Title: Christopher Armstrong papers Creator: Armstrong, Christopher H. Dates: 2008-2015 Extent: 1 linear foot (1 box), 18.2 GB Abstract:
Christopher H. Armstrong was the first openly gay student body president of the Michigan Student Assembly at the University of Michigan. This collection documents his undergraduate experience, speaking engagements, and the lawsuit Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell in which Armstrong was represented by attorney Deborah Gordon. Materials include court documents, news articles, television news coverage including interviews with Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, speeches, notes, and correspondence.
Call number: 2014124 Aa 2 Language: The material is in English Repository: Bentley Historical Library
1150 Beal Ave. Ann Arbor, MI
48109-2113 Phone:
734-764-3482 Fax:
734-936-1333 e-mail:
bentley.ref@umich.edu Home Page: http://www.bentley.umich.edu/
Finding aid created by Lilly Carrel, August 2017.
Access and Use
Acquisition Information:
Donated by Christopher Armstrong (donor no. 10624), with additions from Steven and Cynthia Armstrong, in multiple accessions between 2011 and 2015.
Access Restrictions:
The collection is open to research.
Access to some online material is restricted to the Bentley Historical Library Reading Room.
To protect fragile audiovisual recordings (such as audio cassettes, film reels, and VHS
tapes), the Bentley Historical Library has a policy of converting them to digital
formats by a professional vendor whenever a researcher requests access. For more
information, please see: http://bentley.umich.edu/research/duplication/.
Copyright:
Donor has transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.
Preferred Citation:
[item], folder, box, Christopher Armstrong papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.
[item], [URL], Christopher Armstrong papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series: University of Michigan Activities, Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell, and Speaking Engagements. The Armstrong v. Shirvell series is further organized into the following three sub-series: Court Documents, Family Legal File, and Press and Media Coverage.
Biography
Christopher "Chris" Armstrong was born in 1989, the son Steven Holm and Cynthia Rex Armstrong. Chris attended Ridgefield High School, in Ridgefield Connecticut, and graduated in 2007. He attended the University of Michigan, where he became involved in Michigan's gay community.
In 2010, Armstrong was elected president of the Michigan Student Assembly, making him the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan. Armstrong ran as a part of MForward, a party he and vice president Jason Raymond helped found. During and after Armstrong's election, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, Andrew Shirvell, engaged in an online and in-person "campaign" against Armstrong. Armstrong sued Shirvell for defamation, false light invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and stalking. In 2015 the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision in favor of Armstrong.
Christopher H. Armstrong graduated from the University of Michigan in 2011 and currently lectures on topics such as cyberbullying and harassment.
Collection Scope and Content Note
The collection documents the experiences of Christopher Armstrong, the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan, during his tenure as an undergraduate student, president of the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA), and the lawsuit he brought against a Michigan's assistant attorney general, Andrew Shirvell. Materials include court documents, news articles, television news coverage, speeches, notes, correspondence, and student government material between 2008 and 2015.
Subject Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the finding aid database and catalog of The Bentley Historical Library/University of Michigan. Researchers desiring additional information about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.
College student government -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Cyberbullying.
Gay college students -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Gay men -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Gay rights -- Michigan.
Gay rights -- Michigan -- Ann Arbor.
Lawyers -- Michigan.
Online hate speech.
Court records.
Digital file formats.
Digital images.
Shirvell, Andrew.
Michigan Student Assembly.
Cox, Michael Anthony, 1961-
Gordon, Deborah L.
Armstrong, Christopher H.
University of Michigan -- Students.
Contents List
Request materials for use in the Bentley Library
Container / Location
Title
University of Michigan Activities 2008-2011 [series]
The University of Michigan Activities series (0.6 linear feet, 38.2 MB) includes a seven volume compilation of news articles on Chris complied by his mother, Cynthia, MForward election material from Chris' presidential campaign, letters from students and U-M administration in support of Chris, recordings announcing a scholarship named in Chris' honor to aid people who have experienced cyberbullying, and program and event materials.
Box 1
"Chris Armstrong: A Narrative of his Experiences at the University of Michigan" 2008-2011
(7 folders)
Online
Chris Armstrong Scholarship announcement video undated[view items]
(Includes congratulatory letter from Vice President for Student Affairs.)
Box 1
Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference program 2011
Box 1
Spectrum Center 40th anniversary celebration November-December 2011
Box 1
Valor, Grace, Dignity: Honoring the Armstrong legacy at the University of Michigan circa 2011
Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell 2010-2015 [series]
The Christopher Armstrong v. Andrew Shirvell series (0.3 linear feet, 17.7 GB) is comprised of the Armstrong family's personal legal file, press and media coverage of the lawsuit including interviews with Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell, and court documents including trail exhibits, legal records, photographs, and recordings.
Court Documents [subseries]
Online
Andrew Shirvell v. Deborah Gordon 2011-2013
(Complaint and counter suit filed by Shirvell against Gordon)
(Armstrong featured in Out magazine's issue of "One Hundred Most Compelling People of 2010.")
Online
WWJ radio interview Attorney General Mike Cox November 22, 2011[BHL Reading Room Access Only][view items]
Online
WXYZ Channel 7 interview with Andrew Shirvell undated[BHL Reading Room Access Only][view items]
Speaking Engagements 2008-2013 [series]
The Speaking Engagements series (0.1 linear feet, 399 MB) includes speeches, notes, and recordings of speeches Chris Armstrong gave about his experience as the first openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan and on cyberbullying.
Box 1
Be More Courageous undated
Box 1
Campbell Soup Company OPEN employee network event on bullying June 2011
Box 1
Event programs 2008-2011
Box 1
Frank Kameny Tribute May 5, 2012
TEDx U of M talk
Box 1
Notes undated
Online
"Untapped Respect" video clip May 5, 2013[view items]
Box 1
Unidentified speeches undated
Online
Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch 2011[BHL Reading Room Access Only][view items]
