In honor of the 100th anniversary July 14 of the birth of former U.S. president and U-M alumnus Gerald R. Ford, a new exhibit has opened which includes documents and photos from his time as a U-M student.
Titled “Growing Up Grand: Jerry at 100,” the lobby exhibit is presented at the Gerald R. Ford Library, 1000 Beal, on North Campus, through spring 2014.
Among U-M-focused items in the exhibit are:
• A photo of the original Delta Kappa Epsilon house on Geddes Road, across from Nichols Arboretum. Ford was a member of the fraternity, which honored him for outstanding achievements.
• Photos of the top room in the Michigan Union tower which hosed the men’s honor society to which Ford belonged, and individual and group photos of Ford with his 1935 class.
• The future president’s 1931-35 grade transcripts, a photo of the 1934 U-M football team for which Ford played center, game action photos, and his 1934 Most Valuable Player award presented by the university. A walking tour map showing Ford’s favorite haunts in Ann Arbor is available for visitors.
The exhibit also includes a letter from the Green Bay Packers asking Ford to play for them, photos of Ford as a baby and an Eagle Scout, and a sketch of where he worked flipping hamburgers as a high school student in Grand Rapids.
Visitors can also see the office Ford used during his post-presidential visits to the library. Hours are 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is closed federal holidays. Admission is free.
