Regents of the University of Michigan

Governor Stevens T. Mason made
the appointments the first Board of
Regents in the Spring of 1837.
(This portrait of the Stevens T.
Mason hangs in the directors office
of the Bentley Historical Library.)

The governing board of the University of Michigan has undergone several major changes in structure and method of selection since the founding of the Cathaloepiesemiad in 1817. The first board, covering the period 1817-1821, consisted simply of the officers of the university. In 1821 a Board of Trustees was established comprised of twenty members appointed by the territorial governor, who was himself an ex officio member. With the coming of statehood in 1837, the name was changed to the Board of Regents and the number of members reduced to ten, but appointments were still made by the governor. The new constitution of 1850 provided for election of the board, with a member representing each circuit court district. The final major change to the Board came in 1863 with provisions that the board would consist of eight members elected at-large for eight year terms. The terms would be staggered with two members elected each to 2, 4, 6 and eight year terms in the 1864 spring election. In 1963 the election date was changed to the Fall with terms beginning the following January first.

List of University of Michigan Regents, 1817-2002

Cathaloepistemiad, 1871-1821 | Trustees, 1821-1837

Board of Regents, terms beginning in:
1837 | 1851 | 1875 | 1901 | 1925 | 1951 | 1975

(Underlined names are links to the finding aid for regent's papers at the Bentley Historical Library.

The Catholepistimiad or University of Michigania, 1817-1821

The Trustees of the University of Michigan, 1821-1837

University of Michigan Board of Regents, 1837-