The Aigler collection consists of six series covering his collegiate and professional life: Correspondence, Board in Control of Athletics, Writings, University of Michigan Teaching and Administration, Legal Files, and Biographical. Through correspondence and topical files, the collection documents Aigler's university life and his life-long interest in intercollegiate athletics. The collection has strong potential for research regarding early University of Michigan athletics, and general correspondence to and from Aigler. While there is some material related to Aigler's teaching career, this area is not particularly strong.
Ralph W. Aigler (Feb. 13, 1885-May 24, 1964) was born in Bellevue, Ohio. He received his law degree from Michigan in 1907. Aigler briefly practiced law in Chicago before joining the law faculty at Michigan in 1910 as a full professor and remained at his alma mater until he retired in 1955 Aigler was a nationally renowned expert on real property law and one of the advisors to the American Law Institute in the drafting of the Restatement of the Law of Property. He also served as a visiting professor at other universities, including: Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, the University of California and the University of Southern California.
Aigler wrote extensively in the field of law, including two important volumes: "Cases on Property" and "Cases on Bankruptcy." He served as president, treasurer, and secretary of the Association of American Law Schools and various committees on the American Bar Association.
Aigler was heavily involved in athletics at Michigan and held two important posts: the University's faculty representative to the Big Ten Conference from 1917 to 1955, and representative of Michigan's Faculty Board in Control of Athletics from 1917 to 1942 (throughout his tenure he served as chairman several times). Aigler's other contributions included leading Michigan back into the Big Ten Conference, leading the effort to construct Michigan Stadium, Yost Fieldhouse and other facilities, negotiating the Big Ten's exclusive contract with the Rose Bowl starting in 1946, hiring Fritz Crisler as football coach and athletic director, and acting as a spokesman for the University and Big Ten for many years on NCAA rules and eligibility issues. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1982.
