U-M Heritage

  1. February 14, 2022 After a busboy at a restaurant set a pile of dirty dishes between Lenoir Bertrice Smith, a Black student, and her white friend Edith Kaplan, the two went to see Oakley Johnson, a young instructor in the Department of Rhetoric. They gathered friends and declared themselves the Negro-Caucasian Club of U-M in 1925.

    Negro-Caucasian Club

    After a busboy at a restaurant set a pile of dirty dishes between Lenoir Bertrice Smith, a Black student, and her white friend Edith Kaplan, the two went to see Oakley Johnson, a young instructor in the Department of Rhetoric. They gathered friends and declared themselves the Negro-Caucasian Club of U-M in 1925.

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  2. February 7, 2022 Orval Johnson was a Black student at a largely white university in 1948. Peter R. Elliott was the prototypical big man on campus, a member of two national championship teams. On paper, Johnson did not stand a chance to be elected class president over Elliott. And yet, after a record turnout, he was the runaway winner.

    First in class

    Orval Johnson was a Black student at a largely white university in 1948. Peter R. Elliott was a member of two national championship teams. On paper, Johnson did not stand a chance to be elected class president over Elliott. After a record turnout, he was the runaway winner.

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  3. January 31, 2022 Frustrated by the lack of action taken by a books and research equipment committee in 1838, Regent Zina Pitcher acted on his own. The university needed a library, and the library needed a book. Pitcher bought John James Audubon's "The Birds of America" for $970, a steep price at the time but a huge bargain in hindsight.

    Birds in the library

    Frustrated by the lack of action taken by a books and research equipment committee in 1838, Regent Zina Pitcher acted on his own. The university needed a library, and the library needed a book. Pitcher bought John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” for $970, a steep price at the time but a bargain in hindsight.

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  4. January 24, 2022 In the fall term of 1845, just four years after classes had begun at the University of Michigan, a junior named George Becker and several friends joined together to create U-M’s first fraternity, a chapter of Beta Theta Pi. As they all knew, they were breaking Rule 20 of the university’s code of student conduct.

    Fraternity war

    In the fall term of 1845, just four years after classes had begun at the University of Michigan, a junior named George Becker and several friends joined together to create U-M’s first fraternity, a chapter of Beta Theta Pi. As they all knew, they were breaking Rule 20 of the university’s code of student conduct.

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  5. January 17, 2022 Through the years, the darting, chattering, pandering squirrels have been a happy diversion for students, staff and faculty. U-M squirrels have been romanticized, serenaded, protected and parodied. They have their own campus club, which is more than any dog or cat can claim. They are simply part of the U-M experience.

    Just nuts

    Through the years, the darting, chattering, pandering squirrels have been a happy diversion for students, staff and faculty. U-M squirrels have been romanticized, serenaded, protected and parodied. They have their own campus club, which is more than any dog or cat can claim. They are simply part of the U-M experience.

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  6. January 10, 2022 For more than 100 years, Hill Auditorium has been U-M's most prestigious venue for rhetoric and debate. Speaker after speaker has gripped, pounded, caressed and leaned upon an oak lectern given by the Class of 1913. The Albert Kahn-designed lectern cost $250, but as silent witness to the ideas and arguments that are the stuff of a university, the lectern has been priceless.

    The 1913 Lectern

    For more than 100 years, Hill Auditorium has been U-M’s most prestigious venue for rhetoric and debate. Speaker after speaker has gripped, pounded, caressed and leaned upon an oak lectern given by the Class of 1913. The Albert Kahn-designed lectern cost $250, but as silent witness to the ideas and arguments that are the stuff of a university, the lectern has been priceless.

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  7. December 6, 2021 In the days following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, U-M students — both male and female — had decisions to make regarding their response to the United States entering World War II. Their options were to serve in the armed forces or remain in school to continue their education before being called into service.

    The campus at war

    In the days following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, U-M students — both male and female — had decisions to make regarding their response to the United States entering World War II. Their options were to serve in the armed forces or remain in school to continue their education before being called into service.

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  8. November 22, 2021 Marina Oswald was left a 22-year-old widow with two young children when her husband, Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed after being accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy. Unable to speak much English but desiring to stay in the United States, Oswald was invited to study at U-M’s English Language Institute.

    The assassin’s widow

    Marina Oswald was left a 22-year-old widow with two young children when her husband, Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed after being accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy. Unable to speak much English but desiring to stay in the United States, Oswald was invited to study at U-M’s English Language Institute.

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  9. November 15, 2021 In the middle of the 20th century, the architectural crown of U-M's campus was the Law Quadrangle, and the jewel in that crown was the Law Library. A new addition was needed to handle the books, and architect Gunnar Birkerts figured the only way to add space and not interfere with the building's beauty was to go down.

    The law school goes under

    In the middle of the 20th century, the architectural crown of U-M’s campus was the Law Quadrangle, and the jewel in that crown was the Law Library. A new addition was needed to handle the books, and architect Gunnar Birkerts figured the only way to add space and not interfere with the building’s beauty was to go down.

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  10. November 8, 2021 By the thousands and with clockwork precision, Ruth Buchanan wrote to U-M students, faculty, staff and alumni serving in World War II. Whether they were stationed stateside, recuperating in hospitals, or seeing action in Europe and the Pacific, students could expect to hear news about Ann Arbor from Buchanan.

    Dear Aunt Ruth

    By the thousands and with clockwork precision, Ruth Buchanan wrote to U-M students, faculty, staff and alumni serving in World War II. Wherever they were stationed, servicemen and women with ties to U-M could expect news about Ann Arbor from “Aunt Ruth.”

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