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Clarke Historical Library
Central Michigan University

Finding aid for
Central Michigan University. Office of the President, President Arthur Ellis Papers

Finding aid created by
Marian Matyn

Summary Information
Title: Central Michigan University. Office of the President, President Arthur Ellis Papers,
Creator: Central Michigan University. Office of the President.
Inclusive dates: 1970, 1989
Extent: 2 cubic feet (in 2 boxes)
Abstract:
The collection includes the following series, biographical information, a photograph, correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, reports, speeches, subject files, documenting Arthur Ellis' tenure as Central Michigan University's president, 1970, 1989.

Call number: MSS.
Language: The material is in English
Repository: Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University
250 East Preston Street
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Phone: 989-774-3352
Fax: 989-774-2160
Email: clarke@cmich.edu
Website: http://clarke.cmich.edu


Access and Use
Acquisition Information:

No Acc#

Access Restrictions:

Central Michigan University. Office of the President, President Arthur Ellis Papers are open for research.

Copyright:

Copyright is unknown.

Preferred Citation:

Central Michigan University. Office of the President, President Arthur Ellis Papers, Folder # , Box #, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University


Arrangement

Arrangement is alphabetical and chronological within each series.


History

Biography:

Arthur Emmett Ellis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 14, 1932, the son of Antoinette Ellis. He graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson, Michigan, in 1950, and from Jackson Junior College in 1953. Ellis earned a B.A. in Economics from Michigan State University in 1953 and a M.A. in Higher Education from Eastern Michigan University in 1969.

After serving in the U.S. Army, 1953-1956, Ellis worked for Walker Manufacturing Company in Jackson, 1958-1962. From 1962 to 1968 he worked for the State Legislature, namely the Legislative Audit Commission, 1962-1963, and the Legislative Fiscal Agency, 1963-1968. Ellis served as the first Staff Director of the agency.

His career then moved into the field of education. From 1968 to 1970 Ellis served as the Executive Director of Governmental Relations and University Budgets at Eastern Michigan University. Beginning in August 1970, he served as Vice President for Public Affairs at Central Michigan University (CMU). Ellis was appointed as Interim President after President Harold Abel resigned in 1985. Ellis became the ninth President of CMU in 1986.

During his two years as President of CMU, Ellis turned a $1.9 million university deficit into a modest surplus. Student enrollment increased at CMU, and the campus entered a new period of physical growth with the ground breaking of the new IET (Industrial Engineering and Technology) Building, and plans for several other facilities including science, music, and student recreation were begun.

President Ellis retired in 1988.

Michigan Governor John Engler appointed Ellis to serve as the Director of the Michigan Department of Commerce and, later, as Superintendent of Public Instruction of the Michigan Department of Education.

Ellis and his wife, Sibyl Marie, have three children: Mark Robert, Marcia Lynn, and Marian. (This information is from the collection and the CMU Office of the President website.)


Collection Scope and Content Note

The collection includes President Ellis’ biographical materials, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and subject files on a wide variety of CMU topics. A number of the minutes and subject files document budgetary issues, 1985-1989. Other well documented topics include commencements 1985-1988 and MMI (Michigan Molecular Institute), 1984-1988, including apartheid issues.

Subject Terms

    Subjects:
    • Central Michigan University. Office of the President.
    • Central Michigan University--History.
    • Central Michigan University--Administration.
    • Central Michigan University--Finance.
    • Central Michigan University--Commencements.
    • Michigan Molecular Institute.
    • Mount Pleasant (Mich.)--History.
    • Ellis, Arthur.
    Contents List
       Container / Location    Title
     
    Central Michigan University. Office of the President, President Arthur Ellis Papers. [series]:
    Box   1 F   1
    Biographical Information (includes photograph), 1970-1988
    Box   1 F   2
    Biographical Information, Newspaper Clippings (copies), 1986
    Box   1 F   3
    Correspondence, Business and Finance, 1986-1988
    Box   1 F   4
    Correspondence, MMI (Michigan Molecular Institute), 1985-1987
    Box   1 F   5
    Meeting Minutes, Business Division Staff, 1986-1987
    Box   1 F   6
    Meeting Minutes, Central Michigan Community Hospital, Service Board of Directors, 1986-1987
    Box   1 F   7
    Meeting Minutes, MMI, 1985
    Box   1 F   8
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 1 of 3), 1986
    Box   1 F   9
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 2 of 3), 1986
    Box   1 F   10
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 3 of 3), 1986
    Box   1 F   11
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 1 of 2), 1987
    Box   1 F   12
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 2 of 2), 1987
    Box   1 F   13
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 1 of 3), 1988
    Box   1 F   14
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 2 of 3), 1988
    Box   1 F   15
    Meeting Minutes, MMI (folder 3 of 3), 1988
    Box   1 F   16
    Reports, Attitudes of the CMU Community, 1986
    Box   1 F   17
    Reports, Development Office, 1986
    Box   1 F   18
    Reports, North Campus Space Committee, 1988
    Box   1 F   19
    Speeches, Student Leadership Banquet, 1986
    Box   1 F   20
    Speeches, To the University, 1986-1987
    Box   1 F   21
    Subject Files, Administrative Professional Council Meeting, 1986
    Box   1 F   22
    Subject Files, Adult Learners Conference, 1987
    Box   1 F   23
    Subject Files, Affirmative Action, 1985-1987
    Box   1 F   24
    Subject Files, Alcohol Awareness Week, 1987
    Box   1 F   25
    Subject Files, Beaver Island Retreat, 1985
    Box   1 F   26
    Subject Files, Board of Trustees, General Revenue, 1988
    Box   1 F   27
    Subject Files, Board of Trustees, Orientation, undated, circa 1986-1988
    Box   1 F   28
    Subject Files, Budget, General Fund, 1985
    Box   1 F   29
    Subject Files, Budget, General Fund, 1986-1987
    Box   1 F   30
    Subject Files, Budget, General Fund, 1987-1988
    Box   1 F   31
    Subject Files, Budget, General Fund, 1988-1989
    Box   1 F   32
    Subject Files, Budget, Line Item Construction Program Summary, 1987-1988
    Box   1 F   33
    Subject Files, Budget, Planning Meeting, 1986-1987
    Box   1 F   34
    Subject Files, Budget, State Appropriations Subcommittee, 1984-1987
    Box   1 F   35
    Subject Files, Budget, State Funding, 1985-1986
    Box   2 F   1
    Subject Files, Budget, State Letter, 1987
    Box   2 F   2
    Subject Files, Budget, State Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, 1986-1987
    Box   2 F   3
    Subject Files, Capital Campaign, 1985
    Box   2 F   4
    Subject Files, Central Michigan Community Hospital, Industrial Medicine Services, 1989
    Box   2 F   5
    Subject Files, Clarke Historical Library, 1985-1989
    Box   2 F   6
    Subject Files, Commencements, December 1985
    Box   2 F   7
    Subject Files, Commencements, December 1986
    Box   2 F   8
    Subject Files, Commencements, May 1986
    Box   2 F   9
    Subject Files, Commencements, December 1987
    Box   2 F   10
    Subject Files, Commencements, May 1987
    Box   2 F   11
    Subject Files, Commencements, May 1988
    Box   2 F   12
    Subject Files, Development Fund, 1985-1988
    Box   2 F   13
    Subject Files, Dialog with Einstein, 1987
    Box   2 F   14
    Subject Files, Enrollment, 1986
    Box   2 F   15
    Subject Files, Enrollment Projection Parameters, 1986
    Box   2 F   16
    Subject Files, Executive Administrative Retreat, 1984
    Box   2 F   17
    Subject Files, Expansion / Remodeling / Construction, 1986
    Box   2 F   18
    Subject Files, Football, 1986
    Box   2 F   19
    Subject Files, Foreign Language Day Address, 1986
    Box   2 F   20
    Subject Files, Grenzeback and Association, Inc., 1984
    Box   2 F   21
    Subject Files, IET (Industrial Engineering and Technology), Building Groundbreaking and Dedication, 1986-1989
    Box   2 F   22
    Subject Files, Institute for Personal Career Development (IPCD), 1985-1986
    Box   2 F   23
    Subject Files, Lease between Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Smith and CMU, 1988
    Box   2 F   24
    Subject Files, Michigan Melodies, 1986
    Box   2 F   25
    Subject Files, Miscellaneous Files, 1986-1987
    Box   2 F   30
    Subject Files, MMI, Apartheid, 1986
    Box   2 F   31
    Subject Files, MMI, Article of Incorporation, undated
    Box   2 F   32
    Subject Files, MMI, Proposals, 1984-1986
    Box   2 F   33
    Subject Files, Proposed CMU / MMI Merger, 1983
    Box   2 F   34
    Subject Files, Research Excellence and Economic Development Fund (REEDF), 1985
    Box   2 F   35
    Subject Files, Space Act Agreement with NASA, 1987
    Box   2 F   36
    Subject Files, Specifications: Official Residence Additions and Remodeling, by Wakeley Associates, Mount Pleasant, 1986
    Box   2 F   37
    Subject Files, Summer Institute for Arts and Sciences, 1986
    Box   2 F   38
    Subject Files, Thomas Alva Edison Foundation Institute, 19846
    Box   2 F   39
    Subject Files, University Foundation, 1987
    Box   2 F   40
    Subject Files, Vice Presidents, 1986