Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Commencements and Graduate Exercises subseries consists of 25 audio cassette recordings of commencement and graduate exercises and the speakers who addressed the graduating students. The dates of the recordings range from 1976 to 2002 but are not an exhaustive list of all commencement and graduation speakers within those dates. Content listed on the tapes includes the speaker, the date and semester of the event, and whether the ceremony is the main University commencement or a smaller event such as the Rackham school or LSA Graduate Exercises. Researchers will find additional recordings of University commencements in the video subseries within this collection.

The F. Thomas Lewand subseries comprises one linear foot of materials and is arranged alphabetically by type of material or office of origin. Lewand's principal concern was overseeing Blanchard's transition from candidate to governor; similar materials can be found in the Government Relations series. This transition is best covered in the Lewand subseries by the memoranda, "key decisions," and budget materials of the transition office. The memoranda are a rich source on Blanchard's thinking as policies were implemented and assessed. Other materials of interest in this subseries can be found in the personnel folders, in which aspiring job-seekers attempt to trade personal and political capital for a position on the Blanchard team.

The Topical File, arranged alphabetically, includes information on a variety of administrative and policy issues. Among the significant files are the "Burns Committee Report," 1973, advocating the establishment of a full program of intercollegiate sports for women and exploring the requirements for facilities, coaching, organizational framework, and finances; the "M Award Controversy" includes correspondence on the debate over whether women varsity athletes should receive the same "M" letter award as male athletes, with correspondents including Don Canham, "Bo" Schembechler, Johnny Orr, members of the "M Club" and several women alumni; "Admissions Information" includes material on procedures and guidelines for recruiting women athletes; and the "Academic Advisory Committee," 1977-1985 file containing minutes, reports and statistics on academic eligibility and performance by sport. The file on "Athletic Scholarship Information" is closed to researchers for FERPA privacy reasons. It includes yearly information on the number and amount of athletic scholarships and other financial aid awarded to women athletes.