Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The University of Michigan's highest governing body is the Board of Regents. The Regents deal with virtually every aspect of university policy and campus life. The records of the Regents reflect this broad range of interests and authority. This record group contains exhibits from meetings beginning in 1899. These exhibits are the most complete record of the actions of the Regents, supplementing and detailing the published minutes Proceedings of the Board of Regents. Additional documentation in this record group includes manuscript minutes, 1837-1870, correspondence, material by and about the Regents, photographs, audio recordings of meetings, 1977-2011, and material on recent presidential searches.

As the official governing body of the university, the Regents deal with virtually every aspect of university policy and life. The records of the Regents--which includes exhibits of Regents' meetings, topical files, correspondence files, audio and visual material, and archived web content--reflect this broad range of interests and authority. But while the documentation is wide-ranging, it is not continuous. Certain types of records are continually before the Regents, particularly information regarding salaries, leaves of absence, appointments to faculty positions, and formal approval of degrees conferred upon students. More often, however, the Regents are presented with a specific problem and asked to resolve it through the creation of policy. After the creation and successful implementation of a policy, the situation which caused the issue to arise is usually no longer a matter of Regental concern. The Regents' records reflect this pattern of action. Issues arise, are resolved, and then are supplanted by new concerns.

University of Michigan unit established in 1990 in part to collect and disseminate information regarding the history of health sciences in Michigan. Records include newsletter of the Center; collected historical manuscripts, photographs, and motion pictures relating to the development of health sciences at the University of Michigan; include notebooks of medical school students, account book, 1831-1839, of Berrien Springs, Michigan physician, and miscellaneous materials relating to the medical school and to medical practice.

The records of the Center for the History of Medicine (CHM) records include administrative records documenting operation of the center and archival material collected by the center. The materials have been divided into three subgroups: Administrative, Collections, and Center for the History of Medicine Website.

The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan was established in 1897 following a consolidation of the Society of Alumni with the alumni societies of the professional schools. The Michigan Alumnus became the association's official organ. As the organization grew, local chapters were established and provided greater structure. The records include files pertaining to the Alumni Association's administrative office and various chapters and interests groups. This includes national and international U-M alumni and alumnae clubs, the Alumnae Council, the Society of Alumni, the University of Michigan Black Alumni (UMBA-formerly the African American Alumni Council (AAC)), and the Reunion of Black Graduates (RBG). The records include but are not limited to correspondence, minutes, reports, and survey responses, audiovisual materials, digital files, photographs, and publications.

The collection spans 1845-2001. The textual records of the Alumni Association (boxes 1-133) are largely unprocessed, and are described in only general terms in this finding aid. Exceptions include files maintained by Marjorie Williams who served as the vice chair and chair of the Alumnae Council from 1960 to 1962, Class Reunion files, and Topical Files.

Additions to the collection (boxes 168-171) incorporate records, audiovisual materials, photographs, and publications pertaining to the University of Michigan Black Alumni (UMBA). To note are materials specifically related to the African American Alumni Council (AAAC)-formerly the UMBA, and the Reunion of Black Graduates (RBG). This includes information about the Dr. Leonard F. Sain Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship and symposium, the Camp Michigania retreat, and annual reunion for black graduates photographs, planning materials, and souvenir books.

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.

Professor of physiology at the University of Michigan; correspondence, speeches, and other materials concerning U-M Medical School activities, the Ann Arbor Red Cross, the Ann Arbor Art Association, and Lombard’s interest in art and etching.

The Warren P. Lombard papers have been arranged into the following series: Biographical/miscellaneous; Correspondence; Organizational and other interests; Physiology and related materials; and Photographs. Much of the collection relates to Lombard's organizational activities, notably the Ann Arbor Red Cross and the Ann Arbor Art Association. Some of Lombard's correspondents include: James B. Angell, William W. Bishop, Marion L. Burton, James J. Couzens, John G. Curtis, Joseph Erlanger, Frederick R. Green, Charles W. Greene, Granville S. Hall, Yandell Henderson, Donald R. Hooker, Frederic S. Lee, Carl Ludwig, Graham Lusk, George W. Norris, Reuben Peterson, William T. Porter, Henry Sewall, Albert A. Stanley, Langdon C. Stewardson, and Victor C. Vaughan.

Files of Professors John W. Bean, Robert Gesell, Warren P. Lombard, and Henry Sewall, 1925-1979; miscellaneous departmental papers relating to the Hyperbaric Chamber Committee, the Institute for Human Adjustment, the Lombard Library, research funds, and teaching assignments; and publications of physiological laboratory; and collection of physiology textbooks, manuals, and monographs, mainly written by University of Michigan faculty; also photographs and films.

The records of the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology consist of 3 linear feet, 1 outsize box, and 1 outsize film, and cover the years 1884 to 1979. The records consist largely of the files of Professors John W. Bean, Robert Gesell, Warren P. Lombard, and Henry Sewall, 1925-1979. They include miscellaneous departmental papers relating to the Hyperbaric Chamber Committee, the Institute for Human Adjustment, the Lombard Library, research funds, and teaching assignments; and publications of physiological laboratory; and collection of physiology textbooks, manuals, and monographs, mainly written by University of Michigan faculty. The record group also includes photographs and films. The records are divided into three series: Topical Files, Faculty, and Audio and Visual Materials.

Professor obstetrics at the University of Michigan; correspondence and research materials largely relating to his history of the University Hospital.

The collection has been arranged into three series: Correspondence; University Hospital history; and Other writings, research, and miscellaneous. Many of the files relate to his research on, and drafts of, the history of the University of Michigan Hospital and to his interest in medical history in general.

University of Michigan microbiologist; correspondence, student notebooks, San Francisco Plague Commission records, research files and laboratory notebooks, visual materials

The Frederick G. Novy collection documents the career and research interests of this noted bacteriologist, including information from the period of time when he was a member of the San Francisco Plague Commission (1901).

The collection has been divided into the following series:

1. Biographical/Personal
2. Correspondence
3. University of Michigan Student Notebooks
4. University of Michigan Medical School
5. San Francisco Plague Commission
6. Research Files/Laboratory Notebooks
7. Reprints and Writings
8. Miscellaneous; and Visual Materials.

Professor of homoeopathic medicine at University of Michigan, mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan, dean of the New York Homeopathic Medical College and director of Flower Hospital, New York City Commissioner of Public Health, and Democratic U. S. Senator from New York, 1923-1938. Personal and medical correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks containing food and health articles, photographs, and other papers concerning his medical and political interests. Correspondents include: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Alfred E. Smith.

The Royal Copeland collection, consisting primarily of correspondence, speeches and writings, scrapbooks, and articles, relates primarily to Copeland's medical career as professor of homeopathic medicine at the University of Michigan, dean of the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital, and New York City Commissioner of Public Health, and as United States Senator.

University of Michigan pathologist. Correspondence, primarily with physicians, articles, and other material relating to University of Michigan Medical School and medical practice in general; files relating to his editorship of the Annals of Clinical Medicine; and photographs.

The Aldred Scott Warthin collection documents the growth of pathology as a discipline at the Medical School at the University of Michigan and the professional life of one of the nation's leading pathologists. The papers are divided into five series: Correspondence, Topical Files, Writings, Biographical/Personal, and Annals of Clinical Medicine.

Physician, early specialist in the treatment of mental illness; correspondence; topical files; lectures and publications; casework; and photographs.

The Albert M. Barrett papers comprise 3 linear feet, and have been divided into five series: Correspondence; Topical Files; Lectures and Publications; Photographs; and Casework.

Zoologist, college professor, president of University of Michigan, 1929-1951. Professional files relating to his career with the University Museum and as a professor of zoology, and presidential files containing correspondence, reports, speeches, and other University materials, including budget and legislative files, material relating to changes in University administration, his relationship with faculty, students and alumni, and photographs.

The Alexander Ruthven papers consists of two series of records. The first is the papers of Ruthven as president of the University of Michigan, 1929 to 1951. The second, and smaller, series is the files maintained by Ruthven as a zoologist with the University Museum and as professor of zoology. This latter series dates largely from 1908 to 1929 but also includes collected earlier files from the 1870s.

The Reuben Leon Kahn collection consists of the personal and professional papers of the developer of the Kahn precipitation test for syphilis. Kahn taught bacteriology and serology at the University of Michigan from 1928 until his retirement in 1956.

The Reuben L. Kahn papers contain materials relevant to Kahn's personal and professional life. The collection is divided into five series; Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Topical Files, Publications and Photographs.

The Thomas Francis Jr. collections consists of the personal and professional papers of one of the developers of the influenza and poliomyelitis vaccinations. Francis taught epidemiology at the School of Public Health and medical school from 1941 to 1969 and greatly influenced the direction of research in his field.

Important certainly for the study of influenza and poliomyelitis research, the Francis papers also document changes in the way scientific research, particularly medical research, was managed. In his correspondence files, the records from his work in combating influenza and poliomyelitis, and his participation in various professional societies, the researcher will find Francis interacting as a member of a scientific community, working with others, soliciting and exchanging views, and administering, when needed, vast programs of testing.

The Thomas Francis, Jr. papers have been arranged into seven series: General; Correspondence; Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center; Organizations; University of Michigan; Speeches, Articles, etc.; Topical Files; and Personal/Biographical. Specific topics covered in the collection are mentioned in the descriptions of individual series. In sum, the collection documents more thoroughly Francis' work since coming to the University of Michigan in 1941. Francis' fame rests upon his research and his heading-up of influenza and poliomyelitis testing programs. For some topics, use of the Francis papers will require of the researcher at least a basic level of knowledge of epidemiology or disease control. Other subjects, such as the administration of research projects and the ways in which information is transmitted within the scientific community are less specialized and capable of being understood by the informed layperson.

Parts of the Francis papers have not yet been completely processed. Most of these subseries pertain to Francis' organizational commitments and to his membership on various boards and commissions. Types of records in these unprocessed subseries consist of minutes of meetings and procedural records. These unprocessed records are indicated on the finding aid along with the bulk size of the subseries.

The Elizabeth C. Crosby collection consists of the personal and professional papers of a woman pioneer in the field of neuroanatomy. Crosby taught anatomy at the University of Michigan from 1920 to 1958 and authored many respected publications in the field of biology.

The Crosby collection consists of two separate acquisitions; Crosby's personal donation of correspondence, biographical and research materials in 1982 and Richard C. Schneider's donation of Crosby's manuscripts, photographs and audiovisual materials in 1994. Dr. Richard C. Schneider, a close friend and colleague of Crosby's, accumulated additional Crosby materials during his unsuccessful attempt to write a complete biography of Crosby; his unfinished manuscript is contained within the collection. The collection has been arranged into the following series: Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Biographical material (collected or researched), Awards and Honors, Manuscripts and Articles, Publishers, Research, Conferences, Lectures, Organizations, Photographs and Audiovisual Materials.

Neurophysiologist; chairman of the physiology department of University of Michigan Medical School. Correspondence, medical school faculty minutes, annual reports of the department, lectures, speeches, and material on the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, 1930; also photograph.

The collection documents both Gesell's professional career and interests as well as the development of the department of physiology under his leadership. The collection consists of Correspondence, medical school faculty minutes, annual reports of the department, lectures, speeches, and material on the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, 1930; also photograph. The collection is arranged into the following series: Biographical; Correspondence; University of Michigan; and Other Files.

Papers of Howard Bishop Lewis (1887-1954), professor and chairman of the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan (1922-1954), director of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Michigan (1933-1947), a supervisor for the Michigan Memorial-Phoenix Project, and an active participant in many professional organizations and policy committees especially concerning health and nutrition. The series in the collection are: Photographs; Writings; Administrative; Examinations; Lectures; Research Files; Correspondence; and Organizational Activities and Interests.

The personal papers of Howard Bishop Lewis concern his public activities rather than his private life. This includes his roles as educator and administrator at the University, and as a researcher in the fields of health and nutrition. The materials have been divided into eight series: Photographs; Writings; Administrative; Examinations; Lectures; Research Files; Correspondence; and Organizational Activities and Interests.

University of Michigan professor of law, 1936-1944 and 1968-1972, vice president for university relations, 1944-1951, vice president and dean of faculties, 1951-1962, and executive vice president, 1962-1967. Papers include correspondence and reports concerning University affairs and some course materials from Niehuss' law classes. Included here are files relating to Niehuss' involvement in the University decision to fire three professors investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee, and in the review of the University's compliance to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Marvin Niehuss Papers document his career as Law School faculty member and university administrator. The papers include correspondence and reports concerning University affairs and some course materials from Niehuss' law classes. Included here are files relating to Niehuss' involvement in the University decision to fire three professors investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee, and in the review of the University's compliance to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Niehuss papers have arrived in three separate accessions. Researchers should be aware that there is significant overlap within the three accessions. Specific topics can be tracked across the various accessions. The papers are organized into two series: a small Miscellaneous File, 1945-1951, and Topical Files, 1923-1972.

Steve T. Koeff was an associate professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School. During his long career as a physician, Koeff was also a member of the neonatal staff at Wayne County General Hospital and a pediatrician at the Plymouth Health Center. His papers reflect his lengthy career at these locations and his dedication to medical student instruction.

Steve Koeff's papers were removed from his office at the Medical School shortly after his passing. He collected many departmental and medical center publications. These were transferred to the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases Publications record group retained at the Bentley Historical Library. The remaining papers were divided into five series including: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Curriculum and Counseling, Professional Activities, Teaching Materials and Lectures, and Visual Materials.

Professor internal medicine and director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Michigan. Conn was discoverer of Primary Aldosteronism (Conn's Syndrome) and its cure through the surgical removal of the adrenal tumor. The collection has been divided into three series: personal, professional, and topical files. The collection includes correspondence, research files and notes, subject files, published materials, and photographs relating to his research and other professional activities.

The Conn collection, covering the years of 1931 to 1994, has been divided into three series: Personal, Professional, and Topical Files.

Professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan; head of the Rackham Arthritis Research Unit (RARU) at the university. Papers relating to Robinson's career as doctor and professor of arthritis and rheumatology; includes material on work at the University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, and the Rockefeller Foundation; correspondence, research projects, lecture materials, reports, meeting minutes, professional activities, awards and honors, papers, and visual materials; also correspondence and other miscellaneous materials relating to Louis Harry Newburgh.

William Dodd Robinson's papers have been arranged into four series: University of Michigan; Research Projects; Professional Activities; and General Materials.

John Jacquez was a professor in the University of Michigan's Medical School and School of Public Health and was active in his field of biostatistics. The collection contains correspondence and materials relating to his teaching, research and conference activities.

The papers of John A. Jacquez document his career both as a teacher and a researcher from the 1960s to the 1990s. The collection is arranged into five series, Personal/Biographical, Correspondence, Teaching Material, Research Material, and Conference Material.

Myron Ezra Wegman, 1908-2004, was a leader in public health and clinical pediatrics for seven decades. The collection consists of personal and professional papers covering his career in medicine and public health and includes correspondence, reports, speeches, travel diaries, course material, reprints, and minutes and notes on organizations to which he belonged.

The Myron Ezra Wegman collection is divided into seven series: Biographical and Early Materials, 1939-2004, University of Michigan, 1960-1988, Comprehensive Health Planning Organizations, 1968-1979, Associations, Committees, and Projects, 1949-1990, Post-Retirement Period, 1974-1993, Reprints, 1930-1989, and Topical Files.

Professor and chairman of the department of neurology of the University of Michigan Medical School and the University Hospital. Papers document his teaching and research and participation in professional organizations.

The Russell DeJong papers documents the activities of an individual who, through his teaching, research, and commitment to his profession, achieved national and international prominence in the field of neurology. The collection has been arranged into six series: Correspondence, Professional Organizations, University of Michigan, Published Papers, Miscellaneous, and Photographs.

John W. Henderson, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan, arrived in Ann Arbor in 1942 as an intern and then resident before joining the faculty in 1948. He was chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology from 1968 to 1978. Henderson’s papers include files relating to his work with the Medical School and University Hospital, among them histories of ophthalmology at the university. Files detailing his work with professional organizations are well represented, notably the Michigan Ophthalmological Society, American Board of Ophthalmology, and American Ophthalmological Society. Also files relating to publications, lectures and presentations.

The John W. Henderson papers date from 1943 to 2001. The papers measure 7.75 linear feet and have been divided into four broad series: Medical School/University Hospital Records, Professional Organizations, Publications, Lectures and Professional Presentations, and Personal.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan. Coon was internationally recognized for his pioneering research in P450 enzymes. Papers include topical files containing biographical and professional records, including reviews of the biological chemistry department from 1970-1988, awards, honorary degrees, lectureships, and programs. Also includes photographs that span Coon's 47-year career at the University of Michigan, with a focus on awards received.

The Minor J. Coon papers (1.25 linear feet) (1946-2004) document Coon's internationally known career in biological chemistry at the University of Michigan. The Coon papers contain two series, Topical Files and Photographs.

Professor of neurology at the University of Michigan. Topical files largely concerning her interest in neurological subjects, notably myasthenia gravis; and photographs.

The collection consists of a single series of topical files relating to her research on neurological subject, particularly myasthenia gravis.

Central academic administrative unit of the University of Michigan which functions as chief executive assistant to the president, responsible for appointments and promotions with oversight for schools, colleges, educational units and programs; including budget planning, legislative relations, institutional research, and affirmative action policies. The Staff Files subgroup contains the files of individual of vice-presidents, associate and assistant vice-presidents, and other staff members within the vice-president's office.

The Staff Files subgroup of the record group Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs consists of 570 linear feet and spans the years from 1947 to 2013. The Staff Files subgroup is comprised of the records of the associate and assistant vice presidents for academic affairs. Whereas the records of the Central Files subgroup often contain finished products, such as reports and policy statements, the Staff Files subgroup tends to document the process of policy formation and other decision-making functions. Scattered through the associate and assistant vice presidents' papers, for example, are frank statements of opinion regarding various schools and programs, candidates for promotion, and the relationship between the branches of the university, as well as notes on meetings with faculty members, committee activities, and other subjects.

The Staff Files subgroup includes the records of the following past and current associate and assistant vice presidents, listed in the order in which their records first appear in the boxlist: Ernest R. Zimmermann, Carolyne K. Davis, Edward A. Dougherty, Richard A. English, Robert L. Williams, John H. Romani, Mary Ann Swain, Robert S. Holbrook, W. Allen Spivey, Robert B. Holmes, Niara Sudarkasa, Robin Jacoby, Robert Sauve, E. Kay Dawson, Susan Lipschutz, Paul Courant, Marilyn Knepp, Pamela A. Raymond, Katharine Soper, Karen Gibbons, John Godfrey, Nancy Cantor, A. Lawrence Fincher, Ralph P. Nichols, Valerie Castle, Glenda Haskell, Linda Gillum, Janet Weiss, Ben van der Plijm, Sharon Schmidt, Kathleen (Kati) Bauer, James Hilton, Stephanie Riegle, Catherine Shaw, Philip Hanlon, Teresa Sullivan, Anne Berens, Brian Konz, John King, Lester Monts, Martha E. Pollack, Lori Haskins, and Ron Fitzgerald. The records of an individual, while still in office, are received by the archives on an ongoing basis.

Professor of anatomy in the University of Michigan Medical School, 1941-1978. Correspondence and other materials relating to his research activities, the publication of books and articles, and the teaching of anatomy.

The papers which survive Dr. Baker reflect only the latter part of his life, primarily 1970 to 1978. They are arranged in a single Alphabetical Subject File. Most of the material is of a routine nature. Those research notes which remain are primarily drafts of published articles, often with a copy of the article and correspondence with the publisher filed with the research. The collection does include files from Dr. Burton's class in anatomy.

Central academic administrative unit of the University of Michigan which functions as chief executive assistant to the president, responsible for appointments and promotions with oversight for schools, colleges, educational units and programs; including budget planning, legislative relations, institutional research, and affirmative action policies. Supplemental Files subgroup includes material on a number of subjects that was filed separately from the vice presidents' or staff's papers when the record group was received.

The Supplemental Files subgroup of the record group Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs consists of 155 linear feet (in 159 boxes) and spans the years from 1953 to 2013. This subgroup consists of material that was not interfiled with the vice presidents' or staff's papers when the record group was received. The records generally were not created or maintained by any one staff member in the Office of Academic Affairs, but rather are the result of the examination of a particular issue or topic over a period of time by a variety of people.

There are 14 series of varying sizes which comprise this subgroup. For an alphabetical list of the series in this subgroup, please consult the Summary Contents List in the Arrangement section of the finding aid.

Professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan. Laboratory workbooks on diabetology and endocrinology from 1960 to 1978.

The collection consists primarily of laboratory workbooks of various experiments conducted between 1960 and 1978. The workbooks concern such subjects as the iodination of insulin, the immunization of guinea pigs, and the immuno assay of insulin.

A second set of workbooks concern the growth hormone. Unfortunately workbooks 4-8 are missing from this set. The third sequence of workbooks relate to insulin radioiodination.

Additionally, the collection includes experimental notes on glucagon radioiodination and gastrin iodination. The last workbook consists of quality control estimates for the HPP assay. There is also one folder of unidentified results from 1962. For a fuller understanding of the results of the assays, please consult the curriculum vitae for published articles on these topics.

Central academic administrative unit of the University of Michigan which functions as chief executive assistant to the president, responsible for appointments and promotions with oversight for schools, colleges, educational units and programs; including budget planning, legislative relations, institutional research, and affirmative action policies. Central Files subgroup includes correspondence files of vice-presidents, associate and assistant vice-presidents, and other staff members within the vice-president's office.

The records of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs date from 1947 to 1997 and total more than 675 linear feet. The records are a rich source of information on the University of Michigan from the 1960s to the present. They contain a wide variety of material documenting the concerns of the administration and, to a lesser extent, the faculty and students regarding academic programs, student and faculty activities, and the administrative operations of the University of Michigan.

The records, which include the provost's files as well as the files of associate and assistant vice presidents, are arranged in three subgroups: Central Files, Staff Files, and Supplemental Files. The Central Files subgroup consists of the records maintained by the provost's office and is discussed in greater detail below. The Staff Files subgroup includes the records of assistant and associate vice presidents and of the assistants to the provost. The Supplemental Files subgroup contains material on specific topics to which a number of academic affairs staff contributed their efforts, including retreats, unit reviews, and searches. Each of the subgroups is fully described in a separate finding aid.

It should be noted that some of the records in the record group predate the founding of the Office of Academic Affairs. Such records were generally brought by vice presidents or staff members from previous positions or inherited from persons who formerly performed their duties.

The Central Files subgroup consists of 605 linear feet dating from the creation of the Office of Academic Affairs in the academic year 1961/1962 to 2012/2013. The records consist primarily of correspondence, minutes and other committee files, reports, and budget materials, reflecting the broad range of responsibilities and functions of the provost. Whereas the records of the Staff Files subgroup tend to document the process of policy formation and decision-making functions, the Central Files records more often contain finished products, such as reports and policy statements. For the researcher interested in the provost's views on a particular topic or issue, or the Office of Academic Affairs involvement in the academic and financial life of various schools and colleges, the Central Files subgroup is the single best starting point.

The records of the Central Files subgroup are broken into series by academic year, and each series consists of one or more of the following subseries: Alphabetical Files, Schools and Colleges Files, and Chronological Files. From 1961/1962 through 1973/1974 the series each consist of one subseries of Alphabetical Files. The Alphabetical Files are arranged alphabetically and include topical files as well as files regarding university academic, research, and service units.

From 1974/1975 to 1983/1984 the series are split into two subseries, Alphabetical Files and Schools and Colleges Files. The Alphabetical Files remain similar in content to previous years with the exception that files relating to academic units, namely schools, colleges, and their departments, now comprise the subseries Schools and Colleges Files. Records concerning centers, special libraries, museums, institutes, and interdisciplinary programs are filed in the Alphabetical Files subseries. The Schools and Colleges Files are arranged alphabetically by academic unit and contain materials relating to the annual budget requests, promotion and tenure decisions, internal and external reviews, dean evaluations, and changes in academic programs.

For the years 1974/1975 to 1981/1982, with the exception of 1976/1977, there is an "Index to Correspondence" located at the end of the Alphabetical Files which lists in chronological order the letters written by the vice president, the name of the recipient, the subject of the letter, and the heading under which it is filed.

From 1984/1985 to 1993/1994, 1998/1999-2008/2009 and 2010/2011-2011/2012 the series consist of three subseries: Alphabetical Files, Schools and Colleges Files, and Chronological Files. The Alphabetical Files and the Schools and Colleges Files, while becoming more voluminous over the years, remain similar in nature. The Chronological Files consist of all outgoing correspondence from the vice president and are arranged by month. The Chronological Files are useful if the researcher knows the date the vice president might have corresponded on a particular topic but is unsure of the heading used for filing in the Alphabetical Files.

The Alphabetical Files, as mentioned above, are a strong source of information on a variety of topics relating to the administration of a large university, including the university's relationship with state and federal governments, issues confronting institutions of higher education at various points in time (student unrest and affirmative action, for example), collaborative efforts with other Big Ten and area colleges and universities, and the creation and revision of university policies. The minutes of the Academic Affairs Advisory Council (AAAC) are an especially good source of information on the activities of the Office of Academic Affairs. The AAAC, composed of the deans of the schools and colleges, directors of institutes, centers, and special libraries, and the staff of the Office of Academic Affairs, was established to hold monthly meetings to discuss educational policy, planning for growth, and special studies.

Because folder titles on a particular subject may vary from year to year, researchers are advised to be imaginative in searching for information in the topical files. It should also be noted that information on any given subject can probably be found in various places in the collection.

The 2010 and 2011 series feature the addition of the Archived Website subseries. These were created to preserve the office's public website over time. The subseries document the mission, activities, policies, and individuals involved in the operation of the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs as they are presented on its public website. Content includes important news and announcements, publications (such as reports and administrative documents), and information about committees, initiatives, and events. This archived website will be captured on a regular, ongoing basis as part of the University of Michigan Web Archives, hosted at https://archive-it.org/organizations/934.

Center was established as the Historical Center for the Health Sciences. Records include interviews of emeritus University of Michigan Medical School faculty members conducted by the Center for the History of Medicine. Transcripts and audio recordings of interviews discussing their backgrounds, education, careers, and tenure at the University of Michigan.

An oral history project undertaken by the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine, the project focused on interviewing retired or emeritus faculty members in order to preserve their institutional knowledge of the Medical Center and the university.

Between the years 2002 and 2004, the center's assistant director for programs, Christine Bass, conducted four interviews. From 2004 to 2007, Enid Galler, proprietor of Voice Treasures, took over the interviewing process and conducted fourteen additional oral histories. All interviews include discussions of the faculty member's early life, education, and career accomplishments.

The interviews are available as digital materials online and were recorded on audio cassettes. In addition to these audio formats, there are one or more folders corresponding to each interview, which contain a typed transcript of the interview, a copy of the faculty member's curriculum vitae and in some cases, additional biographical information. The interviews conducted by Enid Galler include an index (with people, organizations, and subjects) and a detailed subject list. Mary Beth Reilly conducted later interviews.

Transcripts are arranged alphabetically by last name, with all audio cassettes in Box 2.