Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Blanchard family papers document the lives and careers of several members of the Blanchard, Cobb, and Proctor families from the mid-nineteenth century through the late twentieth century. Includes visual materials, publications, personal writings, and extensive correspondence files.

The Blanchard Family Papers document the professional achievements and personal lives of several generations of a scientifically minded and artistically gifted family. The papers focus heavily upon the eminent plant pathologist and nematologist Nathan A. Cobb, his wife Alice Vara Cobb, their daughter, biologist Frieda Cobb Blanchard, and her husband, herpetologist Frank Nelson Blanchard (the latter two of whom were professors at the University of Michigan). In addition to the photographs, drawings, correspondence, journals, and writings of these four individuals, the collection is rich in family correspondence, diaries, and personal papers from other members of the Cobb and Blanchard families (and their forebears and branches, including the Bigelow, Proctor, Ross, White, and Randall families). The Blanchard Family Papers will be of value to researchers interested in a variety of topics: scientific endeavors and methodologies (and in particular those related to agronomy, nematology, botany, and herpetology); the visual arts and the development of photography in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; colonial and provincial life in Australia and Hawaii (respectively); and the daily affairs of American (and Michigan) families throughout the twentieth century. The Blanchard Family Papers consist of seven series: Nathan A. Cobb, Alice Vara Cobb, Frieda Cobb Blanchard, Frank Nelson Blanchard, Blanchard and Cobb Family Letters, Other Family Members, and Isaac G. Blanchard.

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.

Bright Sheng, a composer born in China, is also renown as a conductor, pianist, and researcher. The Bright Sheng Collection contains the papers of University of Michigan composition professor Bright Sheng. In addition to Sheng's own files and correspondence, it includes manuscript, printed, and published versions of his scores (printed scores are for musicians' use, while published scores are for a wider audience), published and unpublished recordings of his works, interviews, programs and reviews featuring his works, and work from Sheng's students. Also included are field recordings and an audio diary from the 2000 Silk Road project in China.

The Bright Sheng Collection contains the papers of University of Michigan composition professor Bright Sheng. It is comprised of 17 series: Biographical, 1982-c2000; Correspondence, 1962-2004; Professional, 1997-1998; Career, 1988-1995; Program Notes [undated]; Awards and Citations, 1984-2003; Photographs, 1985-2004; Reviews, 1986-2004; Programs, 1973-2003; Libretti, 1999-2003; Published Scores, 1988-1999; Printed Scores, 1982-2002; Manuscripts and Revised Scores, 1985-2004; Audio Recordings [undated]; Student Works, 1996-2004; Silk Road Trip, 2000; and Moving Images, 1985-2003. Together, these series document Sheng's career from his early days as a student to his current status as world-renowned composer and professor.

The first six series in the Bright Sheng Collection are extremely short, with a combined physical extent of approximately .5 linear foot. The Biographical, 1982-c2000 series is comprised of a single folder containing biographical material about Sheng. The Correspondence, 1962-2004 series contains topical files of Sheng's correspondence with colleagues in China, with his professors, and with his family, as well as a partial chronological file of correspondence falling outside of those three categories. The Professional, 1997-1998 series includes an article written by Sheng, as well as articles in Chinese about Sheng's music. The Career, 1988-1995 series contains materials related to Sheng's various appointments and positions over the years. The Program Notes series contains an article about the Sung Dynasty and the work Two Poems from the Sung Dynasty. The Awards and Citations, 1984-2003 series includes materials related to various honors Sheng has received in the course of his career, including a MacArthur 'Genius' grant and the University of Michigan's Leonard Bernstein Distinguished University Professorship.

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.

Industrial hygienist, consultant and lecturer in environmental and industrial health in the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan. Logs of daily activities, 1936-1961, correspondence relating to consulting projects, speech and lecture material, and research files on lead poisoning and the effects of air conditioning on workers; history of occupational health at the University of Michigan, 1873-1970, history of the American Academy of Occupational Medicine, 1946-1956; history of the Bernardino Ramazzini Society, 1942-1978; study of automobile body industry in Detroit, 1936; and related photographs.

The papers of Carey Pratt McCord represent only a fragment of what once must have been a larger body of papers and consequently document only a small portion of his varied and active career. The collection has been arranged into the following series: Personal; Correspondence; Speeches and lectures; Writings and related; Research files; Miscellaneous; and Photographs.

Professor of Philosophy at The University of Michigan; correspondence; records of University of Michigan and other organizational activities; articles, books, and speeches; and topical files.

The Carl Cohen papers is comprised of correspondence, memoranda, writings, and topical files reflecting his teaching and other responsibilities as a member of the faculty of the University of Michigan. In addition, other files document his activities in other organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and as a labor and grievance arbitrator. Many of the files concern his continuing interest in such contemporary issues as affirmative action and the use of animals in medical research.

The Carl E. Guthe collection contains the papers and photographs of a noted professor of anthropology and director of the Museum of Anthropology and University Museum of the University of Michigan, primarily concerning expedition to the Philippines, 1923-1925.

The collection, which was received in two accessions, contains papers and photographs documenting Guthe's work at the University of Michigan, including the 1922 expedition to the Philippines and other expeditions and materials relating to his teaching and administrative activities. The collection is organized into eight series: Philippine Expedition Papers, University Files, Philippine Expediting Photographs, Journals, Writings, Clippings, Other, and Correspondence. The 1944 accession includes the series Philippine Expedition Papers, University Files, Philippine Expedition Photographs, and Correspondence. The 2006 addition includes the series Journals, Correspondence, Writings, Clippings, Other, and Photographs. .

Professor of actuary mathematics and of insurance at the University of Michigan from 1941 until 1974. Papers concern his teaching career at Michigan and consulting work on pension and social security matters.

The Carl H. Fischer collection dates from 1936 until 1985, but primarily documents the period from 1950 until 1970. The papers mainly reflect the Dr. Fischer's professional activities within the University of Michigan School of Business, as a consultant to various organizations both American and foreign, on pension and social security matters, and as a participant in professional organizations and societies. There are thus few personal materials in the papers.

The collection is arranged into four series: University of Michigan, Consulting, Professional Organizations, and Conference Papers/Other writings. Additional information on Dr. Fischer may also be found in the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs record group of which he was director in the year 1952, and in the records of the University of Michigan School of Business Administration. Published work may be found in the University of Michigan on-line catalog.

Professor of English at University of Michigan. Correspondence, diaries, and topical files relating to his interest in English grammar and usage, his evaluation of various dictionaries, his interest in Polish-American relations, and the controversy surrounding Henshaw Ward's denial of Peary's discovery of the North Pole.

The Wells collection is comprised of the following series: Subject file; Personal diaries; Robert E. Peary; and Other papers.

Interdisciplinary area studies center at the University of Michigan. Records include material from the Department of Near Eastern Studies predating the founding of the center as well as files on center directors, conferences, seminars, and lectures. Administrative files include executive committee minutes beginning in 1971, center reviews and evaluations, and records on funding and funding agencies.

The records of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies document the founding and functioning of the center, from the 1960s to the 1990s, and include historical materials about the Department of Near Eastern Studies dating from the 1940s and 1950s. The records cover the center's history fairly evenly, but document the period from the 1970s to the 1990s in greater depth than the center's first decade. While the 1960s are documented in correspondence, funding reports, and press clippings, records from the later decade also include executive committee minutes, material from conferences and lectures, and photographs. The CMENAS records cover a variety of topics related to the history, politics, economy, literature and art of the Middle East. Furthermore, the records document how American universities studied those topics from the 1940s to the 1990s.

The records are arranged in twelve series: Area Centers Material, Executive Committee, Evaluation, Funding, Historical Material, Intra-University Programs, Name File, National Organizations, Outreach, Publications Related Files, Special Activities, and Photographs.