Heritage/Tradition

  1. Arrowsmith’s inspiration

    The first and arguably greatest American novel about a scientist — Sinclair Lewis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning Arrowsmith — never could have been written without the real-life character Lewis found at U-M. But the writer never delivered the credit he promised.

  2. The doctor and Ty Cobb

    Handwritten letters between the greatest Detroit Tiger of all time and his physician, U-M Regent Charles S. Kennedy, reveals a kinder, gentler Cobb than common lore dictates.

  3. The Fresh Air Camp

    From the 1920s through the ’70s, U-M offered a green sanctuary northwest of Ann Arbor as a retreat for kids in need of special attention.

  4. Elvis at the end

    Just before he died at 42, the King rocked Crisler Arena in a slightly strange and thoroughly unforgettable concert.

  5. He never saw the Law Quad

    The man who endowed the University’s gothic, architectural masterpiece vowed never to lay eyes on it. He feared he would be disappointed.

  6. Bill Freehan: Legend and legacy

    The esteemed athlete’s story is all about faith and love, says mgoblue.com’s Steve Kornacki. In 1968, Freehan, ’66, helped Detroit win the World Series; today he is battling Alzheimer’s.

  7. The president’s back yard

    The grounds of the University president’s house over many decades reflect changes in the nature of campus life at Michigan.

  8. A mad magician

    He was a war hero, a triple-threat halfback, and a magazine cover model. Hall-of-famer Bob Chappuis was part of a magical Michigan offense that scored a 49-0 victory over USC in the 1948 Rose Bowl.

  9. That’s life

    In 1947, decades before social media connected us, Life magazine shared U-M Homecoming with Wolverines worldwide.