Old school: U-M in History

November 21, 2011

Social: Share on:

Tappan’s essential observatory

This photo, circa 1858, is the earliest known photograph of the U-M Detroit Observatory, 1398 Ann St., completed in 1854. The observatory’s original director Franz Brunnow and U-M President Henry Tappan’s dog are believed to be the subjects pictured above. Today, the facility is open to visitors who can view its original telescopes and mounts. — Courtesy Bentley Historical Library

This month in history (95 years ago)

After the War Department’s proposal earlier in the year that a Reserve Officers Training Corps be established at all universities, two naval militia units were organized in November 1916 at U-M, each numbering about 55 students. They were the first naval militia formed in any university. Reserve officers O.M. McNeil and Joseph Hayden of the faculty trained students, who helped train other units. Several served with naval railway batteries in France. — From “The Making of the University of Michigan, 1817-1992” by Howard H. Peckham, courtesy Bentley Historical Library.

Have a campus memory to share? Use the comment box below.

Tags:

Main Menu