The University of Michigan Department of Classical Studies traces its origin to the 1840s language offerings in Latin and Greek. The current department dates back to the 1946 when the separate Latin and Greek programs were merged and the curriculum broadened to feature more classical art and archaeology and classic civilization courses. Records reflect the department's administrative functions, as well as their extensive public programming through lecture series, symposia, and international projects. This collection primarily contains materials from after the reunification of Latin and Greek under Classical Studies although some 19th century material is present.
The Department of Classical Studies records contain a wide range documentation of the administrative functions of various aspects of the department. The bulk of material is after the fusion of Greek and Latin into one department, dating after the mid-1940s and extending through the mid 1990s. These files document many different kinds of departmental activities including lectureships, curriculum reviews, symposia, and faculty affairs. It also includes documentation of programs in which the Department of Classical Studies participated, such as the Interdisciplinary Program in Classical Art and Archaeology, and the Great Books Program.
The records are divided into six series: Administrative Files, Department of Greek, Department of Latin, Events, Faculty Meeting Minutes, and Publications. Within these series are several sub-series, most notably the Jerome Lectureship Committee within the Events series.