The E. O. Haven papers contains a letter, 1838, to his parents written from Wesleyan University; three letters from Haven about University of Michigan; a letter asking Haven to lecture in Saginaw, Michigan; letter book, 1864-1865, chiefly of official correspondence as president of University of Michigan, copies of articles appearing in the Michigan Argus for 1869, condemning and defending President Haven for speaking in a Unitarian church in Detroit, Michigan; and scrapbooks.
Portraits and other photographs are included as well, of Haven as well as his son, Otis Erastus, and his wife, Mary.
Erastus Otis Haven was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1820 to Jonathan and Betsy Haven. Haven graduated from Wesleyan University in 1842 and became a teacher in Massachusetts and New York. He would receive his Master of Arts from Wesleyan University in 1845. Haven worked as a professor of Latin and English Literature at the University of Michigan, before coming back to Massachusetts to work as the editor of the "Zion's Herald" in Boston. Shortly after, Haven would serve as a member of the State Board of Education and the Massachusetts Senate.
In 1847 Haven married Mary Frances Cole, whose father was the editor of the "Christian Advocate", a Methodist newspaper published in New York City. The two had five children; Otis Erastus, Alida Electa, Frances Elizabeth, Alfred Coles, and Theodore Woodruff.
In 1863 Haven returned to the University of Michigan, becoming the school's second president, while still lecturing in Rhetoric, Logic, and Political Economy. Haven spent much of his efforts improving many of the facilities on campus, including the Detroit Observatory, the medical school, and the museum. The library greatly expanded as well, including 800 volumes of law literature being donated by Richard Fletcher. In addition, new departments were added such as mechanical engineering and pharmacy, while a number of new courses were added as well. Haven would also be successful in receiving financial assistance for the university from the state for the first in nearly 30 years.
The student population grew during Haven's presidency, with many coming from out of state. During this time the first two black students would enroll at the University of Michigan. While Haven initially believed that coeducation of men and women would introduce troubles for the university, he would soon change his thoughts on the idea. Over the course of his final year as president, Haven urged the Board of Regents to allow the admission of women at the university, although this would not occur until 1870 under Henry Frieze.
During his presidency Haven also published transcripts of his sermons, Pillars of Truth, and a textbook, Rhetoric. Following his career at the University of Michigan, Haven served as the President of Northwestern University, and later as the Chancellor of Syracuse University before passing away in 1881.
