President Mary Sue Coleman loves to see the historical markers throughout town, which have helped her learn about the people and events of bygone eras.
The latest installment, which Coleman helped dedicate July 1, stands out, she said. A transparent panel and a pedestal show pictures of former presidents, including James Angell, and old photographs of buildings, some of which still stand and others that were destroyed long ago.
“Even though the other historical markers are so striking, this marker probably will be my favorite one—which is fortunate, because I’ll be walking past it several times each day,” Coleman said. “It’s wonderful to see the first campus buildings in their original settings. And I always like to be reminded of the former presidents, who are keeping an eye on the campus.”
Funding came from Sarah Angell Parsons and her brother James Angell, who are great-grandchildren of former President Angell. The exhibit on State Street, between the Union and the LSA Building, is in honor of their father, Robert Angell, a former chair of the Department of Sociology, and their mother, Esther Kennedy Angell. The siblings attended the dedication, along with Parsons’ daughter and grandson, Sarah and David Zackheim.
Other dignitaries also attended the special ceremony for the new exhibit, which is part of the Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program.
“This is truly a community project,” said Ray Detter, chair of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Citizens Advisory Council and coordinator of the Street Exhibit Program.
Mayor John Hieftje signed a proclamation declaring June 27-July 3 Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Week. He and other speakers said the exhibit is one of the more visible signs of the strong relationship between the city and the University.
“The history of the campus is such an integral part of our community as a whole,” state Sen. Liz Brater said.
“What’s special about this is that we can see the people who came before us, who helped to make Ann Arbor such a special place,” state Rep. Chris Kolb said.
Ingrid Sheldon, a former Ann Arbor mayor, and Susan Pollay, executive director of the DDA, also spoke. Former University presidents James Duderstadt and Robben Fleming attended the ceremony.
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The transparent panel is entitled “The Making of a Great University,” and it describes the history of some campus buildings. “The Law Building, completed in 1863 north of Mason Hall, was expanded and remodeled several times. It was renamed Haven Hall, after the Law Quadrangle was completed in 1933, and provided offices and classrooms until destroyed by fire in 1950,” the panel says.
Information next to a picture of the University’s first president, Henry Philip Tappan, notes that he was fired in 1863despite vigorous public protest—due to personality and policy clashes with regents. The panel also includes photographs, courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library, of former President Angell and Dr. Eliza Mosher, the first dean of women.
The pedestal includes photos of campus in 1907, including laboratories, the U-M Detroit Observatory and the president’s residence. The exhibit notes that “a row of impressive buildings lined State Street” by the end of Angell’s 38-year presidency in 1909.
