U-M Heritage

  1. September 26, 2022 Their names are nowhere on the U-M campus. Unlike professors who taught them, there is no monument, no dormitory wing, no conference room that pays homage to their tenure or contributions. But in 1841, they did what no other young person had ventured to do in Ann Arbor. These six young, white males enrolled.

    The first freshmen

    Their names are nowhere on the U-M campus. Unlike professors who taught them, there is no monument, no dormitory wing, no conference room that pays homage to their tenure or contributions. But in 1841, they did what no other young person had ventured to do in Ann Arbor. These six young, white males enrolled.

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  2. September 19, 2022 One day in June long ago, two lawyers and a politician were given the job of recommending exactly where to build the campus of the new University of Michigan. They had two sites to look at, both of about 40 acres. One offered a fine view of the Huron River, the other was a flat farm field half a mile back from the river.

    A different Diag

    One day in June long ago, two lawyers and a politician were given the job of recommending exactly where to build the campus of the new University of Michigan. They had two sites to look at, both of about 40 acres. One offered a fine view of the Huron River, the other was a flat farm field half a mile back from the river.

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  3. September 12, 2022 For more than a century, the university was every student’s mother and father. By law and by custom, the school operated in loco parentis – “in place of parents.” Its mission was to nurture their character, which in practice meant policing their conduct. Then, in a few weeks around Christmas 1967, everything changed.

    End of ‘Hours’

    For more than a century, the university was every student’s mother and father. By law and by custom, the school operated in loco parentis – “in place of parents.” Its mission was to nurture their character, which in practice meant policing their conduct. Then, in a few weeks around Christmas 1967, everything changed.

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  4. September 6, 2022 It was 1852. The University of Michigan needed a leader, a true president, or it might fall apart for good. A man in New York was recommended, a philosopher and clergyman, Henry Philip Tappan. Tappan had no interest in presiding over a training school for ministers and schoolteachers. His idea was larger.

    ‘A Creation of My Own’

    It was 1852. The University of Michigan needed a leader, a true president, or it might fall apart for good. A man in New York was recommended, a philosopher and clergyman, Henry Philip Tappan. Tappan had no interest in presiding over a training school for ministers and schoolteachers. His idea was larger.

    Read a summary of this story
  5. August 29, 2022 As today’s U-M students settle into residence halls and apartment buildings, they occupy the homes of former students who have gone on to change the world with their words, ideas and actions. West Quad can count among its alumni a governor of Michigan, a Hall of Fame shortstop, and the iconic voice of Darth Vader.

    Madonna slept here

    As today’s U-M students settle into residence halls and apartment buildings, they occupy the homes of former students who have gone on to change the world with their words, ideas and actions. West Quad can count among its alumni a governor of Michigan, a Hall of Fame shortstop, and the iconic voice of Darth Vader.

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  6. August 15, 2022 Before outfoxing the Nazis, risking his life, and saving 100,000 Jews from the hell of World War II death camps, before living on the run and being the target of assassins and becoming the only person other than Winston Churchill to be made an honorary U.S. citizen, Raoul Wallenberg was a U-M student.

    Wallenberg at Michigan

    Before outfoxing the Nazis, risking his life, and saving 100,000 Jews from the hell of World War II death camps, before living on the run and being the target of assassins and before becoming the only person other than Winston Churchill to be made an honorary U.S. citizen, Raoul Wallenberg was a U-M student.

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  7. July 25, 2022 From the late 1800s through World War II, university students and the people of Ann Arbor liked to walk through a deep, green ravine that led from the heights near Forest Hill Cemetery down to the Huron River. Schoolgirls’ Glen featured greenery and wildflowers that attracted birds and inspired poetry.

    The vanishing of Schoolgirls’ Glen

    From the late 1800s through World War II, university students and the people of Ann Arbor liked to walk through a deep, green ravine that led from the heights near Forest Hill Cemetery down to the Huron River. Schoolgirls’ Glen featured greenery and wildflowers that attracted birds and inspired poetry.

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  8. June 20, 2022 When he was 86 years old, Forman Brown walked into a gay bookstore in Los Angeles and asked a manager if the shop carried "Better Angel." The manager handed Brown a copy of the novel. The book was well done, he told Brown, and quite popular. “I think you’ll like it.” “I’m sure I shall,” Brown replied. “You see, I wrote it.”

    Blue angel

    When he was 86 years old, Forman Brown walked into a gay bookstore in Los Angeles and asked a manager if the shop carried “Better Angel.” The manager handed Brown a copy of the novel. The book was well done, he told Brown, and quite popular. “I think you’ll like it.” “I’m sure I shall,” Brown replied. “You see, I wrote it.”

    Read a summary of this story
  9. June 6, 2022 Robert H. Stacy wrote to U-M President Alexander G. Ruthven that he was being falsely accused of setting the fire that destroyed Haven Hall on June 6, 1950, and felt that his life’s goal of becoming a college professor was “all but destroyed.” Stacy would be proven wrong on both counts.

    The arsonist was a scholar

    Robert H. Stacy wrote to U-M President Alexander G. Ruthven that he was being falsely accused of setting the fire that destroyed Haven Hall on June 6, 1950, and felt that his life’s goal of becoming a college professor was “all but destroyed.” Stacy would be proven wrong on both counts.

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  10. May 23, 2022 Right around Christmas 1950, a string of hold-ups were reported around Detroit. The culprit turned out to be 20-year-old James Minder, a very bright undergraduate in LSA. Over the course of several years and repeated arrests, the university gave Minder several opportunities to redeem himself, to no avail.

    The robber’s third chance

    Right around Christmas 1950, a string of hold-ups was reported around Detroit. The culprit turned out to be 20-year-old James Minder, a very bright undergraduate in LSA. Over the course of several years and repeated arrests, the university gave Minder several opportunities to redeem himself, to no avail.

    Read a summary of this story