University Printed Materials
University publications may be used to enrich, illustrate, and supplement the manuscript record. These publications are also intrinsically valuable; they contain beautiful photographs, discuss interesting topics, and are packed with facts that can be gleaned from no other source. University publications make outstanding primary source material. Whether the researcher is interested in the Proceedings of the Board of Regents or Office of the Registrar statistics, university publications are a good place to begin research. University publications found in the university archives such as the Proceedings, the Financial Report of the University of Michigan or the Gnat's Eye Gnus and the Barbaric Yawp document every aspect of the university from the Board of Regents to student groups. The following are a few select sources:
The Michigan Daily is the University of Michigan's student newspaper.
First published in 1890, The Daily presents the student view of not only
university events, including politics and sports, but also local, state,
national, and international news. The Michigan Daily is published daily Monday
through Friday during the academic year and weekly during the summer. The
Bentley Historical Library holds a complete run of this publication.
The Michigan Alumnus was first published in 1894. Designed as a newsletter to Michigan alumni, the Michigan Alumnus is currently published every two months. There are short articles on Michigan athletics, reviews of alumni publications, as well as in-depth pieces on interesting programs, exhibits, or major events occurring on campus. It contains information regarding alumni such as awards, changes in employment, retirement, and death notices. The Michigan Alumnus is an excellent source for anyone interested in Michigan alumni or activities on the UM campus. The Bentley Historical Library holds a complete run of the Michigan Alumnus.
The University Record is a newspaper published for the faculty and staff of the university by the News and Information Service. First published in 1891, The Record continued to be published through February 1895. Publication resumed in 1938 and discontinued in 1944. The Record was re-established in 1949 and has been published continually since. This newspaper includes articles on major campus events, regents meetings, activities of university committees, and visiting speakers. The University Record, which is published weekly, also includes a campus calendar, lists of exhibits around campus, research funding opportunities, and job postings. The Bentley Historical Library holds a complete run of The University Record.
The Michiganensian is the undergraduate student yearbook. The first volume appeared in 1897, the result of a consolidation of three other publications: The Palladium, The Castalian, and Res Gestae. The Ensian contains individual portraits of the graduating seniors and photographs of campus life including Greek life and athletics. The Bentley Historical Library holds a complete run of The Michiganensian.
The Bentley Historical Library also holds countless brochures, bulletins and college catalogs, calendars, histories, manuals, newsletters, proceedings, and student publications documenting all levels of the university. Where else will you find a copy of the Office of Orientation's How Thick Do You Slice the Baloney Here?, or the College of Engineering course bulletin?
Many university publications held by the Bentley Historical Library can be found in MIRLYN. The researcher may check under the title of the publication, but should also check under the publishing unit for other publications which might be of interest. Researchers should also consult the Bentley Historical Library's printed works catalog for university publications which have not been recataloged and entered into MIRLYN. Please consult the Access and Reference Services Page for hours and rules of use.