Christopher Armstrong papers, 2008-2015

Summary

Creator:

Armstrong, Christopher H.

Abstract:

Christopher H. Armstrong was the first openly gay student body president of the Michigan Student Assembly at the University of Michigan. This collection documents his undergraduate experience, speaking engagements, and the lawsuit Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell in which Armstrong was represented by attorney Deborah Gordon. Materials include court documents, news articles, television news coverage including interviews with Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, speeches, notes, and correspondence.

Extent:

1 linear foot (1 box)
18.2 GB

Language:

English

Call Number:

2014124 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Lilly Carrel, August 2017.

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection documents the experiences of Christopher Armstrong, the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan, during his tenure as an undergraduate student, president of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), and the lawsuit he brought against a Michigan's assistant attorney general, Andrew Shirvell. Materials include court documents, news articles, television news coverage, speeches, notes, correspondence, and student government material between 2008 and 2015.

Biographical / Historical:

Christopher "Chris" Armstrong was born in 1989, the son Steven Holm and Cynthia Rex Armstrong. Chris attended Ridgefield High School, in Ridgefield Connecticut, and graduated in 2007. He attended the University of Michigan, where he became involved in Michigan's gay community.

In 2010, Armstrong was elected president of the Michigan Student Assembly, making him the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan. Armstrong ran as a part of MForward, a party he and vice president Jason Raymond helped found. During and after Armstrong's election, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, Andrew Shirvell, engaged in an online and in-person "campaign" against Armstrong. Armstrong sued Shirvell for defamation, false light invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and stalking. In 2015 the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision in favor of Armstrong.

Christopher H. Armstrong graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011 and currently lectures on topics such as cyberbullying and harassment.

Acquisition Information:

Donated by Christopher Armstrong (donor no. 10624 ), with additions from Steven and Cynthia Armstrong, in multiple accessions between 2011 and 2015.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series: University of Michigan Activities, Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell, and Speaking Engagements. The Armstrong v. Shirvell series is further organized into the following three sub-series: Court Documents, Family Legal File, and Press and Media Coverage.

Accruals:

No further additions to the records are expected.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

An oral history interview with Christopher Armstrong can be found in the Spectrum Center (University of Michigan) records.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

College student government -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Cyberbullying.
Gay college students -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Gay men -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Gay rights -- Michigan.
Gay rights -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Lawyers -- Michigan.
Online hate speech.
Court records.

Formats:

Digital file formats.
Digital images.

Names:

Michigan Student Assembly.
University of Michigan -- Students.
Shirvell, Andrew.
Cox, Michael Anthony, 1961-
Gordon, Deborah L.
Armstrong, Christopher H.