Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

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.

BMC Media Services (formerly Biomedical Communications) is an in-house graphics and marketing production service for the University of Michigan. The collection is comprised of visual materials, including photographic prints, negatives, slides, and contact sheets, as well as videotapes, a few films, and digital files. The records reflect BMC's biomedical origins and document the history of the medical school, health science, hospitals, and related departments at the University of Michigan.

The records of BMC Media Services (formerly Biomedical Communications) measure 31.65 linear feet of visual material in a variety of formats. The records consist of seven series, largely different photographic categories: Faculty and Staff Portraits, Group Portraits, Class Photographs, Building Photographs, Topical Photographs, Films, and Videotapes.

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.

Teaching and research unit of the University of Michigan Medical School. Records include correspondence, 1936-1953, of department chairman Bradley M. Patten; lists of examination questions, 1910-1921; schedules of lectures for courses, 1936-1958; information sheets on faculty members, 1932-1933; minutes of the General Committee of the Division of the Biological Sciences, 1951-1952; and grant applications and annual reports of the chairman A. Kent Christensen, 1978-1982.

The records of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (University of Michigan) include correspondence, 1936-1953, of department chairman Bradley M. Patten; lists of examination questions, 1910-1921; schedules of lectures for courses, 1936-1958; information sheets on faculty members, 1932-1933; minutes of the General Committee of the Division of the Biological Sciences, 1951-1952; and grant applications and annual reports of the chairman A. Kent Christensen, 1978-1982. The records are divided into four series: Chairman's Files, Grants, Personnel Material, and Departmental Histories and Photographs.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science is a teaching and research unit of the University of Michigan Medical School. The collection consists of publications produced by the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, including annual reports, newsletters, brochures and histories.

Publications are divided into two series: Unit Publications and Sub-Unit Publications.

The series Unit Publications contains a brochure and a proposal regarding the consolidation of ophthalmology services at the university into one center as well as a 1999 history "A Heritage of Excellence: The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Michigan 1872-1999." There is also a program from a concert in 1997 Symphonic Visions, celebrating the 125th anniversary.

The series Sub-Unit Publications contains annual reports, brochures, directories, newsletters and reports of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center. The newsletter Advances in Ophthalmology begins in 2001. Dedication and groundbreaking material for the Kellogg Eye Center and the Brehm Center are also included.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science is a teaching and research unit of the University of Michigan Medical School. Records include chairman's topical file relating to the administration and programs of the department. The majority of the documentation is from the tenure of Paul R. Lichter, although the tenures of John Henderson and Bruce Fralick are also represented. Documentation relates to the administration and programs of the department, and the construction of the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center.

The records of the University of Michigan Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science were received in two separate accessions. The first accession, received in 1994, is located in box 1. The materials received from chairman Paul R. Lichter in 2007 are located in boxes 2-5. The records consist of 5 linear feet, and are organized into two topical series: Chairman's Topical Files, 1951-1981 and Paul R. Lichter Topical Files, 1978-2003.

The records of the Division of Research Development and Administration (1919-1996) encompass the DRDA and all of its predecessor organizations, including the Department of Engineering Research, the Engineering Research Institute, the University of Michigan Research Institute, and the Office of Research Administration. Record types include correspondence, topical subject files, research grant files, meeting minutes, financial records, and photographs.

The records of the Division of Research Development and Administration (1919-1996) encompass both the DRDA and all of its predecessor organizations. The papers have been divided into seven major series: Governing and Oversight Bodies (1919-1964), Staff and Committee Records (ca. 1922-1979), Administrative Files (1922-1972), Correspondence Files (1943-1972), Willow Run Laboratories (1946-1966), Directors' Files, and several boxes of Research Grant Files on microfilm. There are also four smaller series: the Engineering College Research Council (1959-1961), Review of the DRDA - Report to Harold Shapiro, 1980, Engineering Research Institute - miscellaneous research reports, Photographs, and Programmed Research Information System at Michigan (PRISM) Reports.

Pediatrician, professor and philanthropist, joined University of Michigan Dept. of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases in 1934, and served with the 298th General Hospital Unit during World War II. Papers include medical school lecture notes, class of 1931 files, medical research files; correspondence, histories, photographs and motion pictures relating to the 298th General Hospital Unit, family history materials including Frank A. Towsley's diary, 1876, and family correspondence, 1878-1926 and photographs.

The papers of Harry A. Towsley provide a broad overview of the many facets of his career, including his medical education at the University of Michigan, his service with the 298th General Hospital during World War II, and his professional career as a pediatrician and educator. The collection is arranged in eleven series as follows: Biographical Material; Correspondence; Family History; Foundation Relations Committee Files; General Files; Iodine and Goiter Research; Pediatric Files; Student Notes; Reunion Files; 298th General Hospital Records; and Films.

The University of Michigan Hospital system has evolved and expanded since its inception in 1869. The various hospitals, such as the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, provide medical treatment to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. The Hospitals records contain five series: Hospital Administration, Nursing, Committees/Councils, Patient Files, and Hospital Buildings. This collection includes meeting minutes, patient files, director files, correspondence, and more.

the University of Michigan Hospitals records include administrative correspondence and topical files; committee files; ward reports and other case records; annual reports of hospital departments; records of hospital activities, and clippings