Quotas and the President: Jewish Inclusion and Exclusion at UM in the 1920s

November 14, 2024

When new University of Michigan president C.C. Little arrived in Ann Arbor in 1925, American universities were in the midst of a great transition, revamping their admission systems to limit the number of Jewish students on their campuses. Professor Karla Goldman will discuss the status of Jewish students at Michigan during this period and how President Little, well known as a eugenicist, actually resisted some of the racist and antisemitic assumptions of his time. His tenure illustrates the long and complicated history of inclusion and exclusion at U-M and in American higher education.

Not Just a Copy: Digitizing Ann Arbor’s Past in the Ivory Photo Collection

October 17, 2024

For half a century, Mel Ivory took thousands of photographs of every corner of Ann Arbor and U-M. These images provide a priceless picture into the community’s past, but were in danger of disintegrating–and even spontaneously combusting! As part of Ann Arbor’s bicentennial celebrations, Bentley archivists Michelle McClellan and Max Eckard helped lead an effort to digitize this massive collection. Join us to learn how the Ivory Collection has been preserved and made available to everyone.

The Little Brown Jug: Myths & Mysteries of College Football’s Oldest Trophy

September 26, 2024

Over 110 years ago, a five-gallon pottery jug became one of Michigan football's longest traditions. Join Making Michigan and U-M's Lecturer Greg Dooley to follow the unique history of the Little Brown Jug trophy. We will dive into the many myths and open questions surrounding the Jug's history and explore the lessons and stories from the early years of the B1G and college football.