Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The records of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, cover the numerous districts and schools that developed and then gradually merged into an area school system.

The collection consists of nine series: Ann Arbor Board of Education; Ann Arbor Public Schools Historic Records; Historic School District Records; Pittsfield Township; Administration; Desegregation, Jones School; Scrapbooks; Miscellaneous other records; Directories.

Letitia J. Byrd is an African-American local community leader and a counselor for Huron High School in the Ann Arbor Public School system. She is also very involved with other Ann Arbor community organizations. This collection includes photographs, professional correspondence, and documents recording her involvement with numerous local organizations and with the Ann Arbor School System.

The Letitia J. Byrd papers include photographs, correspondence and documents regarding the life of Letitia Byrd, her career in the Ann Arbor Public School System, and her community activism.

School records consisting of executive committee and faculty meeting minutes, subject files concerning in part promotion and tenure decisions, teacher certification, programs in Detroit Public Schools, the School's accreditation review in 1973-1974, and the University's review of the School in 1982-1984. Topical files of various deans and administrative officers, notably James B. Edmonson, Willard Olson, Carl F. Berger, Frederick W. Bertolaet, Cecil Miskel, Joan Stark, and Charles F. Lehmann; and information on programs and departments at one time administered by the School, including Department of Physical Education, Fresh Air Camp, Bureau of School Services, and vocational education.

The School of Education records consist of executive committee and faculty meeting minutes, subject files concerning in part promotion and tenure decisions, teacher certification, programs in Detroit Public Schools, the School's accreditation review in 1973-1974, and the University's review of the School in 1982-1984. Topical files of various deans and administrative officers, notably James B. Edmonson, Willard Olson, Carl F. Berger, Frederick W. Bertolaet, Joan Stark, and Charles F. Lehmann; and information on programs and departments at one time administered by the School, including Department of Physical Education, Fresh Air Camp, Bureau of School Services, and vocational education.

Project Community at the University of Michigan is one of the nation's oldest continuously-running community service-learning courses. Started by student activists in 1961, Project Community grew out of the Civil Rights movement to promote undergraduate students' service learning and social activism in education, criminal justice, public health, and social work. The collection includes project records, oral histories, scrapbooks, photographs, publications, and a program history.

The collection includes project records

William D. Ratcliff (1941-) was an educator within the Ann Arbor, Mich. Public School system for over 30 years who took an active interest in the education of African-American youth in the Ann Arbor school district. This collection covers the time Ratcliff spent as the Executive Director of the Saturday Academy for African American Students, as well as his time as a guidance counselor within Ann Arbor Public Schools. The collection includes general information about the Ann Arbor Public School district, and information regarding the many organizations and programs that Ratcliff took part in.

William D. Ratcliff (1941-) was a counselor within the Ann Arbor Public School system for over 30 years. This collection documents his time within Ann Arbor Public Schools, as well as his work promoting the achievement of African-American youth in the Ann Arbor educational system. The collection is of value to those interested in collections reflecting community efforts to relieve educational disparities seen among minority students and for documentation on how a successful non-profit organization functions. The collection is divided into six series: the Saturday Academy series (divided into 2 subseries, Administrative and Academics), the African-American and Minority Organizations/Programs series, the Educational Organizations/Programs series, the Ann Arbor Public Schools series, the Newspaper Clippings series, and the Audiovisual materials series.

W. Scott Westerman was a life-long educator and administrator who graduated with his PhD from University of Michigan's School of Education. From 1967 to 1971 he served as superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) and was dedicated to increasing equity for Black and female students. The bulk of materials in this collection are from AAPS and include school board materials, reports, curriculums, etc., and material related to gender and racial inequalities in education. Also, a book of his World War II letters entitled Letters Home (2015) and a White Panther report (1969).

This collection contains materials from W. Scott Westerman's career at Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS). Most of the contents are related to Westerman's role as superintendent. The bulk of these materials are from 1967 to 1971. Westerman collected school board materials including meeting minutes, correspondence, proposals, budget reports, and various other documents related to the district. Other related materials include teacher work plans, union master agreements, curriculums, superintendent recommendations, annual reports, policies, and documents related to schools in the district.

AAPS materials also include records related to Westerman's mission of increasing equity for Black and female students. Documents related to equity are referred to as "human relations". In 1968, Westerman's files describe a protest regarding AAPS's treatment of Black students. The students created a list of "21 demands to correct racial inequalities". There are various reports, correspondence, and documentation related to this event.

Other important topics listed across this collection include sex education, dress and grooming, desegregation, and other student issues.

Other professional files include a folder of teaching materials from University High School and a written history of Eastern Michigan University's College of Education. Three folders include personal files about Ann Arbor's Rotary Club, the Methodist church, and a White Panther report from 1969. Westerman's book Letters Home: World War II Through a Soldier's Eyes (2015) is also included.