Newberry Hall

Kelsey Museum of Archaeology is housed inside the building once known as Newberry Hall (April 2023) by Nikhil Sathye.

Past Home of Religion and Political Speech

by Nikhil Sathye

The renaming of Newberry Hall to the Kelsey of Museum of Archaeology has seemingly erased some of the most potent political and religious history of the University of Michigan. Examining the history behind the building, the purpose it has served, and the controversies that have surrounded it, spark the question: Was Newberry Hall doomed from the start?

Newberry Hall was established in 1890 to serve “as the headquarters for the Students’ Christian Association of the University of Michigan," remaining separate from the university during its early years (“Newberry Hall”). It was named after John Newberry, a Michigan class of 1847 graduate, following a donation of $18,000 by his wife Helen in his honor following his death in 1887 (“Newberry Hall, 1888”). John Newberry was an important figure in the state of Michigan’s history during the late 1800s, making his fortune in the car manufacturing industry at a time when railroads fueled the American economy. He was also named Michigan’s provost-marshal by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and later built the Detroit, Mackinac, and Marquette railroad (Tobin).

Photo of John Newberry, Photo courtesy: alamy.com

Soon after the completion of Newberry Hall, the building was the center of controversies because of the political speakers hosted there, as mentioned in an article by The Michigan Daily in 1891. During that time period, UM didn't allow political speakers to rent out halls for speaking events, but Newberry Hall was not held to the same standards, as it was off campus (source needed). Hosting political speakers that both promoted and disagreed with the Students’ Christian Association’s views, Newberry Hall remained a place to encourage political engagement. In fact, despite many of the members not believing in women’s suffrage, Susan B. Anthony, a notable women’s rights activist, spoke at Newberry Hall in 1894 because it was one of the only places near campus that allowed her to speak freely (source needed). Her speech was a catalyst for the formation of the Ann Arbor Equal Suffrage Association, one of the biggest pro-suffrage associations in Michigan at the time(source needed). Despite the political views of its members, Newberry Hall served as a place where people across the aisle could give speeches, maintaining its ideology to encourage political discourse.

Unlike other buildings on campus, the purpose of Newberry Hall has repeatedly changed over the years. It was first created to be the headquarters for the Students’ Christian Association; however, in 1904, the building became the center for the Young Women’s Christian Association. In 1919, the building became available for all religious groups on campus ("Newberry Hall: From Meetings to Museum"). In 1921, the University agreed to pay for the upkeep of Newberry Hall in exchange for the right to rent out parts of the building for classroom usage. By 1928, however, the Hall had been completely remodeled to serve as a museum, and after much consideration, the Students’ Christian Assocation reluctantly agreed to donate Newberry Hall to the University in 1936 ("Newberry Hall: From Meetings to Museum"). In 1953, the University renamed Newberry Hall to the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology to commemorate Francis Kelsey.

Newberry Hall long served as a place of gathering for different Christian associations at the University of Michigan. Despite facing pushback for allowing speakers, it maintained its mission to create open political discourse and served as one of the few places on campus for political speakers to openly voice their opinion. Although repurposed in the 1900s after being gifted to the university, Newberry Hall and the legacy of Helen and John Newberry continue to live on within the University.

Works Cited

“Newberry Hall, 1888.” Ann Arbor District Library, https://aadl.org/buildings_hhaa104. Accessed 10 Apr. 2023.

Photo of John S. Newberry. Alamy.com, https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2CMX69P/john-s-newberry-michigan-congressman-2CMX69P.jpg. Accessed 7 Apr. 2023.

"Newberry Hall: From Meetings to Museum. Displaced Histories. Github.Io, https://umich-hist-399.github.io/campus-histories/summaries/newberry. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.

“Newberry." A Historical Tour of the University of Michigan Campus. Bentley Historical Library, https://bentley.umich.edu/legacy-support/campus_tour/newberry.php. Accessed 6 Apr. 2023.

Tobin, James. “The Generous Mrs. Newberry.” Michigan Today, 17 Feb. 2015, https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2015/02/17/the-generous-mrs-newberry/.

Page updated

Report abuse