THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
BY
WILFRED SHAW
General Secretary of the Alumni Association and Editor of The MichiganAlumnus
Illustrated by Photographs and Four Etchings by the Author
NEW YORK
HARCOURT, BRACE AND HOWE
1920
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HARCOURT, BRACE AND HOWE, INC.
THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY
RAHWAY, N.J.
To
MY WIFE
PREFACE
It has not been the purpose of the author to write a history of theUniversity of Michigan. Several predecessors in this field have donetheir work so well that another book entirely historical in charactermight seem superfluous. Rather it is the aim of this volume to furnish asurvey—sketching broadly the development of the University, anddwelling upon incidents and personalities that contribute movement tothe narrative.
Those familiar with the history of the University will recognize thesources of much that appears in the following pages. The author mustacknowledge an especial debt to Professor Ten Brook's "History of StateUniversities," and the two histories of the University, written byElizabeth Farrand, '87m, and Professor Burke E. Hinsdale. Much of thematerial in the early chapters is based directly upon ProfessorHinsdale's painstaking and authoritative work. Other works which havebeen consulted are Judge Cooley's "History of Michigan," Professor C.K.Adams' "Historical Sketch," published by the University in 1876,Professor A.C. McLaughlin's "History of Higher Education in Michigan"(Contributions to American Educational History, Number II, Bureau ofEducation, 1891), the reports of the Fiftieth and Seventy-fifthAnniversaries and Dr. Angell's Quarter Centennial Celebration, and Dr.Angell's "Reminiscences." The files of The Michigan Alumnus and theMichiganensian, the records of the Regents' meetings and the calendarsof the University have likewise proved extremely valuable. For thematerial in certain chapters, "The Michigan Book," published in 1898, byEdwin H. Humphrey, '97, an article entitled "The University of Michiganand the Training of Her Students for the War," by Professor Arthur L.Cross, in the Michigan History Magazine, for January, 1920, and AndrewD. White's "Autobiography" have been freely consulted.
It is unfortunate that our information concerning the earliest days ofthe University is comparatively meager. The collections of oldnewspapers and other original sources in the University Library havebeen utilized, but these are not as extensive as they should be.Undoubtedly not a little material in the form of letters and diaries isstill to be found among the papers of the earliest officers of theUniversity and the graduates of the '40's and '50's. The writer wouldappreciate any information regarding such documents.
Acknowledgment is also due to the many friends who have offeredsuggestions and helpful criticism. Especially is grateful recognitiondue to Professor F.N. Scott, Judge V.H. Lane, President Emeritus HarryB. Hutchins, Dr. G. Carl Huber, Dean John R. Effinger, Professor EvansHolbrook, Professor Arthur L. Cross and the late Professor Isaac N.Demmon; their encouragement and counsel have been invaluable.
An apparent inconsistency in references to the major divisions of theUniversity may be noted by some reader