Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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Collection

James Orin Murfin papers, 1896-1940

8 linear feet

Republican politician and regent of University of Michigan. Correspondence, 1901-1940, personal and professional materials, legal briefs and letters relating to William Cook estate and other University of Michigan affairs during his regency, 1918-1937; also correspondence while member of University's Board in Control of Athletics concerning University's departure from and return to Big Nine Conference and college athletics in general.

The Murfin papers relate mainly to JOM's activities as regent and as member of the University of Michigan's Board in Control of Athletics. The collection contains information concerning Michigan's departure from and return to the Big Nine Conference and the amateur-professional dilemma in college athletics. The regental material documents such problems as administrative oversight, particularly selection of the president and settlement of the William Cook estate. As member of the Law Club's governing body, Murfin helped to shape the university's case when Cook's bequest was contested by his wife. Although Murfin was influential in Michigan Republican party affairs, he filed his political papers separately and thus they are not included here.

The collection has been divided into two series: Correspondence, 1901-1940 and Topical Files which contain personal information and legal briefs concerning in part the Cook bequest

Collection

John Cyril Abbott papers, 1910-1915, 1918

1 items (in folder) — 1 oversize volume

University of Michigan College of Engineering graduate (Class of 1916); engineer and army officer in World War I. Photograph album containing photos and memorabilia relating to Abbott's student activities; letter to his mother dated August 1918, with impressions of Europe during the war.

This collection includes a letter to Abbott's mother, dated August 1918, containing his impressions of England and France written shortly after his arrival in Europe, as well as a photograph album, circa 1910-1915, relating to student life at the University of Michigan.

The album of photographs and memorabilia relates to student activities, especially athletics, the Michigan Union Opera, Phi Delta Chi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Triangles, and Vulcans.

Collection

John J. Smolenski scrapbook, 1908-1910

1 volume

Student from Grand Rapids, Mich., attended Law School at the University of Michigan, 1908-1910. Smolenski's student scrapbook.

Scrapbook containing photographs and memorabilia of student life and activities. Includes photos of student rooms, freshman-sophmore games, football, track, parades, social clubs.

Collection

Michigan Union records, 1884-1996 (majority within 1904-1995)

23 linear feet — 13 oversize volumes — 1 oversize folder

Online
University of Michigan student organization formed to build and manage a student union, sponsors a variety of social and service programs and activities, includes records of building and financial committees and various activity/organization files including the University Mimes and the Union Opera (later renamed MUSKET) and scrapbooks and photographs of Union activities.

The records of the Michigan Union measure 21 linear feet and 13 oversize volumes. The records date from 1890 to 1983, although there are some collected photographs dating as early as 1884. The collection has been divided into six series: Central Files, Activity/Organization Files, General Files, Photographs, Songs, and Board of Representatives.

Collection

Ralph Stone papers, 1882-1956

4 linear feet — 3 oversize volumes

Detroit banker, alumnus and regent of the University of Michigan; contain correspondence and other papers largely concerning University affairs, including athletics, the Development Council, alumni activities, regental affairs; also papers concerning Detroit city government, Detroit Street Railways, affairs of the Alien Property Custodian in World War I, recollections of University life in 1890's,articles on Hazen S. Pingree and Chase S. Osborn; also scrapbooks, speeches, manuscripts, and genealogical material.

The Stone collection is arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Speeches and Articles; Subject Files; and Clipping and Scrapbooks.

Collection

Ralph W. Aigler papers, 1908-1962 (majority within 1920-1940)

17 linear feet

Aigler was a University of Michigan Law School professor who was heavily involved in university athletics. The collection consists primarily of extensive correspondence and Board in Control of Athletics documentation, but also includes papers written in both his legal and university capacities.

The Aigler collection consists of six series covering his collegiate and professional life: Correspondence, Board in Control of Athletics, Writings, University of Michigan Teaching and Administration, Legal Files, and Biographical. Through correspondence and topical files, the collection documents Aigler's university life and his life-long interest in intercollegiate athletics. The collection has strong potential for research regarding early University of Michigan athletics, and general correspondence to and from Aigler. While there is some material related to Aigler's teaching career, this area is not particularly strong.

Collection

Rentschler's Studio photograph collection, 1889-1969

3 volumes — 275 prints — 600 negatives (in 8 boxes)

Ann Arbor, Michigan photographic studio. Collection includes selected copy prints, and glass and film negatives relating to University of Michigan athletics, both photos of individual athletes and of team groupings; also photos of various faculty and University administrators and log books of photos.

The Rentschler Studios collection is made up of nearly 625 negatives and 275 copy prints. It comprises five linear feet and is stored in seven boxes, four large and three small. The collection also includes the studio's log books of photos. The photographs span the years from 1889 to 1969. Although the Rentschlers operated a private studio, over two-thirds of the portraits are of persons directly affiliated with the University of Michigan. The two largest categories of portraits are: 1) faculty and administrators and 2) athletes, teams, and coaches. There are also portraits of students, clergy, businessmen, city officials, and others.

The collection is divided into three series, Negatives, Prints, and Log Books. Glass and film negatives comprise the vast majority of the collection and are arranged into four subseries: Numerical; Team Portraits; Miscellaneous; and Football Team Portraits, 1896-1942. The smaller series - Prints - is located in Box 4 and is arranged into two subseries: Athletics and Portraits.

Collection

Robert H. Gillmore scrapbook page, 1910-1913

1 scrapbook page

1913 graduate of the University of Michigan's Law School. Consists of a single scrapbook page with a photograph of the 1910 Michigan vs. Minnesota game and dance cards.

The collection consists of a single scrapbook page with a photograph of the 1910 Michigan vs. Minnesota game and dance cards.

Collection

University of Michigan Photographs Vertical File, 1850s-1980s

11.25 linear feet — 25 drawers (oversize)

Online
Photographs collected from various sources, depicting buildings, faculty, students, and other topics relating to the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan Photographs Vertical File represents a miscellaneous assemblage of U of M-related photographs from many different sources, mainly prior to 1950. The vertical file is especially strong on the earliest photographic images of the campus, university buildings, and class activities. While the vertical file contains many images of individuals, researchers should first consult the library's on-line catalog for images of faculty, administrators, and other University personalities. Most photographs originally accumulated by a University department or other unit are kept with that unit's records.

The arrangement of the photographic images was intended to parallel the classification used with University of Michigan published materials and with manuscript materials. Both of these used a classification system using letters of the alphabet (A through N only) for groupings of published or manuscript material. This system was carried over for use with the library's photographic images though there are certain categories for which images are unlikely to be found (Category A, for example, which pertains to legislation affecting the University or Category I which is reserved for university publications of a scientific or literary nature). The classification is further broken down under each letter by a number code which refers to a more specific subdivision. The heaviest concentration of images will be found under C (for U-M schools and colleges, departments, and other units), D (for university buildings and views), and F (for class pictures, photos of student organizations, and images detailing aspects of student life and customs).

Each heading in this finding aid includes the letter classification plus a numbered subdivision. In addition, the individual envelopes are numbered sequentially. Headings for which there are oversized images (usually larger than 8x10) will be indicated by reference to medium or large size photographs. When requesting material, researchers must specify the heading and the classification and folder number.

This finding aid describes only a small portion of the Bentley Library's U-M visual images. The on-line catalog will direct the researcher to additional images.

Collection

Walter H. Sawyer papers, 1900-1931

5 linear feet — 1 oversize folder

Hillsdale, Michigan physician, regent of the University of Michigan. Correspondence, notes, reports, addresses, and other papers relating to board of regents activities and state medical issues.

The Sawyer papers contain a mixture of papers relating to his political and regental activities, and to his medical practice and association with professional medical groups. The collection has been arranged into three series: Correspondence and other papers (arranged chronologically); University of Michigan Board of Regents; and Addresses and Miscellaneous. Sawyer's regent's papers are significant for information on those individuals who were considered for the presidency of the University of Michigan in 1909, 1920, 1925, and 1930. As a heavily involved regent, Sawyer maintained communications with his fellow regents, with university presidents and other administrators. These letters and other documents will be found throughout the Correspondence series. These individuals include James B. Angell, Harry B. Hutchins, Marion L. Burton, Clarence C. Little, and Alexander Ruthven.