Huetwell Visitors Center

Huetwell Visitors Center (2023) by Padme Gruebler

Welcome Center One of Many Generous Donations to UM

by Padme Gruebler

Welcoming visitors and incoming students, the University of Michigan’s Huetwell Visitors Center provides the first impression for many who dream of being a Michigan Wolverine. The building houses the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, which hosts tours for prospective students and small-group information sessions. The Huetwell Visitors Center was constructed in 1996 as an addition to the Student Activities Building, built, in part, from a gift from the 1938 graduate Frederick G.L. Huetwell.

Huetwell is regarded as one of the most important donors for the University of Michigan. In addition to the visitors center, Huetwell made many other generous donations to the medical school and research. Huetwell was born with cerebral palsy, and struggled with it his whole life, according to a Michigan Medicine Headlines article. Thus, when looking at his estate plans, he decided to make a large gift to the medical school, establishing four professorships and three research funds (“Monumental Gift"). These donations went a long way in helping the medical community at the university. “Proceeds from that original gift eventually seeded an astounding 11 Huetwell professorships, which include faculty in disciplines such as birth defects, cardiovascular medicine, cystic fibrosis, ophthalmology and visual sciences, pediatric research and rheumatology” (“Monumental Gift”). Through everything that he gave and the love he had for this institution, Huetwell’s presence can be felt.

Frederick G.L Huetwell. Photo courtesy: Michigan Medicine Headlines

Part of what makes the Huetwell Visitors Center special is that it has had special exhibits that feature aspects of historic life at the UM, helping people learn about what it was like in the past. One example is the mid-19th century dorm room that was on display at the center. It belonged to George Washington Pray, one of the eleven students in the first graduating class in 1845 (Carney). Exhibits like these are an important part of preserving the history of the school and giving others a glimpse of its beginnings. It honors the origins of this campus and the first students who helped make it what it is now.

Frederick G.L. Huetwell is an inspiration to Michigan, and his name is a representation of that. The name Huetwell means philosopher and careful, according to NamesLook. As someone very focused on academics and helping others, his last name symbolizes how he contributed to the university. His first name, Frederick, means “peaceful ruler,” according to BehindTheName. Because of his lasting generosity, deep love, and dedication to this school, Huetwell’s legacy continues through the Huetwell Visitors Center and his numerous other contributions.

For more information on the Huetwell Visitors Center, check out their website.

Works Cited

Campbell, Mike. “Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Frederick.” Behind the Name, https://www.behindthename.com/name/frederick.

Gruebler, Padme. Exterior photograph of Huetwell Visitors Center. 10 Apr. 2023. Author’s Personal Collection

“Huetwell Meaning, Pronunciation, Origin and Numerology - Nameslook #Meaningofmyname.” NamesLook, https://www.nameslook.com/huetwell/.

“Monumental Gift Yields U-M's First-Ever Professorship.” Michigan Medicine Headlines, 13 Apr. 2017, https://mmheadlines.org/2017/04/monumental-gift-yields-u-ms-first-ever-professorship/#:~ :text=One%20such%20donor%20was%20Frederick,professorships%20and%20three%20re search%20funds.

“Photograph of Frederick G.L. Huetwell and Elizabeth H Bates.” Michigan Medecine Headlines, April 13, 2017, https://mmheadlines.org/2017/04/monumental-gift-yields-u-ms-first-ever-professorship/ . April 7, 2023.

“University of Michigan Huetwell Visitors Center: Ann Arbor District Library.” University of Michigan Huetwell Visitors Center | Ann Arbor District Library, https://aadl.org/taxonomy/term/199394. “University of Michigan.” Ann Arbor Observer, 13 July 2022, https://annarborobserver.com/guide/university-of-michigan/.

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