This series of faculty and staff portraits, commonly known as "Series D", is part of the News and Information Services photographs collection, which consists of several other series often based on format such as the size of the negatives (4x5 or 35mm) or content (general campus photography or aerial photographs). Series D consists of black and white 4x5 inch negatives and 1-1/4 x 2-1/4 inch prints and negatives of faculty and staff (and some student) portraits alphabetically arranged.
The negatives were received in several accessions prior to 2007 totaling 7.5.f linear feet (15 boxes). These accessions were physically interfiled into a single alphabetic run. In 2016 a final accession 5.5 linear feet (15 boxes) of analog negatives were received. These have not been physically interfiled so the collection now consists of two alphabetic runs. However, in the container listing of this finding aid the files are presented in a single alphabet. Based on information supplied on the original negative envelopes, the listing includes faculty/staff name, department or unit (when provided) and date(s) of the portrait. Bentley Library negative numbers are included (if applicable)
The latest accession marks the end of the News and Information Services analog photography. The faculty and staff portrait series is continued in the Bentley Library's Michigan Photography digital photo collection.
The University of Michigan News and Information Services is responsible for preparing press releases about university activities, providing photographs and film of university functions and scholarly announcements to the various news media, and publishing and distributing the University Record and Michigan Today.
News and Information Services has undergone several name and organizational changes throughout its history. Beginning in 1897, the university had a department of information services that performed many of the functions of a press office. In 1930, following the installation of President Alexander G. Ruthven, the university created a News Dissemination Service (often called the University of Michigan News Service). Over the ensuing decades the name of the organization has changed from News Service to Information Services, and finally to News and Information Services. The organizational home of the unit has also changed as it moved from an independent unit to part of the Bureau of Alumni Relations, and later part of the Office of University Relations. It was later part of the office of Vice President for Communications and the photographic department became Michigan Photography.
