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University of Michigan faculty group interested in the history of the university. Sound recordings and videotapes of interviews with former University of Michigan faculty, regents, administrators, and other interested individuals about the history of the university.

The materials in the Historica Critica collection are arranged first according to the medium on which the interview is preserved: Reel-to-Reel Audiotapes, Cassette Audiotapes, and Videotapes. Within each medium, the materials are in alphabetical order according to the subject of the interview. Some of the reel-to-reel audiotapes have more than one interview subject; these are arranged alphabetically according to the primary subject. It appears that the interviewers transferred the materials on reel-to-reel audiotapes directly to cassettes in several cases. This facilitates the arrangement of the cassettes into alphabetical order according to subject. The dates listed in the finding aid are the dates of the interview. Summaries of the interviews, prepared by Virginia Harris, are found in Box 1.

Wesley H. Maurer, Sr., was a professor of journalism at the University of Michigan, and served as chair of the department from 1949 to 1966. He actively critiqued the journalism field, and was very involved in improving journalism education. Maurer was instrumental in establishing the internship program at the University of Michigan, and bought newspapers to provide students with work-experience, two of which he continued to operate until his death. Maurer was also involved in promoting democracy and free speech in the community.

The Maurer collection documents Wesley H. Maurer's career as a journalist and as a teacher of journalism. The collection has been arranged into the following series: Personal; Department of Journalism Administration; Michigan Federation of Teachers; Papers and Speeches; and Teaching.