Search

The Bentley Historical Library houses the Michigan Historical collections, which documents the history of Michigan; and the University Archives and Records Program, which maintains the historical record of the University of Michigan. Founded in 1935 as the Michigan Historical Collections, directors of the library include Lewis G. Vander Velde, F. Clever Bald, Robert M. Warner, Francis X. Blouin, Jr., and Terrence J. McDonald. The records include administrative files, correspondence, meeting materials, files on exhibits, archived websites, images, audio-visual media, and documentation of special projects such as the Vatican Archives project.

The records of the Bentley Historical Library were received in six main accessions 1991, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2014. Together the records comprise 79 linear feet, plus two oversize boxes, and oversize folder, three flat file drawers, and more than 16 GB of data spanning the years 1935-2014. The researcher should consult the summary box list on page vii for a quick overview of the materials in the collection.

Professor of history and director of the Michigan Historical Collections at the University of Michigan; professional correspondence, lecture and research notes, speeches, writings, and personal miscellanea.

The F. Clever Bald collection includes correspondence, speeches, lecture and research notes, and manuscripts of published and unpublished research writings. Of interest is Bald's manuscript of his "The University of Michigan in World War II." Other World War II materials include completed questionnaires which he sent out to Michigan colleges and universities relating to their activities during the war. There are also letters (1944-1946) received from Chester A. Antiau discussing his work with the U. S. Army Information and Education Service during World War II including comments on conditions in Italy and Germany. Other parts of the collection are the letters he wrote while serving in the 111th Ambulance Company. Other files concern his activities with the Michigan Historical Collections, the Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, and the Algonquin Club of Detroit.

Vice-president and secretary of the University of Michigan; correspondence; research materials for his biographies of university presidents; files relating to activities on the Ann Arbor City Council; course notes from classes at the University of Michigan; and photographs.

The Shirley Wheeler Smith papers include a combination of personal and professional materials. Much of Smith's career with the U-M is documented in the official records of the University, most notably in the records of the Secretary's Office and the papers of the presidents under whom he served (Angell, Hutchins, Burton, Little, and Ruthven). Even so, these papers contain much material relating to the business affairs of the U-M. The extensive correspondence files (with partial index) demonstrate wide influence in all phases of University operations as he corresponded with presidents, faculty, members of the board of regents, and other university personnel. Also documented in the collection is Smith's activities with the city of Ann Arbor and with other community organizations.

The collection has been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Research for writings; Topical files; Ann Arbor City Council; Papers (by date); Personal and miscellaneous; and Photographs.

Office headed by F. Clever Bald, and established to collect materials documenting activities of University of Michigan during World War II. Includes files documenting activities of the War Historian as well as various war related special programs including records of the Army Japanese Language School; files of Marvin Niehuss, the coordinator of Emergency Training at the university; records of the Civil Affairs Training School; and records of the University War Board.

The records of the University War Historian contain a wealth of information about the university's war effort during the Second World War. They include correspondence, reports and other material generated by the War Historian's office as well as records of special war related programs and projects at the university and documentation of student activities on campus and of students and alumni who served in the war.

Among the programs which are documented in the University War Historian records are the Japanese Language School; the Civil Affairs Training School (CATS), Navy V-12 Program, Judge Advocates General School (JAGS), and Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), which prepared their students to administer occupied countries; specialized engineering and public health programs; student groups; and programs promoting veterans' readjustment to civilian life. Also well documented is the work of the University Extension Service which taught courses to defense workers as well as to men and women in the armed services. Material includes contracts with the federal government, reports from various programs, correspondence, and administrative files. The records also detail the work of the University War Board which coordinated university planning for the war effort.

The records are organized into four series: University War Board, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Miscellaneous Programs and Topical Files. Although the collection is largely unprocessed, the files are accurately labeled and accessible for research.