Campus Map

Angel Hall

Its construction completed in 1924 and housing the College of Literature, Science, and Arts, Ford and thousands of his fellow students would have met in Angell Hall for most of their classes, especially core courses. The Michigan Daily lampooned it as a "fine building" to "pick up dates...carry on romances over the tables in the library at the end of the hall... [and to] sleep." Otherwise, the paper advised, it was a building to avoid.

The Union

The Union was an all-male building when Ford was a student. His freshman year, the Michigan Daily reported that "The Union went pansy on us last night," towhen the Union committeemen allowed "more than 100 women without partners [to enter] the building and almost all of these immediately found escorts." The Michigamua "wigwam,"or meeting room, was on the top floor of the Union tower.

West Engineering Arch

It was in Ford's years, and remains, the most identifiable "gateway" to the main campus. The arch is part of the West Engineering building, built in 1904.

Architecture Building

The School of Architecture is now on the North Campus, but elements of it remain here, from its Classical Greek columns and entablature to its iconic weather vane. Ford's first apartment was immediately across the street from this building.

908 Monroe

The site is now occupied by the Ross School of Business. Ford lived in a third-floor, one-room apartment he shared with another Grand Rapidian, Don Nichols. He paid four dollars as rent for a bed, a closet, a shared desk, and a window. The bungalow homes to the west and south of the Ross School were there during Ford's days.

Legal Research Library

One of the newest buildings on campus while Ford attended the university, Jerry would have watched its construction in his freshman year as he walked from his apartment to classes at Angell Hall. The Legal Research Library opened in 1931, and Ford hoped to study there after graduation. Circumstances, though, took him to Yale instead.

Michigan Stadium

Freshmen footballers could not play on the varsity team during Ford's days. And Ford waited his sophomore and junior years to start, playing mop-up action behind All-American Charles Bernard. Ford started every game his senior year and was voted Most Valuable Player by his teammates. During his four years, the Wolverines compiled a 24-8-2 record, winning three conference titles and two national titles.

Hill Auditorium

One of the older buildings on campus, Hill Auditorium was constructed in the year of Ford's birth, 1913. At one point during Ford's freshman year, hundreds gathered at Hill to hear Winston Churchill speak. It was at Hill where students, faculty, and others gathered on October 19, 1934, to protest African-American and star receiver Willis Ward being withheld from the game against Georgia Tech, to be played the following day. The meeting was broken up by others who supported the decision.

University Hospital

Little, if anything, remains from the hospital complex that lay to the northeast of the main campus during Ford's days. But it was here that he held his first job, secured for him by football coach Harry Kipke at a time when the University offered no athletic scholarships. Ford waited tables and washed dishes for the nurses' cafeteria at the hospital.

Main Library

Originally known as the General Library, and now named the Hatcher Graduate Library, the building served a greater part of the student body during Ford's four years in Ann Arbor. Ford would have poured over history and economics texts plucked from the library's stacks.

The DKE Shant

At 611 1/2 E. William Street stands the "Deke" Shant. It has served as the meeting place for the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity since 1879. The ceremonies and rituals that convert pledges to brothers occurs on the second floor. During Ford's days, Saturday nights were reserved for a meeting, held here. Afterward, the fraternity would form a line and march back to the Geddes house.

The DKE House

At 611 1/2 E. William Street stands the "Deke" Shant. It has served as the meeting place for the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity since 1879. The ceremonies and rituals that convert pledges to brothers occurs on the second floor. During Ford's days, Saturday nights were reserved for a meeting, held here. Afterward, the fraternity would form a line and march back to the Geddes house.