Search

The Dean's Administrative Files series (consists largely of subject files maintained by the dean's office and include documentation relating to the administration of the college as well as professional and sometimes personal activities of the deans. The series is organized in subseries corresponding to the tenure of individual deans, although a subseries may include material dating from a previous dean's tenure.

The Kelbaugh subseries of the Dean's Administrative Files, 1993-2008 (bulk 1998-2008) (3 linear feet, 1 oversize box, and 200 MB) continues the series from previous accessions. The records in this series primarily originate from Douglas S. Kelbaugh's tenure as dean, but also include files from Dean Robert M. Beckley, and Interim Dean James Snyder's tenures. Included in the series are files on each of the annual charrettes hosted by TCAUP from 1999 to 2008. The charrettes, which are collaborative design planning sessions, were initiated by Dean Kelbaugh as an effort on the part of the University and TCAUP to help revitalize Detroit. Each year the charrettes focused on a different section of Detroit. The charrettes were held at the UM Detroit Center, which is also well-documented in this series. In addition to hosting the charrettes TCAUP is also involved in other programs at the Detroit Center, and, along with the 17 other units on campus, contributes to the funding of the center.

Another interesting topic covered in the files is the re-location of the Lorch Column. Originally located in the courtyard of Lorch Hall (the original home of the College of Architecture), the column was moved to the front of the Art and Architecture Building on North Campus. The column was restored to its original height using a steel insert, and renamed the Lorch Column in honor of Emil Lorch, founder of the College of Architecture. The dedication of the column in October 2007 consummated the College's centennial, celebrated in 2006. It may also be of interest to note that initially the column was to be re-located along with an entry portal that also stood near Lorch Hall on Central Campus. However, the entry portal was left standing in the lawn just southwest of Lorch Hall. The files included proposals to move both the column and the portal, along with enhanced photographs of proposed sites for the two sculptures. (See also oversize materials relating to the relocation of the column in Box 59).

The files also contain information on A. Alfred Taubman's involvement with and interest in the College of Architecture. A file titled "Taubman Building Project" contains documentation on an attempt to expand and renovate the Art and Architecture Building. This project was to be funded with assistance from Taubman, but prohibitive costs prevented the renovation from moving forward (for further documentation on the renovation project refer to another series in this accession: Art and Architecture Building Renovation). However, Taubman remained in contact with the college, and shortly after the building project fell through, discussion began around the possibility of establishing an endowment for the school. The "Taubman Proposal" file includes correspondence and drafts of proposals regarding the $30 million gift from Taubman to establish the endowment. Following the donation, the College of Architecture and Urban Planning was renamed in Taubman's honor.

The Shopping Centers/Commercial Development series documents A. Alfred Taubman's development of regional shopping malls and of other commercial properties. The series begin with a subseries of volumes containing legal and financial documents relating to the acquisition of various shopping center projects. Specifically these volumes document the sale of Eastridge and Southland shopping centers; the restructuring of Sunvalley, and Taubman's acquisition of partnership interests in Novi Associates (operators of Twelve Oaks Mall) and Lakeside Associates (operators of Lakeside Shopping Center).

The remaining subseries relate to specific shopping centers or projects, beginning with shopping centers in California developed and operated by Bayshore Properties (later The Taubman Company's Western Regional Office), followed by centers in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, a proposed development in Yonkers, New York, and mixed-used projects in Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City. The depth of documentation and arrangement of files varies by project.

Shopping center files, which make up the bulk of this series, date from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s, and document the selection and acquisition of sites, design and construction, space planning and leasing, and ongoing operation of the centers. Files related to site selection and property acquisition include traffic and demographic studies, economic projections, photographs, and correspondence with realty companies and potential tenants, and residual land development. Design and construction of centers is documented through architectural plans, correspondence with architects and construction firms, and photographs. Leasing records include files on proposed tenants, lease agreements, and correspondence. Operational records include sales analyses, legal files, public relations files, and news clippings.

Mixed-used sites represented here include 712 Fifth Ave., an office tower in Manhattan with retail space on the ground floor; and the Charleston Center, a site with a hotel, conference facilities, and retail space. Records for these projects include loan and purchase agreements, correspondence, and a small amount of printed material, such as annual reports, brochures, and newsletters. This series also includes a small number of shopping center scrapbooks, photograph albums, and guest books; and engineering reports and architectural proposals.

The Administration series includes publications relating to the staff and the policies and procedures of the hospital and health system.

The Administrative series (2 linear feet and digital files (online)) is an alphabetically arranged sequence providing insight into the day-to-day operation and structure of the WISE program. Records describe the history and creation of the WISE program, and also include correspondence and documents relating to early funding arrangements. Also of note are position papers and listings of program activities and accomplishments that describe the program's early endeavors and justify its purpose and existence.

The Administrative Files series documents the decisions of high level administrators and committees regarding the planning and management of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. A large portion of the series consists of material from the Board of Directors, including a complete run of minutes from the mid to late 1980s, as well as minutes from their retreats and special meetings. Also included are annual, financial, and strategic planning meeting reports.

An area of note within the series includes records of past presidents and organization officers. Material related to Chad Audi can be found in the Chad Audi series.

Material from COO Barbara Willis document the DRMMs work with external organizations and development efforts. The series includes one file of material noting the recognition recieved by Donald DeVos for his work with the organization during the 1990s.

The Administrative File series contains materials related to the history, organization, and administration of the Michigan Natural Areas Council.

The series has been divided into six subseries: the Background/Historical subseries, the Chronological subseries, the Committees subseries, the Executive Committees subseries, the Organizational Affiliations subseries and the Website subseries.

The Website subseries contains digital files of website captures from the Michigan Natural Areas Council website. The website provides information about the history of the organization, current initiatives, events, and offers information about the organizational newsletter.

The Administrative Files series (3 linear feet and digital files (online)) is divided into two subseries: Executive Files and Office Files. The executive files subseries contain correspondence and other material created or directed to the office co-coordinator, Billie Edwards, or, after 1994, to the Director, Ronni Sanlo. Sanlo was the first person to hold the position of Director of the office.

The Office Files subseries includes general office correspondence dated circa 1991-2012, staff meeting minutes and agendas, material related to the President's New Century Fund Award for Diversity for work on the "From Invisibility to Inclusion" project, and a number of files related to the Task Force on Sexual Orientation. The task force materials range in date from 1987 to 1991. Note that the James W. Toy papers, boxes 8 and 9, also contains material related to the Task Force on Sexual Orientation.

The 2012 Accession added annual reports, budgets, meeting minutes, photographs, strategic plans, reports, forms, and administrative information from 1991-2012 to the Office Files subseries. Many of the materials are digital files from the Spectrum Center's shared drive. The accession highlights core issues and concerns for the center during this period and also contains information about the 40th Anniversary celebrations.

The Administrative Files series (2.5 linear feet, 1.4 GB) contains materials related to the Foundation's establishment and recognition as a non-profit organization, the Board of Directors records, and employee and volunteer material. This series includes The YES Foundation®'s Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, 501 (C)(3) and Trademark documentation. The Board materials include member profiles, meeting minutes, handbooks, and reports. The employee and volunteer material includes an employee reference guide, volunteer debriefing meetings material, and a The YES Foundation® Staff Orientation Guide.

The Administrative Records subgroup (1935-2013, 35.5 linear feet) begins with the Meetings series (1956-2012, 1.5 linear feet), which contain the agendas, minutes and correspondence of the Executive Committee Meetings, the Friends of the Michigan Historical Collection and Bentley Library, the Bentley Library's Administrative Committee, and Staff Meetings. The next set of series are organized by director (see the list above). The first subseries category is the Director's Office/Central Files, which are administrative records generated by the director and the associate director including correspondence, evaluation and planning, fundraising, physical facilities documents, and budget materials. The Staff files subseries, contains staff meetings, staff lists, staff interviews, manuals and farewell parties. The Conferences and Events subseries consists of agendas and speeches and planning material from Bentley-related conferences. Materials in this subseries from the tenure of Francis Blouin include digital materials from the Visual Culture and Archives Symposium held April 4-5, 2013 in honor of Blouin's 32 years of service to the library. The Special Projects subseries includes material regarding intensive activities undertaken by the BHL that often were in some way distinct from core functions. In many cases, a "special project" is one that received outside funding.

The next series in the Administrative Records subgroup is the Non-Donor Correspondence (10 linear feet), which is arranged in three alphabetical accessions, each of which covers a period of time. This series contains several kinds of correspondence: there are letters to and from individuals who eventually become donors and financial contributors, as well as letters seeking publication permissions. Most notably, there is professional correspondence between archivists: letters exchanged between leading archivists and Lewis Vander Velde in the 1930s and 1940s, Robert Warner during the late 1960s and 1970s and by Francis X. Blouin in the 1980s and 1990. Taken as a whole, this correspondence demonstrates the growing international influence of the Bentley. Until 1987, the Non-Donor Correspondence included some reference inquiries, after 1987, these records were maintained separately by the Reference Archivist. There is also a folder compiling twenty-five years of thank you notes from various colleagues and professionals from around the country.