The records of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (University of Michigan) include correspondence, 1936-1953, of department chairman Bradley M. Patten; lists of examination questions, 1910-1921; schedules of lectures for courses, 1936-1958; information sheets on faculty members, 1932-1933; minutes of the General Committee of the Division of the Biological Sciences, 1951-1952; and grant applications and annual reports of the chairman A. Kent Christensen, 1978-1982. The records are divided into four series: Chairman's Files, Grants, Personnel Material, and Departmental Histories and Photographs.
When the Department of Medicine and Surgery was organized in 1849, one of the five professorships was devoted to anatomy. Moses Gunn first held this position. (See following page for listing of all department chairs.) Gunn's main interest was surgery, however, and in 1854 he convinced his friend Corydon L. Ford to come to Michigan to teach anatomy. Ford held the position until his death forty years later. Ford husbanded the department through a period of large growth. The department's facilities grew several times during his tenure. James P. McMurrich became chair in 1894 and broadened the curriculum beyond the teaching of gross anatomy to medical students. New courses were offered and some sections were opened to graduate students.
The correspondence of the next three chairs--George L. Streeter, G. Carl Huber and Bradley Patten are included in this record group. Dr. Streeter expanded the teaching staff and broadened the influence of the department. Dr. Huber similarly expanded the research of the department. Under Dr. Patten the department was separated into 3 divisions: embryology and histology, the laboratory of comparative neurology, and gross anatomy. The restructuring was put into effect to accommodate the growing number of students in various anatomy classes.
There is no material from the tenures of department chairs Russell Woodburne and Johannes Rhodin in this record group.
A. Kent Christensen became chairman in 1978 with a mandate to build up cell biology research in the department. There was concern that the Department of Anatomy "conjure[d] up visions mainly of cadavers and skeletons." In the summer of 1981, the department changed its name to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. Christensen was also responsible for the renovation of several laboratories including a new Cell Biology Laboratory.
When Christensen resigned as chairman in December 1982, the department was led by two successive interim or acting chairs. In 1989, the chair was awarded to Bruce M. Carlson.
For a history of the origins of the department through the 1950s researchers should consult Donald Huelke's three-part article on the history of the Department of Anatomy in the University of Michigan Medical Bulletin (Volume 27, January-February 1961; Volume 28, May-June, 1962; and Volume 29, May-June, 1963).
Chairs of the Department of Anatomy
| Date |
Event |
| 1849-1854 | Moses Gunn |
| 1854-1894 | Corydon L. Ford |
| 1894-1907 | James P. McMurrich |
| 1907-1914 | George L. Streeter |
| 1914-1934 | G. Carl Huber |
| 1935-1958 | Bradley M. Patten |
| 1958-1973 | Russell T. Woodburne |
| 1973-1978 | Johannes Rhodin |
| 1978-1981 | A. Kent Christensen |
Chairs of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
| Date |
Event |
| 1981-1982 | A. Kent Christensen |
| 1983-1986 | Sarah W. Winans (acting) |
| 1986-1989 | Allan Beaudoin (interim) |
| 1989-1999 | Bruce M Carlson |
| 1999-2000 | Michael J. Weslsh (interim) |
Chairs of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
| Date |
Event |
| 2000-2002 | Michael J. Weslsh (interim) |
| 2002-2013 | James Douglas Engel |
| 2013-2016 | Deborah L. Gumucio (Interim) |
| 2016-2017 | Kristen Verhey (Interim) |
| 2017- | Pierre Coloumbe |
