The Bentley Historical Library serves as the archives of the University of Michigan. More than 200 years of U-M history is archived at the Bentley and we are here to work with you if you have records chronicling the university’s growth and development.
Share Your University of Michigan History
What U-M material does the Bentley collect?
1. Transfers from University of Michigan administrative units and academic departments
Records documenting the development and implementation of university policy by central administrative offices are necessary to the continuing functioning of the university and to provide an accurate reflection of the activities and achievements of the institution.
It is the responsibility of university administrators, in cooperation with the Bentley, to ensure that records are maintained properly and that those records are transferred to the archives including:
- Central topical files
- Unit head correspondence including email
- Records documenting unit reviews, including accreditation
- Executive and other committee minutes
- Reports, including annual reports
- Fundraising strategy records
- Photographs, preferably identified by the unit
- Publications of the unit, including newsletters
- Audiovisual material
- Records of search and executive review committees initiated by the unit
2. Donations of Faculty Papers
The Bentley collects the personal papers of representative faculty to document the intellectual environment at the University of Michigan.
The primary collecting objective is to document the careers of faculty members who have been valued teachers, defined significant ideas, undertaken important research, or have carried out exemplary service to the university, the state or the larger community.
The following types of material found in faculty papers are considered to have potential historical value:
- Correspondence of a substantive nature, including email
- Lecture notes and curriculum materials
- Records of departmental or university-wide activities
- Speeches
- Research-related records
- Bibliographies, vitae, photographs, films and audio and video recordings
3. Donations from student organizations
Student organization leaders are encouraged to work with the Bentley to discuss the creation, maintenance, archival retention, and disposition of records from the committee or organization.
The Bentley’s collecting interests include materials documenting the co-curricular activities of undergraduate and graduate students.
These materials may include:
- Physical or digital agendas, minutes, and meeting notes
- Publications including blogs and websites
- Identified photographs and audiovisual content
4. Donations from alumni
Materials from alumni that document their time as a student or experience on campus are of particular interest. We typically cannot accept the professional papers of alumni who did not have careers at the University or in the state of Michigan.
Materials of interest include:
- Scrapbooks
- Ephemera
- Student publications
- Identified photographs
What isn’t right for the archive?
We cannot accept everything, and some types of records have less research use, should be discarded when their administrative use is complete, or are a better fit elsewhere .
The Bentley generally does not accept:
- Duplicate items
- Correspondence and administrative files documenting routine activities such as room scheduling and travel logistics
- Non-university material retained as a reference file
- Routine financial records
- Clothing, plaques, and other three dimensional artifacts
- Personnel Records
- Patient files
- Reference files (photocopies of printed articles, caselaw, etc.)
- Reprints and pre-prints
- Most editions of the Michiganensian yearbooks
Why preserving U-M history is important
University records allow historians, artists, journalists, and genealogists to generate new knowledge about the university’s many component parts and the people who have worked, studied or competed here. It also documents the university’s significance as an eminent public research university and the accomplishments of students, faculty, and staff. The ability to connect stories from the past to our lives today makes ceremonial events such as inaugurations, commencements, anniversary celebrations, and building dedications more meaningful.
The archive also provides essential evidence of the institution’s legal and administrative obligations, which can facilitate answering questions necessary for current operational and business needs for university units.
Help for U-M Units
For U-M units looking for more information about transferring or donating records, please see the University Archives and Records page.