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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.

Records generated by administrators and offices charged with the financial activities of the University, including Secretary and Vice-President Shirley W. Smith and Controller and Assistant Secretary John C. Christensen; include general University financial records; records of land; trust fund records; proposed development and construction projects; operating records of buildings, divisions and other units.

The records of Financial Operations date from 1837 to 1982, primarily after 1910. The 27 linear feet of manuscript material, 52 oversized volumes and one reel of microfilm reflect not only the financial records normally associated with an accounting office, but also the broad range of subjects which became a concern under the leadership of Shirley Smith. What would eventually become Financial Operations may have served as a records storage office for many of the other units under Smith's control. In any event, Financial Operations became the guardian of a wide variety of records, documenting the University in a number of ways not normally expected of an accounting service.

Of particular note, the collection contains a variety of different record formats. Bound materials, in the form of books, are included in the boxes and when numbering more than one, are listed in the finding aid as multiple volumes. The collection also contains oversized volumes, in the form of large accounting books. These oversized volumes are numbered and stored separately. They are listed in the finding aid where intellectually appropriate, and designated by volume number. Enclosed in this finding aid is an index of the oversized volumes, organized by number, and their contents.

The collection is divided into six series: General University Financial Records; Trust Fund Records; Records of Land, Proposed Development and Construction; Operating Records of Buildings, Divisions and other Units; Miscellaneous Reports, Studies and Volumes; and Accounting Office Records.

Graduate School of the University of Michigan. Includes Bulletins and Announcements of courses and degree requirements, graduate student hand books and other information for graduate students.

The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies Announcements, Bulletins and Handbooks series consists of publications directly related to graduate school policies and procedures and includes information on degree program requirements and curriculum.

Academic degree program requirements are defined in what is called the university "bulletin" or general catalog. For example, program requirements outline how many credits and what subjects a student needs to complete in order to receive a degree in an academic program within a specific school or college. At the University of Michigan, the degree program requirements are positioned as a contract between the university and the student with regard to the definition and program requirements.

Included in this series are the Announcement (or Bulletin), Graduate Student Handbook and Information for Graduate Students. Some publications (or their successors) may no longer be available in print but are available on the school s website.

Note that other publications produced by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, such as Rackham Reports, are separately cataloged.

Graduate School of the University of Michigan. Records include dean's topical files, 1892-1996; files of associate deans; minutes of the executive board; project and grant files detailing faculty and student research; lists of degrees granted; records of fellowships and awards granted by the graduate school and university; and files relating to academic departments and programs, including reviews of degree programs.

The records of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies document the administration of the school, its academic programs and research projects and fellowships funded by the school and outside sources. The records include Dean's Files, minutes of the Executive Board and Administrative Council, Academic Unit and Program Evaluation files, and grants administration records.

Records of the Graduate School have been received by the library in numerous accessions, some large others quite small. Some accessions represent continuations or complements to previously received materials. This finding attempts to intellectually integrate continuing or similar record series received in multiple accessions.

The records are organized into a number of series. Among the more significant are:

1. Deans' Topical File
2. Research Records
3. University Units
4. Program Evaluations
5. Faculty Research Grants
6. Degree Lists
7. Faculty Fellowships, Grants and Awards
8. Graduate School Executive Board and Administrative Council

In 2008, the Rackham School of Graduate Studies announced that it would become a 'paperless' office and that future accessions to the Bentley Library would be electronic. The materials from 1990 to 2003 were thus digitized by Rackham staff (from the original paper records) and saved as PDF (Portable Document Format) files. As of 2012, these digital accessions comprise two subseries within the Graduate School Executive Board and Administrative Council series and Program Evaluation series.

University of Michigan unit established to coordinate loan of library materials to high schools and various local organizations, and to supplement the program of the Extension Service. Administrative files, including historical material, annual and monthly reports, and subject files; and published material consisting of bulletins, and printed reading lists and bibliographies.

The Library Extension Services' collection dates from 1916 to 1980. It is divided into two series, an administrative file and unit publications. The administrative file (1916-1980) is arranged alphabetically, one exception being historical material that has been grouped together at the beginning of the series. Included in the series is a nearly complete run of annual reports and information regarding branch libraries. Information regarding the Detroit branch is particularly extensive, and includes a number of annual reports (1959-1980). There is information regarding a cooperative project sponsored by the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University in the Saginaw area (ca. 1967). The series also contains several folders of information regarding a Special Committee re Cooperative Services of the Michigan Library Association (1960-1967).

The Publications series (1919-1979), has been supplemented by material collected previously by the Bentley Library and represents all of the publications of LES available at the Bentley. Included are the LES Bulletin of Information (1919-1920 to 1952), recommended books for secondary school libraries (1931-1952), alumni reading lists (1931-1948), and bibliographies on selected subjects (ca. 1975-ca. 1979).

The Photographs series includes images showing staff, exhibitions and other activities of the Library Extension Service and views of the library facilities.

Professor of biology and dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies; contain correspondence and other papers concerning his professional activities; and biographical sketch.

The Okkelberg collection is comprised of correspondence dating from 1910 to 1950, the approximate dates of his tenure at the University of Michigan. The correspondence is arranged chronologically and relates primarily to his career as a professor of zoology and to his work as an University of Michigan assistant and associate dean of the graduate school. Okkelberg corresponded with colleagues and administrators, within and outside the University of Michigan community. Correspondents include: Marion L. Burton, Oct. 1920, Robert M. Lovett, Sept. 1926, Jacob E. Reighard, July 1913, and Alexander G. Ruthven, June 1914 and April 1918.

Physicist, University of Michigan professor, dean of the graduate school; correspondence, writings, speeches, organizational files, audio-visual materials.

Although the Ralph A. Sawyer collection includes materials relating to all phases of his career, beginning with his studies at the University of Chicago in 1918-1919, the strength of the files are for those activities outside of the University of Michigan, notably his work with the U.S. Navy laboratories, Joint Task Force One, the American Institute of Physics, and the Optical Society of America. Files dealing with his University of Michigan activities are less complete as these materials will be found with the records of those units which Sawyer headed.

Architectural and engineering firm established in 1853 and headquartered in Detroit, Mich. with offices throughout the United States. Collection contains architectural drawings of five Michigan projects located in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Flint.

This collection consists of architectural drawings for five projects: the Gregory Mayer & Thom and Society of Arts and Crafts buildings in Detroit, the Industrial Mutual Association (IMA) Auditorium in Flint, and the University of Michigan's Chemistry and Rackham buildings in Ann Arbor.