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Center was established as the Historical Center for the Health Sciences. Records include interviews of emeritus University of Michigan Medical School faculty members conducted by the Center for the History of Medicine. Transcripts and audio recordings of interviews discussing their backgrounds, education, careers, and tenure at the University of Michigan.

An oral history project undertaken by the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine, the project focused on interviewing retired or emeritus faculty members in order to preserve their institutional knowledge of the Medical Center and the university.

Between the years 2002 and 2004, the center's assistant director for programs, Christine Bass, conducted four interviews. From 2004 to 2007, Enid Galler, proprietor of Voice Treasures, took over the interviewing process and conducted fourteen additional oral histories. All interviews include discussions of the faculty member's early life, education, and career accomplishments.

The interviews are available as digital materials online and were recorded on audio cassettes. In addition to these audio formats, there are one or more folders corresponding to each interview, which contain a typed transcript of the interview, a copy of the faculty member's curriculum vitae and in some cases, additional biographical information. The interviews conducted by Enid Galler include an index (with people, organizations, and subjects) and a detailed subject list. Mary Beth Reilly conducted later interviews.

Transcripts are arranged alphabetically by last name, with all audio cassettes in Box 2.

John W. Henderson, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan, arrived in Ann Arbor in 1942 as an intern and then resident before joining the faculty in 1948. He was chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology from 1968 to 1978. Henderson’s papers include files relating to his work with the Medical School and University Hospital, among them histories of ophthalmology at the university. Files detailing his work with professional organizations are well represented, notably the Michigan Ophthalmological Society, American Board of Ophthalmology, and American Ophthalmological Society. Also files relating to publications, lectures and presentations.

The John W. Henderson papers date from 1943 to 2001. The papers measure 7.75 linear feet and have been divided into four broad series: Medical School/University Hospital Records, Professional Organizations, Publications, Lectures and Professional Presentations, and Personal.