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Zoologist, college professor, president of University of Michigan, 1929-1951. Professional files relating to his career with the University Museum and as a professor of zoology, and presidential files containing correspondence, reports, speeches, and other University materials, including budget and legislative files, material relating to changes in University administration, his relationship with faculty, students and alumni, and photographs.

The Alexander Ruthven papers consists of two series of records. The first is the papers of Ruthven as president of the University of Michigan, 1929 to 1951. The second, and smaller, series is the files maintained by Ruthven as a zoologist with the University Museum and as professor of zoology. This latter series dates largely from 1908 to 1929 but also includes collected earlier files from the 1870s.

Professor at Albion College, later professor of political economy at University of Michigan. Correspondence, manuscript articles and lecture notes largely relating to his interest in economics and political science.

The Taylor collection has been arranged into four series: Biographical; Correspondence; Essays and Other Writings; and Miscellaneous. Of most note is the Correspondence series which dates from 1878 to 1932 with a few letters dating to 1949 collected by his colleague Z.C. Dickinson who was engaged in a biographical study of Taylor. The correspondence illustrates the range of Taylor's acquaintances and includes important figures in the study of political economy and economics. Corespondents include Henry Carter Adams, Joseph A. Schumpeter, F.W. Taussig, and Friedrich A. Hayek. A selected list of Taylor's correspondents is appended to this finding aid.

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.