It Happened at Michigan — How Maize and Blue Became U-M’s Colors

March 31, 2025

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Read time:

<5 mins
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Presented by The Record

The tradition of school colors dates back to 1836 when the University of Cambridge adopted “Cambridge blue” for a boat race against Oxford. The University of Michigan (U-M) followed suit in 1867, choosing “azure blue” and “maize,” with the latter selected for contrast. In 1912, to end confusion and create a lasting symbol, U-M standardized a deeper blue and golden maize—colors that would come to represent the university’s spirit and legacy, and are still celebrated today.

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