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Grover C. Dillman Papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MTU-021

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Papers, speeches, correspondence, scrapbooks, diaries and photographs from Grover C. Dillman's career both prior to and including his presidency at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology.

Dates

  • 1868-1974
  • Majority of material found within 1915 - 1961

Language of Material

English

Conditions Governing Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections. FERPA restrictions are applicable to a small number of folders contained in this collection. Please contact the University Registrar's office to request access to affected records as noted in the collection inventory.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

Grover Cleveland Dillman was born in Bangor, Michigan in 1889. He graduated from Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) with a degree in civil engineering. He joined the Michigan State Highway Department shortly after graduation in 1913 and rose rapidly in the ranks to Deputy State Commissioner in 1922, Chief Engineer in 1924 and State Highway Commissioner in 1929. In 1933 he became Director of Public Service for the city of Grand Rapids and in early 1935 he became Director of the State Welfare Department. He was appointed to the presidency of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) in August 1935. President Grover C. Dillman (1935-56) oversaw dramatic changes in the college, including the establishment of a branch campus 250 miles east in Sault Ste. Marie. Also noteworthy was the creation of the Memorial Union Building, which (now remodeled) remains the center of campus, with a cafeteria, bowling, billiards, meeting rooms, student organization offices, and lounges. The college also procured the village of Alberta, Michigan, with its sawmill and 4,000-acre forest from the Ford Motor Company and added the golf course and ice rink (in downtown Houghton) for the NCAA Division I Hockey Huskies. Post-war enrollment blossomed and in 1948 was 1,789 in Houghton and 384 at the Sault branch, and temporary housing was established for the influx of veterans. Programs added during this era included engineering administration, physics, and geological engineering. Active in the community and professionally, Dillman was also an honorary member of the Michigan Tech Alumni Association, a member of Michigan Tech Fund Board of Trustees and a charter member of the President's Club at Michigan Tech. Grover C. Dillman passed away in 1979.

Extent

25.99 Cubic Feet (21 paige boxes, 6 manuscript boxes (5 letter and 1 half letter), 1 flat box, 2 map drawers)

Abstract

Papers, 1845-1974 1868-1974 (bulk 1915 - 1961), of Grover Cleveland Dillman, the fourth president of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) in Houghton, Michigan. Includes papers, correspondence, scrapbooks, diaries and photographs from Dillman's career both prior to and including his presidency at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology.

Arrangement

MTU-021 has been arranged into fourteen series with series 4 further arranged into four subseries as follows:

1. General Records Series 2. Michigan State Highway Department 3. General University Records 4. Committees 4.1 General Committees Series 4.2 University Committees 4.3 Michigan State Planning Commission 4.4 Forest Products Research Committee 5. Auditor General/ Budget Material 6. Correspondence 7. Diaries and Planners 8. Papers and Addresses 9. University Events 10. Awards/ Honors 11. Mining and Engineering 12. Library of A.E. Seaman 13. Alumni Foundation 14. Scrapbooks and Ephemera

Acquisition

A donation was made by Mrs. John H. (Helen) Reid on August 1, 1974 consisting of two packages containing commencement, inauguration, and dedication speeches and programs and six scrapbooks. Another donation was made from Dr. Grover Dillman through Mrs. Reid on August 2, 1976 consisting of three boxes of 40 volumes and folders, which contained scrapbooks, personal correspondence of years with State Highway Department and M.C.M.T. A donation consisting of eleven paige boxes of presidential files was made by Raymond Smith on February 26, 1979. The most recent donation consisted of two paige boxes described as containing Grover Dillman files was donated on July 7, 1994 by Michigan Technological University’s Office of the President.

Title
Grover C. Dillman Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Russell, initially revised by Rachael Bussert, further revised by Lindsay Hiltunen
Date
5/26/2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US