U-M Heritage

  1. August 14, 2023 Douglas Van Houweling and Eric Aupperle led a group that submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to upgrade the agency’s overloaded computing backbone. When the group learned their proposal was accepted in 1987, one of the members said, “I think this is going to change the world.”

    How the net was won

    Douglas Van Houweling and Eric Aupperle led a group that submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to upgrade the agency’s overloaded computing backbone. When the group learned their proposal was accepted in 1987, one of the members said, “I think this is going to change the world.”

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  2. July 24, 2023 For more than a century, U-M students have been leaving their mark on the gray metal cabins at the U-M Biological Station. They have blanketed the interior walls with names, poems, inspirational messages, song lyrics, and drawings of the natural world surrounding them.

    A cabin in the woods

    For more than a century, U-M students have been leaving their mark on the gray metal cabins at the U-M Biological Station. They have blanketed the interior walls with names, poems, inspirational messages, song lyrics, and drawings of the natural world surrounding them.

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  3. June 19, 2023 In the early 1900s, Bob Parker proposed a sprawling organization, and Irving Pond recommended a grand edifice. Today people say the name Michigan Union and think only of the building. The building is the physical remnant of that early-1900s movement to forge a new ethos for the “Michigan Man.”

    How the Michigan Union came to be

    In the early 1900s, Bob Parker proposed a sprawling organization, and Irving Pond recommended a grand edifice. Today people say the name Michigan Union and think only of the building. The building is the physical remnant of that early-1900s movement to forge a new ethos for the “Michigan Man.”

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  4. June 5, 2023 From the first painting of U-M’s rural campus by Jasper Cropsey in 1855 to Richard Rummell's work in 1907 depicting a bustling landscape, U-M’s campus had become not just a bigger place but a new kind of enterprise entirely, embracing a new conception of the world. What helped make U-M a leader of American learning?

    Michigan in the making

    From the first painting of U-M’s rural campus by Jasper Cropsey in 1855 to Richard Rummell’s work in 1907 depicting a bustling landscape, U-M’s campus had become not just a bigger place but a new kind of enterprise entirely, embracing a new conception of the world. How did this happen?

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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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