University of Michigan, Department of classical studies

The study of ancient languages was first officially instated at the University in 1841 with Latin and Greek taught in one department. The Reverend Joseph Whiting was appointed the first Professor of Greek and Latin Languages in 1843. The mission of the department was articulated in 1852 by new professor of Latin James Robinson Boise: "The primary object of this department is to give the student a critical knowledge of the structure of the ancient languages themselves, of the principles of interpretation, and of those rhetorical principles which will enable a person to express himself in idiomatic and perspicuous English." The department split shortly after, forming the Department of Latin and the Department of Greek, chaired by Erastus Otis Haven (later president of the University) and Professor Boise, respectively. These two courses of study remained distinct until their re-merger in 1946, forming the Department of Classical Studies as it exists today.

In 1957 Gerald Else was appointed chairman of the department, and various curricular revisions took place. Graduate studies were updated and strengthened, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Classical Art and Archaeology (IPCAA) was founded. Through the 1970s further reassessments of the department's focus yielded the addition of courses on translation, as well as increasing the resources devoted to classical archaeology. In this area the department works in collaboration with the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology and the papyrology collection. Classical Studies also partners with the Department of History in the administration of the interdisciplinary program in Greek and Roman History.

The department has been particularly active in sponsoring lecture series. Several endowed lecture series are hallmarks of the department's university and national presence. The Thomas Jerome lecture series grew out of a bequest to the department made in 1919 by the estate of Thomas Spencer Jerome. Jerome was a graduate of the University of Michigan and had gone on to practice law in Detroit, and later to serve as a consular agent in Sorrento, Italy, where he became fascinated by classical history. The Jerome Lectureship Committee administered the selection of lecturers and subsequent publication of their talks. The administration of the Jerome Lectureship was transferred to the Department of Classical Studies in 1995.