Search

Youth camp founded in 1921 by member of University of Michigan Student Christian Association to provide outdoor experience for underprivileged youths, management assumed by University of Michigan Institute for Human Adjustment in 1944 and later by the School of Education when emphasis changed to serving physically handicapped children. Records document management of the camp including reports on camp activities and research conducted at the camp.

The records of the University of Michigan Fresh Air Camp are comprised of materials documenting the functions, operations, policies, and events of the camp. Records range from the early 1920s to the late 1970s, but are strongest in the periods from approximately 1937-1950 and especially 1967-1972. Researchers will take particular interest in the annual reports and other materials found in the Reports series, which document the activities of the camp and include pertinent historical information. Records documenting a grant received by the school in the late 1960s through the Federal Education Profession Development Act also provide an excellent overview of the camp's philosophy at that time.

The Faculty and Staff files contain biographical and background information created and collected by the University of Michigan News and Information Services. News and Information Services is the media relations office of the university. The files represent more than 6,000 individual faculty and staff members. Some files contain photographs.

The Faculty and Staff Files (145 linear feet; 1944-2005) are arranged alphabetically by surname and contain academic and biographical information on nearly 6000 faculty and staff, including many who are inactive, retired or deceased. The files were maintained by the University of Michigan News and Information Service. Early on the files were working files holding ready reference biographical information and copies of press releases. Eventually the files came to include collected information such as copies of local and national newspaper articles where faculty or staff members were mentioned.

The amount of information per individual varies considerably, ranging from a single item to multiple folders. Files dating from around 1960-1995 tend to have more documentation than dates outside of this range, though there are some exceptions. Specific types of information include copies of news releases where the individual is mentioned, pages from Regents' meetings detailing appointments (resignations, faculty appointments, promotions, reassignments, sabbaticals, adoption of memoirs for retirements and deaths, etc.), newspaper clippings, magazine articles, preprints or reprints of publications, curricula vitae or other biographical summaries, and obituaries. In addition, some of the files contain photographs and negatives. (Photograph Series D of the News and Information Services records contains more than 4,000 faculty and staff portraits. A separate finding aid is available for that series.)

Files of University of Michigan presidents such as Alexander Ruthven and Harlan Hatcher are within the collection, as are files of various members of the Board of Regents. Distinguished alumni of the University of Michigan, including Nobel Prize winners Stanley Cohen and Raoul Wallenberg, also have files. The collection is of interest to researchers who desire a greater understanding of the professional interests and activities of faculty members in particular.