Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

The Topical Files series (boxes 157-159; 164-167; and 169) includes one item from 1847 but otherwise spans the period from 1909 to 1998. The files are alphabetically arranged and cover a wide array of topics. The 1847 item is a receipt for room rent issued to Charles Beckwith of the class of 1849. The Beckwith folder also includes a biographical sketch written in 1941. There is considerable information on scholarships, fellowships and funds supported by the Alumni Association and Alumnae Council. Several of the files on individual funds and endowments include information on who the fund or endowment is named after. Some student reminiscences are included within this series detailing university life prior to 1900. Also within this series are materials on student recruitment, career placement, and internship and mentorship programs.

Notable files include material on the founding date of the university (located in the Frank Culver file), Milton Berger's description of Japanese surrender on Okinawa in 1945, and certificates chartering the first alumni club on the moon. The moon chapter folder contains information about the Apollo 15 space mission comprised of University of Michigan alumni James B. Irwin, David R. Scott, and Alfred M. Worden, Jr. Other notable files include a list of prominent minority alumni, and materials such as correspondence, reports, hearings and testimonies pertaining to racial incidents on U-M's campus.

The Photographs series (boxes 134-147; and 169-170) include photographs of various reunion groups (box 134). The photographs are organized by schools and colleges and thereunder chronologically. Classes from 1869 through the 1930s are represented here.

Also included are photographs from the Michigan Alumnus-additional reunion photographs are located within Subjects file. Other photographs include publicity photos from News and Information News Services and UNITAS; the Reunion of Black Graduates annual meetings (1st, 13th, and 20th), notable African American alumni including Dr. Alexa Canady (the first American woman and first African American to become a neurosurgeon), as well as other reunions and miscellaneous photographs.