Search

Zoologist, college professor, president of University of Michigan, 1929-1951. Professional files relating to his career with the University Museum and as a professor of zoology, and presidential files containing correspondence, reports, speeches, and other University materials, including budget and legislative files, material relating to changes in University administration, his relationship with faculty, students and alumni, and photographs.

The Alexander Ruthven papers consists of two series of records. The first is the papers of Ruthven as president of the University of Michigan, 1929 to 1951. The second, and smaller, series is the files maintained by Ruthven as a zoologist with the University Museum and as professor of zoology. This latter series dates largely from 1908 to 1929 but also includes collected earlier files from the 1870s.

Program established in 1957 within the College of Literature, Science & the Arts designed to provide a rigorous curriculum for exceptional students. Early directors include Robert C. Angell and Otto Graf. Records include correspondence, course material, schedules and topical files relating to the administration and development of the honors program.

The records of the Honors Program loosely document the development of the program and its activities from its inception in 1957 until 1984. The lone Topical series is arranged alphabetically with several folders for Administrative personnel, Awards and scholarships, College Honors Seminar and the Cutcheon Fund. Much of the collection consists of correspondence between the various directors and other campus departments as well as contacts from other organizations.

Information found in the Annual reports folder clearly documents the program's first three years. After that time period, published brochures and brochure copy found in the Brochure folder offer fairly complete information about the program while the Newspaper clippings folder gives an overview of the program's activities and an idea of how the program was viewed by the public. Correspondence housed in the Administrative personnel folders and the Intraoffice correspondence and Miscellaneous folders also offer insight.

The remainder of the record group contains lists of Honors Council members, some routine office transactions, procedure guidelines, and opportunities within the Honors Program that shed some light on the program's direction. For an idea of student interest in the early 1980s, see the folder titled Fund requests in the Cutcheon Fund folders. Project proposals are attached to each fund request. Also of special interest is correspondence related to Offset a short-lived literary magazine which was developed and produced by honors students.

For additional information regarding the Honors Program see the College of Literature, Science and the Arts record group, which also contains Honors Program records. The records of Robert C. Angell are also held by the Bentley Historical Library.

Records, 1915-1980,of the department of economics of the University of Michigan; contain files of chairmen, Isaiah Sharfman, Gardner Ackley, and Warren Smith, including minutes of staff meetings, research materials, and administrative records; also papers collected and interviews conducted by Marjorie Brazer with present and past faculty of the department in connection with its centennial.

The bulk of the Department of Economics records, covering the period 1950-1980, contain files of the chairmen, Isaiah Sharfman, Gardner Ackley, and Warren Smith. Included are executive committee and staff meeting minutes, budgets, faculty appointments, schedules, salaries, and reports on building needs. Additional materials cover the work of various centers and professional organizations.

Professor of sociology, University of Michigan; correspondence and other papers concerning Angell's work with UNESCO, American Sociological Society, and International Sociological Association; papers concerning published books and articles; unpublished manuscripts of writings.

The Angell papers document the life and professional activities of a renowned sociologist and university teacher. The collection dates from 1923 to 1984 though the bulk of the papers fall within the period of the 1940s through the 1960s. The collection has been arranged into five series: Biographical information/autobiographical essays; Correspondence; Books, articles, and other writings; Organizational Affiliations; and Topical Files.

Vice-president and secretary of the University of Michigan; correspondence; research materials for his biographies of university presidents; files relating to activities on the Ann Arbor City Council; course notes from classes at the University of Michigan; and photographs.

The Shirley Wheeler Smith papers include a combination of personal and professional materials. Much of Smith's career with the U-M is documented in the official records of the University, most notably in the records of the Secretary's Office and the papers of the presidents under whom he served (Angell, Hutchins, Burton, Little, and Ruthven). Even so, these papers contain much material relating to the business affairs of the U-M. The extensive correspondence files (with partial index) demonstrate wide influence in all phases of University operations as he corresponded with presidents, faculty, members of the board of regents, and other university personnel. Also documented in the collection is Smith's activities with the city of Ann Arbor and with other community organizations.

The collection has been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Research for writings; Topical files; Ann Arbor City Council; Papers (by date); Personal and miscellaneous; and Photographs.