U-M Heritage

  1. May 22, 2023 The U.S. Army Air Force wanted Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, Lockheed Corporation’s chief engineer, to build a top-secret jet plane that would need to fly more than 500 miles per hour to combat a new Nazi fighter. “Just give me the specs,” growled Johnson, a U-M engineering graduate from 1932.

    Kelly Johnson to the rescue

    The U.S. Army Air Force wanted Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, Lockheed Corporation’s chief engineer, to build a top-secret jet plane that would need to fly more than 500 miles per hour to combat a new Nazi fighter. “Just give me the specs,” growled Johnson, a U-M engineering graduate from 1932.

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  2. May 1, 2023 People were vaguely aware that 1837 was the year associated with the university’s birth, although there had been some small, failed experiment with a territorial college in Detroit way back when. A new seal for U-M was designed in the 1890s that featured the year 1837. With that, the lawyerly mind of Frank Culver saw red.

    The War of 1817

    People were vaguely aware that 1837 was the year that was associated with U-M’s birth, although there had been an earlier failed experiment with a territorial college in Detroit. A new seal was designed in the 1890s that featured the year 1837. With that, the lawyerly mind of alumnus Frank Culver saw red.

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  3. April 24, 2023 Professor Albert F. Porta predicted that on Dec. 17, 1919, “the most terrific weather cataclysm experienced since human history" would begin. Porta began alerting people in the summer of 1919 to this pending meteorological doom. “Remember the date – December 17 to 20, and after.” So people braced for the end.

    Professor Porta’s predictions

    Professor Albert F. Porta predicted that on Dec. 17, 1919, “the most terrific weather cataclysm experienced since human history” would begin. Porta began alerting people in the summer of 1919 to this pending meteorological doom. “Remember the date – December 17 to 20, and after.” So people braced for the end.

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  4. April 17, 2023 During a grand dinner in 1910 celebrating James Burrill Angell's nearly 40-year tenure as U-M's president, Angell touted among his accomplishments was the treaty he negotiated with China regarding opium. He went on with his speech, the dinner concluded, and Angell’s remark about opium and China was forgotten.

    Angell, China and opium

    During a grand dinner in 1910 celebrating James Burrill Angell’s nearly 40-year tenure as U-M’s president, Angell said among his proudest accomplishments was the treaty he negotiated with China regarding opium. He went on with his speech, the dinner concluded, and Angell’s remark about opium and China was forgotten.

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  5. April 10, 2023 Early one morning just before Christmas 1857, arriving for work on the construction of a church found an unholy mess. In the little graveyard in back, they found heaps of fresh earth next to empty graves. The local sheriff knew just where to look for the missing bodies — the medical department at U-M.

    Such horrible business

    Early one morning just before Christmas 1857, arriving for work on the construction of a church found an unholy mess. In the little graveyard in back, they found heaps of fresh earth next to empty graves. The local sheriff knew just where to look for the missing bodies — the medical department at U-M.

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  6. April 3, 2023 U-M knew Jerry Ford as a star football player, earning three varsity letters and Most Valuable Player honors as a senior in 1934. He returned to campus as congressman, vice president and as the 38th president. But he had never stepped on campus bearing the title he did in the spring of 1977: Professor Gerald R. Ford.

    Professor Ford

    U-M knew Jerry Ford as a star football player, earning three varsity letters and Most Valuable Player honors as a senior in 1934. He returned to campus as congressman, vice president and as the 38th president. But he had never stepped on campus bearing the title he did in the spring of 1977: Professor Gerald R. Ford.

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  7. March 27, 2023 More than a half century after the first woman was admitted to U-M, the Alumnae Council of the U-M Alumni Association sent a questionnaire to every woman who had attended U-M to date. Their replies in 1924 make fascinating reading now, both for the sharp contrasts to the campus of today, and the uncanny parallels.

    The first women

    More than a half century after the first woman was admitted to U-M, the Alumnae Council of the U-M Alumni Association sent a questionnaire to every woman who had attended U-M to date. Their replies in 1924 make fascinating reading now, both for the sharp contrasts to the campus of today, and the uncanny parallels.

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  8. March 20, 2023 In 1965, only a handful of students were radical in their politics. But the faculty included a scattering of progressives involved in the early stirrings of dissent against the war. The attack on North Vietnam rang in their ears like a shrieking alarm. Faculty members Zelda and William Gamson sought to do something.

    The first teach-in

    In 1965, only a handful of students were radical in their politics. But the faculty included a scattering of progressives involved in the early stirrings of dissent against the war. The attack on North Vietnam rang in their ears like a shrieking alarm. Faculty members Zelda and William Gamson sought to do something.

    Read a summary of this story
  9. March 13, 2023 A movement of sorts began at Jean Ledwith King’s modest house on the far west side of Ann Arbor early in 1970 when King and a handful of other women asserted that U-M should treat women the same as men. They began to see the pattern, and that it amounted to systematic and illegal discrimination on the basis of sex.

    Me Too, circa 1970

    A movement of sorts began at Jean Ledwith King’s modest house on the far west side of Ann Arbor early in 1970 when King and a handful of other women asserted that U-M should treat women the same as men. They began to see the pattern, and that it amounted to systematic and illegal discrimination on the basis of sex.

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  10. March 6, 2023 On her 21st birthday — Sept. 15, 1871 — a drizzly day in upstate New York, Mary Downing Sheldon boarded the train in her hometown of Oswego, secured her luggage and settled into her seat. After weeks of preparation, she was on her way to 'the long wished-for university' in Ann Arbor.

    ‘Our brilliant Miss Sheldon’

    On her 21st birthday — Sept. 15, 1871 — a drizzly day in upstate New York, Mary Downing Sheldon boarded the train in her hometown of Oswego, secured her luggage and settled into her seat. After weeks of preparation, she was on her way to “the long wished-for university” in Ann Arbor.

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