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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies (University of Michigan) records, 1892-2014

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Restrictions:
The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies records are open for research except for certain records restricted by statute or university policy. Restricted material includes...

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Summary

Creator:
Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
Abstract:
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.
Extent:
242 linear feet
4 microfilms (positive and negative)
2.44 GB (online)
Language:
English.
Call Number:
87198 Bimu C161 2
Authors:
Finding aid prepared by: University Archives Staff Last updated February 2015

Background

Scope and Content:

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.

Biographical / Historical:

While the University of Michigan made its first provisions for graduate study in 1845, throughout most of the nineteenth century there were few graduate students to educate. Control of graduate programs was vested in the various university departments. University President James B. Angell advocated, in the late nineteenth century, the establishment of a graduate school, and in the academic year 1891/92 his goal was partially achieved when the College of Literature, Science and the Arts established a separate Graduate Department.

The Graduate Department was unable to coordinate graduate programs outside of the college. To make such coordination possible, the Regents established a university Graduate Department during the academic year 1911/12. This department was independent of any special faculty and was granted its own budget. Its primary purposes were to coordinate graduate education and to promote research. In 1915, through a general university revision of titles, the department became the Graduate School.

As part of its responsibility for promoting research, the Graduate School was made responsible for all university publications in 1913. As early as 1920 the school's governing board advocated the establishment of a separate university press. This was done in 1930, and responsibility for university publications was gradually transferred to the Administrative Committee of the University Press. The final transfer of authority occurred in 1935.

More important than its role of university printer was the responsibility of the Graduate School to dispense university research funds. Most general fund expenses for research, notably the Faculty Research Fund, flowed through the Graduate School, as did many private gifts received by the university to further research. In order to better coordinate the expenditure of this money, President Alexander G. Ruthven suggested in 1929 the establishment of university-wide divisional committees. These interdisciplinary advisory bodies came to have great importance in deciding which requests for support would be funded.

In 1935 the Graduate School's prestige and resources were substantially increased by the bequest of Horace H. Rackham. A total of 6.5 million dollars was received. Four million dollars was put aside as a perpetual endowment, the Horace H. and Mary A. Rackham fund, while the remainder was used to construct a suitable building to house the Graduate School, now renamed the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. The Rackham Building was dedicated June 17, 1938.

In addition to dispensing research funds, the Graduate School coordinated the efforts of major research projects that were not governed by any other university unit. Examples are the Institute of Public and Social Administration (IPSA), founded in 1936 (now the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy), and the Bureau of Government, administered by the IPSA. Another example is the Institute for Human Adjustment (IHA), which at its founding in 1937 administered four major programs, the Fresh Air Camp, the Speech Clinic, the Social Science Research Project, and the Bureau of Psychological Services. In 1951 the Division of Gerontology was created under the IHA. A final example is the Statistical Research Laboratory (SRL), founded in 1946. In 1959 the Computing Center was created as a separate division of the SRL. The burden of administration created by overseeing so many large projects proved troublesome. In the 1960s the Graduate School attempted to find suitable university units to become responsible for the oversight of many of these large projects.

Another reason for the transfer of projects was that during the 1950s the Graduate School became a central coordinating body for all university research, taxing the school's resources. In academic year 1947/48 the Committee on Budget Administration of the university directed that all university trust funds supporting research be reported to the Graduate School. In 1959 a vice-president for research was established within the university, the position to be held by the dean of the Graduate School. The decision to combine the posts of vice-president and dean in one person was reversed in the academic year 1964/65. (The positions were temporarily merged for several years in the mid 1980s under Dean Alfred Sussman and then separated again when John D'Arms assumed the deanship of Rackham.)

From the post World War II period until the 1970s the federal government continually increased the amount of funding available from it for research. Most of this money, however, was channeled to scientific and technical areas. To compensate for this imbalance, the Graduate School funneled most university research funds into the humanities and the social sciences. University research money given to scientific and technical areas tended to be seed money, funds to help a faculty member perform basic research necessary to attract a larger, non-university grant.

In 1990, the positions of Dean of Rackham and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs were combined to reflect the close relationship between the Office of the Provost and the Graduate School (later the title of the dean's supplemental administrative appointment was modified to Vice Provost for Academic Affairs -- Graduate Studies). In this dual role, the Dean of Rackham was involved in a number of initiatives in the 1980s and 1990s at the university, including the development of the Institute for the Humanities in 1987 and the reorganization of international programs at the university and establishment of the International Institute in 1993. Within Rackham in the late-1990s, there was a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary initiatives, including the development of the Rackham Summer Interdisciplinary Institute and the Rackham Interdisciplinary Seminars, both in 1997.

Deans of the School of Graduate Studies
Date Event
1911-1915 Karl E. Guthe
1915-1927 Alfred H. Lloyd
1927-1934 Carl G. Huber
1935-1945 Clarence S. Yoakum
1945-1946 Peter Okkelberg (acting)
1946-1964 Ralph A. Sawyer
1964-1971 Stephen H. Spurr
1971-1974 Donald E. Stokes
1974-1985 Alfred S. Sussman
1985-1995 John D' Arms
1995-1996 Robert A. Weisbuch (acting)
1996-1997 Nancy Cantor
1997-1998 Earl Lewis (acting)
1998-2005 Earl Lewis
2005-2015 Janet Weiss
2015-2017 Carol A. Fierke
2017- Michael J. Solomon
Administrative Unit Titles
Date Event
1911-1915 Graduate Department
1915-1938 Graduate School
1938- Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies
Acquisition Information:
The record group (donor No. 972 ) has been received in various accessions beginning in 1939. The latest accession was added in 2010.
Processing information:

In preparing digital material for long-term preservation and access, the Bentley Historical Library adheres to professional best practices and standards to ensure that content will retain its authenticity and integrity. For more information on procedures for the ingest and processing of digital materials, please see Bentley Historical Library Digital Processing Note. Access to digital material may be provided either as a direct link to an individual file or as a downloadable package of files bundled in a zip file.

Arrangement:

The records of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies are physically boxed in the order in which the various accessions were received, with the result that continuing record series may be located in several box ranges.

Summary Contents List
  1. Dean's Topical Files
    • 1892-1958 (boxes 1-7)
    • 1958-1985 (boxes 7-14, 60)
    • 1967-1985 (boxes 61-62)
    • 1964-1971 (boxes 74-78)
    • 1947-1986 (bulk 1975-1985) (boxes 79-84)
    • 1970-1971 (Stephen Spurr files) (box 109)
    • 1968-1991 (bulk 1975-1991) (boxes 112-122)
    • 1985-1996 (box 154)
    • 1972-1996 (bulk 1985-1996) (boxes 174-181)
    • 1910-2005 (bulk 1997-2003) (Earl Lewis files) (boxes 196-205)
    • 1971-2010 (bulk 2000-2010) (Janet Weiss files) (boxes 210-214)
  2. Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Affairs
    • Meetings File, 1975-1980 (boxes 14-15)
    • Topical File, 1966-1978 (boxes 15-17)
  3. Michigan Scholars in College Teaching Program 1961-1967
    • Topical Files (boxes 17-18)
    • Correspondence with cooperating colleges (box 18)
    • Departmental correspondence (boxes 18-19)
  4. Research Records
    • Summary and Administrative (boxes 19-23)
    • Project Files (boxes 23-72
  5. University Units
    • 1952-1985 (boxes 85-94)
    • 1970-1991 (boxes 122-133)
    • 1989-1996 (box 187)
    • 1998-2004 (boxes 230-232)
    • 1977-2009 (boxes 195-196, 230-232)
  6. Program Evaluation
    • 1978-1992, Carole Berlin Files (boxes 95-106)
    • 2001-2004 (Digital, Dearborn and Flint)
    • Administrative Files/ 1972-1992
    • 1991-2007
      • National Research Council Assessment (boxes 215-221)
      • Reviews (boxes 209, 224-227)
  7. Board of Governors
    • Agendas / Correspondence (box 110)
    • Meeting Tapes (box 173)
    • Minutes, 1936-2006, (box 221-224)
  8. Events (boxes 232-236)
  9. Institute for Human Adjustment (IHA) (boxes 110-111)
  10. Projects and Programs (box 111)
  11. Rackham Arthritis Research Unit (box 111)
  12. Administrative Files
    • 1874-1985 (boxes 133-134)
    • Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) (boxes 205-206, 209)
    • Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Support (boxes 183-187)
    • Assistant Dean for Program Support (boxes 188-189)
    • Board of Governors Minutes (boxes 221-224)
    • Carole Berlin Files (boxes 106-109)
    • Dean's Group Files (box 210)
    • Financial (boxes 206-207)
    • Meetings (boxes 207-208)
    • Miscellaneous Associate and Assistant Deans (box 190)
    • Students of Color of Rackham (SCOR) (boxes 190, 196)
    • Panel on Allocation of Space for Student Organizations and University Involvement with Student Organizations (box 191)
    • Rackham Renovation Records (box 228)
    • Searches (box 195)
    • University Press (box 229)
  13. Faculty research Grants (boxes 135-139)
  14. Degree Lists
    • Degree Lists - Chronological (boxes 141-143 and 145)
    • Degree Lists - Field of Study (boxes 144 and 146-147)
    • Doctoral Degree Lists (box 144 and 147)
  15. Fellowships, Grants and Awards
    • Minority Faculty Development Fund (boxes 148-149)
    • Distinguished University Professorships (box 149)
    • Power Exchange Program (box 150)
    • South African Mid-Career Fellowship (box 150)
    • International Partnership Program (box 151)
    • Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture (box 152)
    • Rackham and University, (box 154)
    • General (boxes 193-194, 207)
    • Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Grant Files (boxes 239-240)
    • NIH (boxes 240-241)
    • Catherine Lord Grant Files (box 241)
    • Inactive Grant Files (box 241)
    • NASA Grant Files (boxes 241-242)
    • NSF Grant Files (boxes 241-243)
    • Miscellaneous Grant Files (box 243)
    • Mellon Fellowship (boxes 237-238)
  16. Graduate School Executive Board and Administrative Council
    • Correspondence and Miscellaneous (box 153)
    • Elections (box 153-154)
    • Minutes and Agendas (boxes 155-172)
  17. Dean's Chronological Files (boxes 181-182)
  18. Graduate Student Organizations (boxes 190, 196)
  19. Program Evaluations 1989-2004 (digital files)
  20. Archived Website (online)

Files which are restricted under the personnel and student records policy are located in boxes 140, 145-151, 192, 244.

Physical Location:
Stored offsite, two days notice required for retrieval.

Subjects

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

Subjects:
Early Modern English Dictionary.
Middle English dictionary.
Universities and colleges -- Michigan.
Students, Foreign -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Minority college students -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Formats:
Digital file formats.
Names:
University of Michigan Near East Research Expedition (1924-1934)
Association of American Universities.
Horace H. Rackham Educational Memorial (Detroit, Mich.)
Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
Michigan Council of Graduate Deans.
Michigan Scholars in College Teaching Program.
Rackham Arthritis Research Unit (University of Michigan)
University of Michigan. Barbour Scholarships for Oriental Women Committee.
University of Michigan. Biological Station.
University of Michigan. Engineering Research Institute.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan -- Students.
University of Michigan -- Graduate work.
University of Michigan -- Grants.
University of Michigan. Institute for Human Adjustment.
University of Michigan. Institute of Public Administration.
University of Michigan. Institute of Social Work.
University of Michigan. Office of Graduate Minority Affairs.
University of Michigan. Press.
University of Michigan -- Research.
University of Michigan. Statistical Research Laboratory.
University of Michigan. University College.
University of Michigan. University Council.
University of Michigan. Graduate School.
University of Michigan. Graduate Department.
Bishop, William Warner, 1871-1955.
D'Arms, John H., 1934-
Effinger, John R. (John Robert), 1869-1933.
Huber, Gotthelf Carl, 1865-1934.
Lewis, Earl.
Lloyd, Alfred H. (Alfred Henry), 1864-1927.
Sawyer, Ralph A. (Ralph Alanson), 1895-1978.
Spurr, Stephen Hopkins.
Stokes, Donald Elkinton, 1927-
Sussman, Alfred S.
Varner, Nellie M.
Weiss, Janet A.
White, Alfred H. (Alfred Holmes), 1873-
Yoakum, Clarence Stone, 1879-1945.

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies records are open for research except for certain records restricted by statute or university policy. Restricted material includes personnel-related files including search, review, promotion, and tenure files which are restricted for thirty years from date of creation and student educational records which are restricted for seventy-five years from the date of creation.

In addition, records of the Graduate School added to the record group after January 1, 2001 are restricted for twenty years from date of accession in accordance with the university's policy on the records of Executive Officers, Deans, Directors and their support offices. Records in this category are identified with an "ER restricted" note.

The Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies record group includes restricted material in the following categories:

  1. Personnel Related Records -- Boxes 140, 149, 192, and online
  2. Student Academic Records -- Boxes 140, 150, 192, 244
  3. Executive Officers Records -- Boxes 193, 195-221, 223-228, 230-236, 239-243, and online

Access Restrictions for University of Michigan Records

University records are public records and once fully processed are generally open to research use. Records that contain personally identifiable information will be restricted in order to protect individual privacy. Certain administrative records are restricted in accordance with university policy as outlined below. The restriction of university records is subject to compliance with applicable laws, including the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Categories of Restricted Records

  • Personnel-related files, including search, review, promotion, and tenure files, are restricted for thirty (30) years from the date of their creation.
  • Student educational records: FERPA's protection of personally identifiable information in a student's education records ends at the time of a student's death and therefore is a matter of institutional policy. As a courtesy to the families of recently deceased students who were enrolled at the time of death, the University generally will not release information from their education records for five years without the consent of the deceased student's next of kin. Eighty-five (85) years after the date the records were first created, the University will presume that the student is deceased. Thereafter the student's education records will be open. Student records at the Bentley Historical Library are restricted for eighty-five (85) years, but may also be made available upon proof of the death of the student.
  • Executive records: Records generated by the university's executive officers, deans, directors, department heads, and their designated support staff are restricted for twenty (20) years from the date of their creation.

Restricted files are indicated in the contents list of the collection’s finding aid with a restriction note indicating the restriction type and the date of expiration.

For further information on the restriction policy and placing Freedom of Information Act requests for restricted material, consult the reference archivist at the Bentley Historical Library (bentley.ref@umich.edu) or the University of Michigan Freedom of Information Office website (https://foia.vpcomm.umich.edu/).

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright is held by the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], folder, box, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

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Collection

Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies (University of Michigan) records, 1892-2014
Call Number 87198 Bimu C161 2
Total components 6,050
Items available online Online 13
Last indexed 2023-12-08