News and Information Services (University of Michigan) records, 1900-2008 (majority within 1943-2008)

Summary

Creator:

University of Michigan. News and Information Services.

Abstract:

Serves as media relations office and disseminates information about university programs, research, events, and faculty activities. Includes correspondence, press releases, newspaper clippings, and other papers concerning the activities and work of the University, notable campus events, research, and teaching.

Extent:

164 linear feet
1 oversize volume

Language:

English

Call Number:

87265 BImu C475 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Bentley Library Staff. Last updated July 2013

Background

Scope and Content:

The News and Information holdings document how the university is portrayed in the media and the efforts of the university to promote itself. Although there is some correspondence from 1900-1903 and the 1930s, the bulk of the records date from 1946 to the present. The value of the files is as a source of ready information (on a yearly basis) about the activities and research accomplishments of university faculty and staff, departments, colleges and schools, libraries, centers, and other units. The records also chronicle notable events and visits by famous scholars and celebrities through yearly topical files, press releases, and correspondence. News and Information Service holdings also contain extensive photographic material (prints, negatives, slides, and transparencies) generated by the photography unit in addition to non-photographic records. The substantial photographic holdings are described in a separate finding aid.

The non-photographic News and Information Services records include some correspondence of the unit's administrators, although the bulk consists of news clippings, published materials, press releases, and other background information collected by NIS and arranged topically by year. The records are organized into eight series: CORRESPONDENCE, PRESS RELEASES, MISCELLANEOUS, TOPICAL FILES, GERALD R. FORD, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS, and ARCHIVED WEBSITES.

Biographical / Historical:

News and Information Services (NIS) is the media relations office of the University of Michigan. NIS disseminates (to internal and external audiences) information about university programs, research, and activities of faculty and staff, primarily through the news media. NIS also responds to media requests for information about the university. Staff is comprised of information officers and editors covering specific university units, a photography unit, and a radio and television unit. This office also publishes The University Record, a weekly newspaper for faculty and staff, and Michigan Today, a quarterly tabloid newspaper sent to U-M alumni (complete sets of these publications are held by the Bentley Library). Some units on campus handle media relations through offices largely independent of NIS. These units include sports information, the Medical Center, the College of Engineering, Law School, and Business School.

News and Information Services has undergone several name and organizational changes, but can trace its roots to 1897, when the Regents requested a plan for to disseminate University news to the State. This original department of information services was primarily responsible for publishing newsletters and frequently struggled to finance its operations. By 1930, the need for a news agency had grown, and following the installation of President Alexander G. Ruthven, the university created a News Dissemination Service (often called the University of Michigan News Service). Led by Wilfred B. Shaw, the Service had two primary functions. First, it was responsible for preparing weekly releases for nearly 800 newspapers throughout the state and beyond. This reporting included news about the Regents, research conducted by professors, affairs of the student body, and all other campus news with the exclusion of athletics. The second function was to send news about individual students to their home town papers. (Michigan Alumnus May 27, 1959).

Originally part of the Bureau of Alumni Relations, in 1942 the University News Service, now led by Donald K. Anderson, became an independent department. In 1946, Arthur L. Brandon was appointed as the Director of Information Services and took over responsibility for the public information services on behalf of the University, services which included the University News Service, news photography, and promotional publications. In 1948, services expanded with the acquisition of the WUOM radio station and continued to adapt to new media with the addition of television.

With the administrative changes resulting from the installment of President Harlan H. Hatcher, Brandon's title was changed to Director of University Relations and the University News Service became part of the Office of University Relations. Other changes followed, with Regents meetings being opened to the press in 1954 and University News Service taking on photographic coverage at athletic events in 1956. In 1957, Brandon resigned from his position and was replaced by Lyle M. Nelson. As Director of University Relations, Nelson combined radio and television under the director of broadcasting. Nelson retired in 1961 and was replaced by Michael Radock. One year later, administrative reorganization created an Information Service.

The Information Service consisted of three divisions, including News Service, News Photography, and Community Relations. Further reorganization in 1963 and 1964 moved the publications and editorial services under the umbrella of Information Services and saw the promotion of Cleland B. Wyllie, who had been with the News Service since the 1940s, to Director of Media Relations.

While the Office of University Relations underwent several changes and reorganizations in the following years, Information Services remained under its jurisdiction until 1998, when the office was divided into three vice presidential posts. One of these new posts was the Vice President for Media Relations, which was responsible for the University's News Service. In 2000, the Media Relations became the Office of the Vice President for Communications, which is where the current News Service resides in the University organization. News Service has continued to expand its media types and now includes podcasts, social media, and other online resources in addition to its print, radio, and television services.

Current information about News and Information Services and on-line versions of the University Record and Michigan Today (with searchable back issues of the Record from September 1992, and Michigan Today from December 1993) is available on the Web at the following URL: http://ns.umich.edu/new/.

Acquisition Information:

The News and Information Services (Donor no. 285 ) of the University of Michigan first began transferring its records to the Michigan Historical Collections in 1939. Periodic accessions have been received since then.

Processing information:

In a 2013 reprocessing of portions of the record group a series of faulty and Staff Files (boxes 151-160 was removed from this record group and integrated into a separate University of Michigan. News and Information Service. Faculty and Staff Files record group.

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:

Summary Contents List

1. Correspondence Files
   • Correspondence, 1900-1943 [box 1]
   • Director's correspondence, 1946-1951 [box 2]
   • Editor's correspondence, 1946-1951 [boxes 2-3]
   • Director of University Relations correspondence, 1950-1959 [boxes 3-11]
2. Press Releases
   • Press release file, 1945-1956 (arranged topically) [boxes 12-28]
   • Press release file, 1957-1958 (arranged topically) [boxes 28-35]
   • Press release file, 1959-1960 (fragmentary) [box 35]
   • Press release file, 1963-1990 (arranged chronologically) [boxes 50-53, 77-78, 120]
3. Miscellaneous
   • Project Submich, 1967 [box 35]
   • Cleland Wylie topical files [box 42]
   • Scrapbook, 1976, primarily concerning President Ford's visit to U-M campus (Outsize volume, BImu/C475)
4. Topical files (including clippings, press releases and background materials)
   • 1971 [boxes 36-38]
   • 1972 [boxes 39-41]
   • 1973 [boxes 42-45]
   • 1974 [boxes 46-49]
   • 1975 [boxes 54-56]
   • 1976 [boxes 57-59]
   • 1977 [boxes 60-63]
   • 1978 [boxes 64-67]
   • 1979 [boxes 68-72]
   • 1980 [boxes 73-76]
   • 1981 [boxes 80-84]
   • 1982 [boxes 84-88]
   • 1983 [boxes 89-92]
   • 1984-1985 [boxes 93-100]
   • 1986 [boxes 101-106]
   • 1987 [boxes 106-113]
   • 1988 [boxes 113-119]
   • 1989 [boxes 121-127]
   • 1990 [boxes 127-131]
   • 1991 [boxes 131-135]
   • 1992 [boxes 135-138]
   • 1993 [boxes 138-140]
   • 1994 [boxes 140-142]
   • 1995 [boxes 142-144]
   • 1996 [boxes 144-147]
   • 1997 [boxes 147-149]
   • 1998-2002 [boxes 161-166]
5. Audio-Visual Material
   • Audio-tapes of news briefs and 'actualities' [box 35]
   • "Report to the Community" 1975-1980
   • "Tomorrow '98": In the Upper Galilee (videotape)
6. Faculty and Staff Files [boxes 151-160] were removed to the News and Information Service Faculty and Staff Files collection during reprocessing. See separate finding aid for UM. News and Information Services Faculty and Staff files, 1944-2005

Accruals:

Periodic additions to the records are expected.

Rules or Conventions:

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

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Material

Because of the size of the News and Information Service record group it has been described in several discreet finding aids in addition to this main finding aid. These include:

University of Michigan. News and Information Services. Series D. (Faculty and staff portraits)

University of Michigan. News and Information Services. Faculty and Staff Files.

University of Michigan. News and Information Services. Podcasts.

Michigan Today

Subjects

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

Subjects:

Academic freedom -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Poliomyelitis vaccine.

Formats:

Clippings.

Names:

University of Michigan -- History.
University of Michigan. News and Information Services.
University of Michigan. News Service.
University of Michigan. Information Services.
University of Michigan. Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.
University of Michigan -- Research.
Nickerson, Mark.
Davis, Chandler.
Markert, Clement L. (Clement Lawrence), 1917-1999.