U-M Heritage

  1. 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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  2. 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
  3. 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.

    Read a summary of this story
  4. 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.

    Read a summary of this story
  5. February 20, 2023 George Dock, professor of internal medicine at U-M, was the first full-time professor of medicine in the United States. Years before technology transformed the methods of diagnosis, Dock was regarded as a superb diagnostician. Yet for all Dock’s fame as a practitioner, he made an even greater impact as a teacher.

    Doctor Dock

    George Dock, professor of internal medicine at U-M, was the first full-time professor of medicine in the United States. Years before technology transformed the methods of diagnosis, Dock was regarded as a superb diagnostician. Yet for all Dock’s fame as a practitioner, he made an even greater impact as a teacher.

    Read a summary of this story
  6. February 13, 2023 Thirty-five years after receiving his medical degree from Michigan in 1931, Paul Cornely called on schools of public health to better prepare their graduates for addressing the health challenges facing African Americans. Health education was important, but racism, he said, was the ultimate public health challenge.

    ‘The dignity of man’

    Thirty-five years after receiving his medical degree from Michigan in 1931, Paul Cornely called on schools of public health to better prepare their graduates for addressing the health challenges facing African Americans. Health education was important, but racism, he said, was the ultimate public health challenge.

    Read a summary of this story
  7. February 6, 2023 The origins of U-M's devotion to the color blue lie lost in the years before the Civil War. A committee of students charged with choosing Michigan’s colors made their recommendation Feb. 12, 1867, that azure blue and maize be adopted as the emblematic colors of U-M. As it was recommended, so it was done.

    Rhapsodies in blue

    The origins of U-M’s devotion to the color blue lie lost in the years before the Civil War. A committee of students charged with choosing Michigan’s colors made their recommendation Feb. 12, 1867, that azure blue and maize be adopted as the emblematic colors of U-M. As it was recommended, so it was done.

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  8. January 30, 2023 On Nov. 9, 1872, a squad of U-M medical students had been handed their hats in a rule-free game of football by Literary Department students. The next day, at least 300 Medics — determined not to concede bragging rights to a bunch of Lit boys — marched onto the field for a rematch that would be more akin to combat.

    The Great Rush

    On Nov. 9, 1872, a squad of U-M medical students had been handed their hats in a rule-free game of football by Literary Department students. The next day, at least 300 Medics — determined not to concede bragging rights to a bunch of Lit boys — marched onto the field for a rematch that would be more akin to combat.

    Read a summary of this story
  9. January 23, 2023 James van Gundia Neel died of cancer at his home in Ann Arbor on the first day of February 2000. He was 84. He was promptly memorialized as one of the greatest scientists in U-M's history. But a few months after his death, he was accused of causing a deadly epidemic among Indigenous villagers in the Amazon rainforest.

    The fake news about James Neel

    James van Gundia Neel died of cancer at his home in Ann Arbor on the first day of February 2000. He was 84. He was promptly memorialized as one of the greatest scientists in U-M’s history. But a few months after his death, he was accused of causing a deadly epidemic among Indigenous villagers in the Amazon rainforest.

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  10. January 16, 2023 “Tickled to Death,” a musical comedy written, staged and performed by U-M students, generated a buzz in the weeks before Christmas 1924. But U-M’s Chinese students were not laughing. For as much as “Tickled to Death” attracted large audiences, it also drew detractors upset with the portrayals of China and the Chinese.

    No laughing matter

    “Tickled to Death,” a musical comedy written, staged and performed by U-M students, generated a buzz in the weeks before Christmas 1924. But U-M’s Chinese students were not laughing. For as much as “Tickled to Death” attracted large audiences, it also drew detractors upset with the portrayals of China and the Chinese.

    Read a summary of this story