Collections

Peter Pollack was a landscape architect who primarily worked in the Ann Arbor area. He also served as a professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources. The collection includes correspondence, minutes, and working files that document Pollack’s involvement with various urban design and landscape projects in the state of Michigan in addition to his teaching career. The collection also includes drawings and plans for Pollack’s major projects.

The Peter Pollack collection (29.5 linear feet, 51 tubes, 13 oversized folders) documents Pollack's professional involvement in the field of landscape architecture. While the collection includes material relating to his teaching career and his involvement in landscape architecture organizations, the bulk of the collection relates to specific projects Pollack worked on. The collection documents his entire career, but includes a greater depth of information related to projects Pollack was involved with in the Ann Arbor area. In addition to the working files for these projects, the collection includes copious sketches drawn by Pollack and official project plans. The material relating to the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Pfizer campus is particularly strong.

The collection has been arranged into the following series: Administrative Files and Promotional Materials; Project Summaries; Project Files; Teaching Files and Other Activities; Digital Materials; and Videotapes.

Peter Sparling is Professor of Dance at the University of Michigan School of Music. Well known as both performer and choreographer, he has danced with Martha Graham and Jose Limon. Papers consist of materials relating to Sparling's dance training, performance, and teaching including background materials; choreography notes and sketches; correspondence; clippings and publicity from dance companies with whom he was associated; programs and reviews; photographs, video and film of performances; and posters.

The Peter Sparling Papers include materials relating to Sparling's dance training, performance, and teaching. The papers are divided into eight series: Background Materials, Choreography, Correspondence, Dance Companies, Programs, Reviews, Photographs, Performance, Audition, and Rehearsal Videos, and Posters.

The records of Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan document the history of the organization and the family planning services it has provided to Michigan residents. The records are a good source of information on the history of birth control, abortion, sex education, and women’s health issues in the state from the 1930s to the turn of the twenty first century. In addition to the Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan files, the collection includes records documenting the Planned Parenthood Association of Southwestern Michigan and Planned Parenthood of Southeast Michigan, dating from the period before these two organizations merged with Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan. Materials include board minutes and reports, correspondence, organizational handbooks and policy statements, pamphlets, newsletters, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, and videotapes.

The Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan record group covers the period of time from the founding of the organization in 1935 through 2007. The history of the organization is documented in this collection. Extensive information about the services offered by Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan can also be found in this collection. These include medical, counseling, and educational activities.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Renewal Ministries collection consists of videotapes (various formats) of organizational outreach programs, retreats, and rallies. The bulk of the collection is made up of videotapes of the long-running television program hosted by Ralph Martin entitled "The Choices we Face." There are other tapes of rallies held in Lithuania, Poland, and Jerusalem. Other materials predate the establishment of the organization. These include conferences held at Notre Dame and in Kansas City in the 1970s. The collection also includes some publications written by Martin, many of these in European languages.

Life insurance executive, leader of a citizens tax limitation movement in Michigan, officer of Taxpayers United for Tax Limitation. Subject files relating to the tax limitation movement in Michigan, especially the work of Taxpayers United for Tax Limitation and Taxpayers United Federation; includes photographs, video cassettes, and news clippings.

The Richard H. Headlee Papers document the activities of the principal leader of the "tax revolt" in Michigan in the 1970s and 1980s. The papers include material on the major organizations Headlee founded or was affiliated with, the voter initiative which resulted in passage of Proposal E (the "Headlee Amendment") restricting growth in property taxes, and Headlee's campaign for governor in 1988.

The papers were received in two major accessions. The first, received in 1988, has been arranged in three series: Taxpayers United for Tax Limitation, Taxpayers United Federation, and Topical Files. The second accession, received in 1994, has been divided into six series: Correspondence, Headlee for Governor (1988), Headlee Initiative, Taxpayers United for the Michigan Constitution, Visual Materials, and Clippings.