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January 2019
Around The U

History Lessons: Population Boom

We commemorate U-M’s record 2018 enrollment with a historical slideshow of population growth.
By Gregory Lucas-Myers, ’10

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Read time: < 1 minute
Images courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library and Michigan Photography.

The University released its 2018 Annual Report on Dec. 19, 2018, capping a landmark year on multiple fronts for the Maize and Blue. One achievement was a new record in student enrollment with 63,177 across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses. In commemoration of U-M’s continued growth, Michigan Alumnus put together this slideshow illustrating how the campus has grown over the decades to accommodate its burgeoning student population.

Note: Though U-M was founded as the Catholepistemiad in Detroit in 1817, it never hosted a collegiate course and, instead, served as as a primary school and academy. For more information, read “The First 20 Years” from the winter 2017 edition of the magazine.

The original Mason Hall and a building called South College, circa 1850, served as both dorms and classrooms.
1841-42 – Number of students: 7 – The original Mason Hall and a building called South College, circa 1850, served as both dorms and classrooms.
People pose on the Diag—yes, that’s the Diag—to have their picture taken in 1861.
1867-68 – Number of students: 1,255 – People pose on the Diag—yes, that’s the Diag—to have their picture taken in 1861.
Students go for a stroll in 1888 near the main entrance of U-M and close to the northwest corner of the Diag. To the right are Law School buildings.
1890-91 – Number of students: 2,420 – Students go for a stroll in 1888 near the main entrance of U-M and close to the northwest corner of the Diag. To the right are Law School buildings, the predecessors to the modern Law Quad.
With World War I in progress, U-M students train in makeshift trenches near Ann Arbor’s Forest Hill Cemetery. For more information on how the Great War affected campus, read “For the Use of the Nation” in the winter 2018 issue of Michigan Alumnus.
1917-18 – Number of students: 6,734 – With World War I in progress, U-M students train in makeshift trenches near Ann Arbor’s Forest Hill Cemetery. For more information on how the Great War affected campus, read “For the Use of the Nation” in the winter 2018 issue of Michigan Alumnus.
Students congregate in 1943 at the “Coke Bar” in the Michigan Union, currently closed for a major renovation. Read more about the Union in “Our Living Room” in Michigan Alumnus magazine’s spring 2017 issue.
1942-43 – Number of students: 11,700 – Students congregate in 1943 at the “Coke Bar” in the Michigan Union, currently closed for a major renovation. Read more about the Union in “Our Living Room Lives On” in Michigan Alumnus magazine’s spring 2017 issue.
The University’s Flint and Dearborn campuses opened in 1956 and 1959, respectively. This 1971 photo shows a class of students in Dearborn.
1967-68 – Number of students: 34,514 – The University’s Flint and Dearborn campuses opened in 1956 and 1959, respectively. This entry and subsequent years reflect the grand total across all three campuses. This 1971 photo shows a class of students in Dearborn.
Residential College students watch a skit in 1992 in The Halfway Inn, a combination cafe, lounge, and convenience shop located in the basement of the East Quad residence hall.
1992-93 – Number of students: 51,389 – 1992 Residential College students watch a skit in The Halfway Inn, a combination cafe, lounge, and convenience shop located in the basement of the East Quad residence hall.
The community enjoys a State Street block party in 2015.
2017-18 – Number of students: 63,177 – The community enjoys a State Street block party in 2015.

Gregory Lucas-Myers, ’10, is assistant editor of Michigan Alumnus.

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