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Early Graduate Education at U-M

As Rackham Graduate School celebrates the 150th anniversary of the University of Michigan’s first awarded doctoral degree, records at the Bentley Historical Library reveal the evolution of graduate education at U-M.

May 6, 2026 | Truly Render

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A large crowd stands on either side of a tree-lined street, watching people in dark coats and hats walk in procession along a paved path, with vintage cars parked nearby.

U-M students march in a 1937 graduation ceremony. Image source: Ivory Photo collection

As Rackham Graduate School celebrates the 150th anniversary of the University of Michigan’s first awarded doctoral degree, records at the Bentley Historical Library reveal the evolution of graduate education at U-M. From early master’s degrees awarded to alumni for good character and vaguely defined post-graduate academic merit, to rigorous examinations, original theses, and the university’s first Ph.D.s, U-M’s definitions of advanced degrees have changed over time, reflecting the educational practices of the times.

Along the way, doctoral scholars helped shape what advanced study could mean. Their stories show both the ambition and complexity of Michigan’s academic past, including achievements worth celebrating and legacies that demand reflection.

In a recent article for the Bentley Historical Library, Rackham alum and Historical Research and Oral History Specialist Andrew Rutledge (Ph.D. ’18), traces how U-M’s graduate programs grew from informal honors into the foundation of a modern research university, culminating in the creation of the graduate school.

Read the full article.

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