University of Michigan. Library.

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See the Library Records finding aid for the history of the University of Michigan library system.

From the guide to the Library (University of Michigan) publications, 1881-2002, 1950-2001, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

The University Library system at the University of Michigan provides information resources and services to faculty, students, staff, and the public, and is comprised of undergraduate, graduate, and subject-oriented divisional collections. One of the leading research library systems in the world, the library holds over seven million volumes and a wide variety of cartographic, audiovisual, manuscript, microform, and digital materials.

The idea for the University Library was conceived in the university's earliest stages. The Act of 1837, which provided for the organization of the university, included a provision stating that a portion of student fees would go toward increasing the library. The Board of Regents elected a faculty member, the Reverend Henry Colclazer, to serve as librarian. A year later, in September 1838, the Regents passed a resolution authorizing Asa Gray, Professor of Botany and Zoology, to purchase the materials to serve as the basis for the library's collection while on a tour of Europe, and appropriated $5000 for this purpose. While in London, Gray commissioned George Palmer Putnam to select most of the materials, developing a collection of 3,401 volumes covering the subjects of history, philosophy, literature, science, the arts, and law (the complete list of titles was printed as a state document in 1841). The library at U-M is unusual in that, unlike most academic libraries, it was established through a major purchase rather than a gift.

In November 1841, just after the university opened for classes, the Regents approved the Regulations for the Library, which included that the library would be open once a week, that no books be loaned to students without faculty approval, that fines were to be paid for overdue books, and that no more than two volumes could be borrowed at a time. Initially housed in the home of one of the university's professors, the books were moved to the third floor of the Main Building in December 1841.

Aside from small additions of books and periodicals, the library's collection remained fairly static until 1854, when President Henry Tappan initiated a subscription drive among Ann Arbor residents to raise funds for acquisitions and called for an annual appropriation from the Regents. These acts brought a steady infusion of money to ensure ongoing collection development. After years of having a succession of faculty members serve annual terms as the librarian, Tappan's son, John L. Tappan, was appointed as full-time librarian in 1856, and effectively became the first Librarian of the University.

As the library's collections grew, the library continually outgrew the space afforded it. After a series of shared homes, including spaces in the North University Building and the Law Building, in 1881 the state legislature appropriated $100,000 for the library to have its own purpose-built building. Opened in 1883 and located in the center of campus, the library consisted of a large reading room attached to cruciform stacks. When the library outgrew that space and several additions, in 1915 the university secured over $350,000 (later supplemented by additional appropriations) from the legislature for a new building to be designed by Albert Kahn. The existing library was demolished, and a new General Library building opened in 1920. Several divisional libraries, including collections devoted to rare books, natural science, chemical engineering, education, and museums were also established during this time period. Some of these collections were housed within the General Library while others were hosted out of academic departments or other buildings on campus.

Over the years the directors of the University Library made a number of important contributions to the development of the library and the larger field of library and information science. Andrew Ten Brook (1864-1877) introduced the library's first card catalog, with handwritten author and subject cards for both books and periodical articles. Raymond C. Davis (1877-1905) directed increased collection development and oversaw the opening of the first General Library building. Theodore W. Koch (1905-1915) developed the library's first reference collection and instituted a library orientation program. William Warner Bishop (1915-1941), nationally recognized as one of the country's leading librarians, presided over the establishment of the Library Extension Service, the opening of the new General Library in 1920, the development of substantial divisional and specialized collections, and a number of cataloging innovations, in addition to leading the university's first Department of Library Science and serving terms as the presidents of the American Library Association (ALA) and the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).

In the 1950s and 1960s, the way in which the library provided services to the academic community evolved. Whereas once the General Library had served as the major research center for all academic subjects on campus, as the university's academic programs expanded and the need for collections to support those programs grew, the General Library's role came to be seen more as providing support solely for the humanities and social sciences. Specialized divisional libraries and libraries that provided services targeted to particular groups of patrons began to grow to support all other subjects. Rather than conceiving of them as small collections that supplemented the General Library, the library began developing larger and more self-contained divisional libraries, including the Physics-Astronomy Library, the first divisional library to be purpose-built rather than housed in a building designed for other purposes. As the network of campus libraries grew larger, the entire system came to be known as the University Library system.

The most important new library built in this time period was the Undergraduate Library, which opened in 1958. Designed to house a select collection of standard works commonly consulted by undergraduate students, the Undergraduate Library was the first large open-stack library on campus (though many of the divisional libraries already had open stacks). The Undergraduate Library differed from other libraries on campus in that it contained space for students to read, listen to recordings, and meet with others, as well as reference services specifically geared to undergraduate students. Open stacks were subsequently introduced in the General Library. These innovations led to increased library use and circulation on campus.

A seven-level addition to the General Library was constructed in 1970. The new addition nearly doubled the General Library's capacity, and provided added space for users and staff. While originally only the South Building was to be given a new name, soon after its opening the entire complex housing the North and South Buildings came to be called the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. New divisional libraries were also constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, most notably the Taubman Medical Library in 1979.

In the 1970s, the University Library system began a program of automated cataloging through the Michigan Library Consortium. Automation became fully integrated into library operations in August 1988, when the library's online catalog MIRLYN (Michigan Research Library Network) was introduced. The retrospective conversion of card catalog data was funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and included over 10 million bibliographic records, covering 99% of the library's collections.

The University Library continued to grow in the 1990s. One of the most significant developments during the decade was the establishment of the library's Digital Library Services in 1993, which develops and maintains digital resources to support research and instruction and provides technology management services for the University Library system. Another important accomplishment was the library's participation in the campus-wide initiative led by President James Duderstadt to design the Media Union on North Campus. Opened in 1996, the Media Union houses the Art and Architecture and Engineering Libraries, and hosts and provides services for an extensive array of innovative digital tools and resources.

The University Library continues to be one of the leading research libraries in the world, with innovative programs in digital library services, access, and reference, and nearly unparalleled depth and breadth of collections. For more information on the University Library, please consult its website at http://www.lib.umich.edu. In addition, several resources available at the Bentley Library provide detailed histories of the library. For a concise history of the University of Michigan Library to 1958 the interested researcher should consult The University of Michigan, An Encyclopedic Survey, vol. 3. A comprehensive history of the library can be gleaned from the University of Michigan President's Report published annually from 1853 to 1984, as well as the 1982 report from the University Library's Collection Analysis Project (found in this record group, Box 188). Consult the printed catalog for these and other historical summaries.

(Please note that some of the libraries at the University of Michigan are not part of the University Library system. These include the Law Library, the Kresge Business Administration Library, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, the Clements Library, and the Bentley Historical Library. Individual findings aids for the record groups of most of these libraries can be found at the Bentley Library.)

From the guide to the Library (University of Michigan) records, 1837-2005, 1920-2000, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Mason, Stevens Thomson, 1811-1843. Stevens T. Mason papers, 1827-1842. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan Architectural Drawings, 1838-1979 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hutchins, Harry B. (Harry Burns), 1847-1930. Harry Burns Hutchins papers, 1879-1930. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Davis, R. C. (Raymond Cazallis), b. 1836. Raymond Cazallis Davis papers, 1850-1917. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Jesse Siddall Reeves Papers, 1853-1942, 1901-1942 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Mullett Family Papers, 1825-1924 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Corselius, George, 1806-1849. George Corselius papers, 1833-1865. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs (University of Michigan) central files, 1947-2010 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Skarshaug, Pauline Grant Waite, 1901-1950. Pauline Grant Waite Skarshaug papers, 1896-1949. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Chapin, Roy D. (Roy Dikeman), 1880-1936. Roy Dikeman Chapin papers, 1886-1937. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Emil Lorch Papers, 1891-1963 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Inventory to the Records of the Rutger University Office of University Librarian (Donald F. Cameron), 1925-1971 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn University of Michigan. Board of Regents. Board of Regents (University of Michigan) records, 1817-[ongoing]. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Oliver Lyman Spaulding papers, 1861-1921 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Library (University of Michigan) publications, 1881-2002, 1950-2001 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Library Extension Service. Library Extension Service (University of Michigan) records, 1916-1980. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920-. The book collection of the old University of Michigan; the story of twelve volumes [1957] University of Michigan
referencedIn Buildings and Grounds Dept. (University of Michigan) records, 1913-1956, 1922-1924 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Trowbridge, C. C. (Charles Christopher), 1800-1883. Letter, 1869 Mar. 18, Detroit, to Rev. Andrew Ten Brook, Librarian of the University [of Michigan] Ann Arbor. University of Michigan
creatorOf Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920-. The University of Michigan General Library; typescript (carbon copy) its establishment and early development, 1817-1847. [ca. 1950] University of Michigan
referencedIn Francis Willey Kelsey Papers, 1891-1953 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. University of Michigan architectural drawings, 1838-1958. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Demmon, Isaac Newton, 1842-1920. Dr. Samuel A. Jones [1919] University of Michigan
referencedIn Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920-. Russell Eugene Bidlack papers, c. 1940s-c. 1960s. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920-. Russell Eugene Bidlack papers, c. 1940s-2003 (bulk 1960s-1980s). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Lavender Information and Library Association records, 1989-1998 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963. Emil Lorch papers, 1891-1963. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Library. Library (University of Michigan) publications, 1881-2002. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Jones, Samuel Arthur, 1834-1912. Letter, 1903 Oct. 14, Ann Arbor, to R.C. Davis [Ann Arbor]. University of Michigan
creatorOf University of Michigan. Library. Library (University of Michigan) clipping file, ca. 1920-1980. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs (University of Michigan). Staff Files, 1947--[ongoing] Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Schnabel, Artur, 1882-1951. Letter, 1944 Sep. 12, Rociada, N.M., to General Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. University of Michigan
referencedIn Woodbridge, William, 1780-1861. Letter, 1823 Jun. 14, Detroit, to the Trustees of the University of Michigan, Detroit. University of Michigan
referencedIn University of Michigan. Library Staff Association. Library Staff Association (University of Michigan) records, 1959-1975. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Board of Regents (University of Michigan) records, 1817-2011, 1899-1987 (Regents Exhibits) Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Bishop, William Warner, 1871-1955. William Warner Bishop papers, 1891-1955. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Cameron, Donald F. Records, 1925-1971. Rutgers University
referencedIn Stewart, Rolland C. Correspondence, 1955-1958, with Ellen Van Volkenburg Browne. University of Michigan
creatorOf University of Michigan. Library. Library (University of Michigan) records, 1837-[ongoing]. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Ten Brook, Andrew, 1814-1899. Andrew Ten Brook papers, 1854-1935. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Francis Willey Kelsey Papers, 1891-1953 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Marvin Lemmon Niehuss papers, 1923-1972, 1941-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Dept. of Buildings and Grounds. Dept. of Buildings and Grounds (University of Michigan) records, 1923 and 1927. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Nahum Sabsay papers, 1924-1969. Houghton Library
referencedIn Niehuss, Marvin Lemmon, 1903-2003. Marvin Lemmon Niehuss papers, 1923-1971 (bulk 1941-1968). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Raymond Cazallis Davis papers, 1850-1917 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Durkee, Henry Rogers, 1848-1916. Henry R. Durkee papers, 1864-1867. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William Warner Bishop Papers, 1891-1955 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Spaulding, Mr. (Oliver Lyman), 1833-1922. Oliver Lyman Spaulding papers, 1861-1921. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs (University of Michigan) records, 1947-[ongoing]. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Michigan Historical Collections topical photograph collection, ca. 1860-ca. 1959 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Jones, Samuel Arthur, 1834-1912. Letter, 1898 May 4, Ann Arbor, to "Fellow-Booklist" [n.p.] University of Michigan
creatorOf Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920-. The book collection of the old University of Michigan; the story of twelve volumes [1957] Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Francis Willey Kelsey Papers, 1891-1953 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Stevens Thomson Mason Papers, 1827-1842 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Papers, 1846-1948 (inclusive), 1918-1939 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Thomas M. Spaulding papers, 1901-1969 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Library Planning Committee (University of Michigan) records, 1970-1976 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Spaulding, Thomas Marshall, 1882-1973. Thomas Marshall Spaulding papers, 1901-1959. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Theodore Wesley Koch Papers, 1894-1941 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bori, Lucrezia, 1887-1960. Letter, 1933 May 13, New York, to Library Staff, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. University of Michigan
referencedIn Lavender Information and Library Association. Lavender Information and Library Association records, 1989-1999. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Russell E. Bidlack Papers, ca. 1940s-2003, 1960s-1980s Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Library Planning Committee. Library Planning Committee (University of Michigan) records, 1970-1976. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs (University of Michigan) Supplemental Files, 1953-[ongoing] Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Library Extension Service (University of Michigan) records, 1916-1980 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Library (University of Michigan) records, 1837-2005, 1920-2000 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Roy Dikeman Chapin Papers, 1886-1945, 1910-1936 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Harry Burns Hutchins Papers, 1879-1930 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Goodrich, Francis Lee Dewey, 1877-1962. Francis L.D. Goodrich papers, ca. 1903-1953 (scattered dates). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Alexander G. Ruthven Papers, 1901-1961, 1906-1951 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Buildings and Grounds Dept. Buildings and Grounds Dept. (University of Michigan) records, 1913-1956. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Rudolph H. Gjelsness papers, 1919-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Demmon, Isaac N. (Isaac Newton), 1842-1920. Isaac Newton Demmon papers, 1858-1920. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Reeves, Jesse Siddall, 1872-1942. Jesse Siddall Reeves papers, 1853-1942. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn MacAdam, Barbara, 1947-. Barbara MacAdam papers, 1957-2011. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Isaac Newton Demmon papers, 1858-1920 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Niehuss, Marvin Lemmon, 1903-2003. Marvin Lemmon Niehuss papers, 1923-1972 (bulk 1941-1968). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Mark Wayland Tenny visual materials, 1895 and 1897 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Library. Library (University of Michigan) clipping file, ca. 1920-1975. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Barbara MacAdam papers, 1957-2011, 1980-2005 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan Espresso Book Machine collection, 2008. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Koch, Theodore Wesley, 1871-1941. Theodore Wesley Koch papers, 1894-1941. Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Academic Libraries corporateBody
associatedWith Adam, R. B. (Robert Borthwick), 1863-1940 person
associatedWith American Library Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Angell, James Burrill, 1829-1916. person
associatedWith Association of College and Research Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith Association of Research Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith Biblioteca apostolica vaticana. corporateBody
associatedWith Bidlack, Russell E. (Russell Eugene), 1920- person
associatedWith Bishop, William Warner, 1871-1955. person
associatedWith Bodleian Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Bori, Lucrezia, 1887-1960. person
associatedWith Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933. person
associatedWith Bowker, R. R. (Richard Rogers), 1848-1933 person
associatedWith Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932. person
associatedWith Burton, Marion Le Roy, 1874-1925. person
associatedWith Cameron, Donald F. person
associatedWith Casey, Genevieve M., 1916- person
associatedWith Chapin, Roy D. (Roy Dikeman), 1880-1936. person
associatedWith Clements, William L. 1861-1934. person
associatedWith Corselius, George, 1806-1849. person
associatedWith Council on Library Resources. corporateBody
associatedWith Dana, John Cotton, 1856-1929. person
associatedWith Davis, R. C. b. 1836. person
associatedWith Demmon, Isaac N. (Isaac Newton), 1842-1920. person
associatedWith Dougherty, Richard M. person
associatedWith Dougherty, Richard M. person
associatedWith Durkee, Henry Rogers, 1848-1916. person
associatedWith Frankhauser, Mary E. person
associatedWith Frankhauser, Mary E. person
associatedWith Fyan, Loleta D. person
associatedWith Fyan, Loleta D. person
associatedWith Gjelsness, Rudolph H. (Rudolph Hjalmar), 1894-1968 person
associatedWith Goodrich, Francis Lee Dewey, 1877-1962. person
associatedWith Hubbard, Lucius L. 1849-1933. person
associatedWith Hutchins, Harry B. 1847-1930. person
associatedWith Interlochen Center for the Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Samuel Arthur, 1834-1912. person
associatedWith Kahn, Albert, 1869-1942. person
associatedWith Keating, Charles H. person
associatedWith Kelsey, Francis W. (Francis Willey), b. 1858. person
associatedWith Koch, Theodore Wesley, 1871-1941. person
associatedWith Lavender Information and Library Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Lavender Information and Library Association, 1989-1998 corporateBody
associatedWith Library of Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith Little, Clarnece C. (Clarence Cook), b. 1888 person
associatedWith Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963. person
associatedWith MacAdam, Barbara, 1947- person
associatedWith MacLeish, Archibald, 1892- person
associatedWith Mason, Stevens Thomson, 1811-1843. person
associatedWith McAllister, Samuel Wilson, 1890- person
associatedWith McClure, Grace, 1884- person
associatedWith Mercati, Giovanni, 1866-1957 person
associatedWith Michigan Historical Collection corporateBody
associatedWith Michigan Library Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Muller, Robert H. person
associatedWith Muller, Robert H. person
associatedWith Mullett Family. family
associatedWith National Library of Medicine (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry, Truman Handy, 1864-1945 person
associatedWith Niehuss, Marvin Lemmon, 1903-2003. person
associatedWith Osborn, Chase S. (Chase Salmon), b. 1860 person
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988 person
associatedWith Power, Eugene B., 1905- person
associatedWith Projected Books, inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Purdy, George Flint, 1905- person
associatedWith Putnam, Herbert, 1861-1955 person
associatedWith Reeves, Jesse Siddall, 1872-1942. person
associatedWith Rice, Warner Grenelle, 1889- person
associatedWith Rice, Warner Grenelle, 1899- person
associatedWith Riggs, Donald E. person
associatedWith Robbins, Frank Egleston, 1884- person
associatedWith Rowe, Leo S., 1871-1946 person
associatedWith Rutgers University. Office of University Librarian corporateBody
associatedWith Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882- person
correspondedWith Sabsay, Nahum, 1890- person
associatedWith Schnabel, Artur, 1882-1951. person
associatedWith Skarshaug, Pauline Grant Waite, 1901-1950. person
associatedWith Spaulding, Mr. (Oliver Lyman), 1833-1922. person
associatedWith Spaulding, Thomas Marshall, 1882-1973. person
associatedWith Spencer, Mary Clare Wilson, 1842-1923 person
associatedWith Spill, William Ambrose, 1876- person
associatedWith Stewart, Rolland C. person
associatedWith Strohm, Adam Julius, 1870- person
associatedWith Ten Brook, Andrew, 1814-1899. person
associatedWith Tenny, Mark Wayland. person
associatedWith Tisserant, Eugène, 1884-1972 person
associatedWith Todd, Albert May, 1850-1931 person
associatedWith Trowbridge, C. C. (Charles Christopher), 1800-1883. person
associatedWith Ulveling, Ralph Adrian, 1902- person
associatedWith United States. Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Advisory Commission on Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michiagn. Library corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Board of Regents. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Buildings and Grounds Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Buildings and Grounds Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Buildings and Grounds. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library Extension Service. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library. Friends. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library Planning Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Library Staff Association. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. School of Information and Library Studies. corporateBody
associatedWith Utley, Henry Munson, 1836-1917 person
associatedWith Vandenberg, Arthur H. (Arthur Hendrick), 1884-1951 person
associatedWith Wagman, Frederick H. person
associatedWith Wagman, Frederick Herbert, 1912- person
associatedWith Walton, Genevieve Maria Julia, 1857- person
associatedWith Warner, Robert Mark, 1927- person
associatedWith White, William Allen, 1868-1944 person
associatedWith Wilson, Halsey William, 1868-1954 person
associatedWith Woodbridge, William, 1780-1861. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michigan
Michigan--Ann Arbor
Detroit (Mich.)
Ann Arbor (Mich.)
Subject
Academic libraries
Interiors
Libraries
Libraries
Libraries
Microphotography
Pornography
Schools
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1881

Active 2002

Americans

English

Information

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