This collection of Belcher's papers is confined exclusively to his tenure as mayor of Ann Arbor, 1978-1985. As mayor, Belcher received copies of many of the memos and letters sent to and from the various city departments. Hence this collection represents, to some extent, the records of the city administration as a whole, not just the papers of the mayor. But there are significant gaps in the collection, and some gaps represent major concerns of Belcher's mayoralty. There is virtually no material concerning the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) or the Housing Commission. (Indeed, of the five principal city commissions, only Planning is represented here.) Most of the city offices and departments have folders in the mayor's files except the Assistant to the City Administrator for Labor Negotiations and Relations, the Data Processing office, and the Bicycle Coordinator of the Transportation Department.
The arrangement of the papers generally reflects their original order. To be sure, in most cases the original order was maintained even though cumbersome and duplicative, because the file system seemed to reflect the priorities, attitudes, and procedures of the mayor's office. When possible the contents list provides cross-references to assist the researcher in overcoming some of the complications of the arrangement. The Belcher mayoralty papers are arranged in seven series: Personal; Official Communications; City Government; Planning File; Conferences, Leagues, and Councils; Topical File; and Photographs.
Louis D. Belcher was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on June 25, 1939. He studied industrial engineering at Kellogg Community College and in 1962 took a B.S. in business management from Eastern Michigan University. He served in the Michigan Air National Guard for 14 years (1956-1970).
Belcher dropped out of a management training course at General Motors in 1963, but one year later had become account manager for the National Cash Register Company. He left NCR in 1969, spent two years as business manager and controller for Veda, Inc., and then founded First Ann Arbor Corporation (FAAC). FAAC performs management consulting services and evaluates the design, performance, and testing methods of U.S. combat aircraft. Belcher left FAAC in 1983. He currently (1985) directs two corporations-Environmental Technology, Inc. and Midwest Microwave, Inc.-and owns Data Scan, Inc., Third Party Services, Inc., and a gun shop. He is also a partner in the real estate development firm of Shipman/Corey/Belcher, Inc.
In addition to his success as a businessman, Belcher proved to be a successful local politician as well. A Republican, he was elected to the city council from the fifth ward in 1974 and served until 1978. In 1977 he ran for mayor against incumbent Albert H. Wheeler. The election was disputed, and a special run-off in 1978 gave the office to Belcher. After winning reelection in 1979, 1981, and 1983, Belcher declined to seek a fifth term.
As mayor, Belcher stressed capital improvement projects, business development, reorganizing the city administration, repealing the "$5 marijuana law," expanding the municipal airport, and improving the Ann Arbor Transit Authority's fixed-route service. He pushed through the city's purchase of the Michigan Theater and supported the controversial Tally Hall project. The Ann Arbor News described Belcher as "politically moderate and ardently pro-business, "with a "tendency to shoot from the hip" that was "balanced by political savvy"
