming, course registration, and social events.
   • Faculty and administrator interviews
   • Visiting dignitaries and participants in special programs and conferences on campus.
   • Films collected by the Television Center - these include several films from the 1920s and 1930s
2. Series AVEC Film File
   • Original footage shot for use in Audio-Visual Education Center films

Films in the three archival series range from a few minutes to more than an hour in length. The films may be negatives, original positives, or work prints. Some are identified as "trims," i.e. original footage edited out of finished productions. The work prints have often been cut and spliced and portions may be missing. Several titles were originally recorded on either two- or one-videotape reels or directly on 3/4-inch videotape cassette.

The early films, ca 1953-ca.1963, are generally black and white. After 1963 color film is more common. Many of the films, especially, from the early years, are silent. For some of these there are accompanying 16mm magnetic sound tracks or 1/4-inch reel-to-reel audio tapes.

The film description part of the finding aid is arranged by series film number or titles. Film numbers were assigned by the Television Center in an approximate chronological order. The description of individual films is based on a card File created by the Television Center and on a viewing of each film by Bentley staff.

The descriptive record for each film includes the film number; title; date; a brief summary of the content of the film; a listing of significant persons appearing in the film; and technical information on the color, sound, polarity, and length of the film.

The films are stored in canisters, usually on a core rather than a reel. A film number generally refers to an individual film title. There is sometimes more than one film number in a canister and occasionally more than one film number on a single reel or core. Alternate versions of a title are indicated by a lower case letter.

The Television Center gave the films titles which are more or less descriptive. These titles have been retained except for a few instances in which a more descriptive title was assigned or in which a uniform title was created for all parts of a multi-reel film. The individual reels of multi-part titles are designated by a lower case letter, e.g. 98a, 98b, 98c. For some titles the may be more than one film, possibly a negative, positive, work print, or other version. A few tittles have been digitized and are available on DVD and streaming files.

The listing for each film or program in includes a Title, date of production, and abstract/summary of the content of the film and ,when available, the names of persons or organizations featured in the film. University of Michigan faculty and staff are identified by departmental or administrative affiliation (e.g. Peter Gosling, UM-Geog. A list of abbreviations used is included in the Additional Descriptive Data Section of this finding aid.) Technical information for the films is provided in the format: Original: 16mm film, pos, b/w, sil, 343, 00:09:35. The order of the information is:

1. Format -- film / videotape / magnetic sound track
2. Polarity -- neg (negative) /. Pos (positive) / wp (work print)
3. Color -- b/w or color
4. Sound -- silent / sound / sof (sound on film)/ at (accompanying 1/4-inch audiotape)
5. Length -- expressed in feet (footage value is sometimes an estimate)
6. Running time -- in the form 01:33:25 (hours:minutes:seconds)
7. (in cases where there are several versions of a title, there may be multiple values for each category)

Television Programs and AVEC Films

The Television Programs consist of 16mm kinescope films and two-inch and 1-inch videotapes of programs produced by the Center for distribution to commercial and educational television stations. The collection represents only a portion of the television programs produced by the Center. There were no extant copies of some programs when the library acquired the collection.

The films and videotapes in the Michigan Media collection were appraised and only a portion have been selected for permanent retention by the Bentley Historical Library. A number of appraisal criteria were used in determining which television programs and films were retained:

1. subject matter relating to the University of Michigan;
2. subject matter relating to the state of Michigan;
3. subject matter of general, national interest;
4. participation of prominent UM faculty or staff;
5. participation of prominent Michigan personalities;
6. participation of persons of national or international significance;
7. programs marking significant technical or artistic developments at Michigan Media;
8. award winning programs.

The television programs are organized by series created by the Center. The series for the most part reflect different type of programming the Center produced, from the earliest "telecourses" to the independent programs produced under the title "Understanding Our World". to the multi-part programs that were the core of the "University of Michigan Television Hour. See the History section for details on the different series.

The description for individual programs includes the title and date of the program, a unique id number, and an abstract of the content of the program with listing of the host and guests on the program. A program may exist in one or more formats: kinescope negative, kinescope positive and 1-inch or 2-inch videotape. Technical information for each program is recorded in the format16mm kinescope film, neg. #511, Pos. #665, 2-inch video #458. (the negative number was treated as a production and for some programs recorded originally on videotape a negative was not actually produced). The television programs were generally either twelve, fifteen or thirty minutes in length Most are black and white and all have sound.

In 2009 a selection of television programs and films and tapes were digitized. for each tape or film selected a preservation Beta SP tape was made as well as a DVD use copy and a streaming file (mpeg4 and Flash). For some films a high resolution digital copy was made as well (mpeg2). The finding aid lists the original format(s) and the derivative formats for the digitized items.