U-M Heritage

  1. 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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  2. 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.

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  3. 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.

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  4. 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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  5. 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.

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  6. 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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  7. 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.

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  8. January 9, 2023 J. David Singer was a pioneer in a new, scientific way of studying war, believing a way to lasting peace might be found if only humankind truly understood how war and peace are made. The question that would bedevil him was: Even if academic analysts gained that understanding, would people in power pay attention?

    The scientist of peace

    J. David Singer was a pioneer in a new, scientific way of studying war, believing a way to lasting peace might be found if only humankind truly understood how war and peace are made. The question that would bedevil him was: Even if academic analysts gained that understanding, would people in power pay attention?

    Read a summary of this story
  9. December 5, 2022 When the new novel "Arrowsmith" reached the nation’s bookstores in 1925, the author, Sinclair Lewis, was already the most celebrated American writer of the day. What neither Lewis nor his publishers said — at least not very loudly — was how much "Arrowsmith" owed to Paul De Kruif, an obscure young U-M scientist.

    The Michigan scientist who was ‘Arrowsmith’

    When the new novel “Arrowsmith” reached the nation’s bookstores in 1925, the author, Sinclair Lewis, was already the most celebrated American writer of the day. What neither Lewis nor his publishers said — at least not very loudly — was how much “Arrowsmith” owed to Paul De Kruif, an obscure young U-M scientist.

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  10. November 21, 2022 Astronomer James Craig Watson was U-M's "brightest son." After discovering 22 asteroids between 1863-77, during a solar eclipse in 1878, Watson was sure he’d observed the rumored intra-mercurial planet Vulcan. He had hoped to better observe Vulcan and and record more extensive calculations but died two years later.

    Vulcan’s muddy light

    Astronomer James Craig Watson was U-M’s “brightest son.” After discovering 22 asteroids between 1863-77, during a solar eclipse in 1878, Watson was sure he’d observed the rumored intra-mercurial planet Vulcan. He had hoped to better observe Vulcan and record more extensive calculations but died two years later.

    Read a summary of this story