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This file contains Gerald Ford's 1937 application for admission to the University of Michigan Law School, a letter of reference, his undergraduate academic transcript from the same institution, correspondence, and a 1946 notice that he has joined the law firm of Butterfield, Keeney & Amberg.
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1133398
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Gerald R. Ford Student File
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1133398
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Gerald R. Ford Student File
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This file contains Gerald Ford's 1937 application for admission to the University of Michigan Law School, a letter of reference, his undergraduate academic transcript from the same institution, correspondence, and a 1946 notice that he has joined the law firm of Butterfield, Keeney & Amberg.
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Records of the University of Michigan Law School
Gerald R. Ford Student Application Files
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Ann Arbor (Mich.)
University of Michigan. Law School
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006
Correspondence
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1974-09-30
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9
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1974
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1937-03-01
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1937
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The original documents comprise the University of Michigan, Law School: Gerald R. Ford
Student File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from University of Michigan Law School: Gerald R. Ford Student File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Date may 26 1937
This application should not be filled out until the applicant has read carefully the requirements for entrance to
this School and can fully satisfy them before September 1st. Every question is to be answered.
1. Name in full Groald Ford Jr
Give former name (in full), if it has been changed
Leslie King
If changed, give exact date of change and legal steps taken to effect the change name was legally changed
to Herald Ford Jr. Dec 1935 in Kent County the
State of Michigan
2. Present address 157 church St. new Haven Conn.
3. Home residence 1011 Janta Crug Grand Rapids, mich,
4. How long have you lived there? 4 years
5. Give the names and addresses of three residents of your community who have known you well. If possible, in-
clude one or more graduates of this University.
Name Ralph Congen
Street and Number Campbell Place
City Brand Rapids mich
State
Name anther Knowse
Street and Number Smt 57 Public Schools
City Grand Rapids
State mich
Name
Street and Number South High
Chifford Gettings
City Kand Rapids
State Mich.
6. Are you a legal resident of Michigan? yes
7. Date of birth July 17,1973
Place of birth Omaha, neb
Form 5204 2-37 IM
8. Name of parent or guardian Henald a Ford Sr.
Address 1011 Santa Cruy, Krand Rapids, much.
If a resident of Michigan, for how long?
46yro.
9. Are you married or single? single
10. Will it be necessary for you to earn any portion of your expenses during your first year as a law student?
no
11. Name the institutions above high school grade in which you have studied, your time of residence in each, the
degree which you received (if any) and the date upon which it was conferred.
Vniv. of mich - 4 yrs, 1 a.B. - Jane, 1935
12. Have you ever been enrolled or registered in a Law School? no
If so, where and when?
13. Have you applied before for admission to this School? no
If so, when?
14. Have you ever applied for admission to any other law school? no
If so, where and when?
15. Upon my honor I certify that the foregoing statements are true to the best of my knowledge.
Signed Genael Ford In
After filling in all blanks on this form, it should be returned with:
(1) A recent unmounted PHOTOGRAPH not larger than 3 X 4 inches in size.
(2) An OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT of ALL college credit completed, including a certificate of graduation.
(3) Two letters from college instructors with whom you have completed courses.
BE SURE YOUR APPLICATION IS COMPLETELY FILLED IN. UNLESS ITEMS (1), (2) AND (3) ARE
FURNISHED, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE ON ADMIS-
SIONS.
Forward all communications to: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL,
HUTCHINS HALL,
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.
FORD di LIBRARY GERALD
UNIVERSITY OF michigan
ANN ARBOR
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
May 27, 1937
Professor Paul Leidy
Secretary, Law School
University of Michigan
Campus
Dear Mr. Leidy:
Mr. Gerald Ford has informed me that he is a
candidate for admission to the Law School, and has
asked me to write you about him.
Mr. Ford was a student in my course in American
history during his sophomore year in the University
about four years ago. He is a very satisfactory
student -- able, conscientious, industrious, and is
a young man of apparently excellent character. In my
opinion he is a very worthy candidate for admission to
the Law School.
Sincerely yours,
L. L. H. Vandn Vander Velde
LGV:v
yes ald Ford
June 1, 1937
Professor L. G. Vander Velde
History Department
University of Michigan
Campus
Dear Mr. Vander Velde:
Just a line to thank you for your letter of May 27.
We appreciate the frank statement you have made regarding Mr.
Gerald Ford. My recollection of the young man is an equally
pleasant one although of course I have not had him in a
classroom. It would appear that there is no doubt but that
he is of the type who should be given a chance to study here.
Yours very truly,
Secretary
PALten
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
COLLEGE OF LITERATURE
MARC
NAME AND
SCIENCE AND THE ARTS
Gerald
FORD
NOME ADDRESS
OF PARENT OR
GUARDIAN
ENTERED
GRADUATED
June 1935
TOTAL
1931
COURSE AND SKRESTER
1125
OR
FTS
COURSE AND BEMESTER
HRS
MI
HWL
375
x
DIPLOMA
BEGREE A.B.
1st. sem. 1931-1932
Sebt. 1933 Admitted to Candida
ON
ADV. STANDING
Engl. 1 Composition
3C3
cyfor a Deoree. Field of
EXAMINATION
FROM South High School,
French. Elementary
4B8
HONORS
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Marh. 5 Trig. Euclid Grom
1B8
Concentration, Forwarded Economics.
/
2
Hist. 11 Decline Rome to 1648
4
ENTRANCE UNITS
SUMMARY
A112
GROUP I
ADV. STAND
Phys Ed.
P
1st.sem. 1933-1934
ENGLISH,
3/2
TRIG. ½
GROUP I
CL., ARCH
Total
15
31
13
3/
PHYSICS
Econ 101 Money Credit
3
C
3
CREEK, 2.
LATIN, 2, 3,
ENGLISH
CHEMISTRY, 1
L900
101
2 nd. Sem. 1931-1932
Econ Labor I
3
A
9
FRENCH, 2, 3, 4
FRENCH
Engli 2 Composition contd
3
Princ. Accounting T
6
Mr. Gerald R. Ford, Sr.
2163 Lake Drive
Grand Rapids, Mich.
BOTANY. 1/1, :
GEN. LING
3
C
3B
GERMAN, 2, 3, 4
ZOOLOGY, 1/1, I
SPANISH, 2. 3. 4
BIOLOGY, :
GERMAN
French 2 Elementary contd
4
D
-
Hist.South, Ante-Bellum
3B
6
HISTORY, 1. 2 3
GREEK
PHYSIOL ½
ECONOMICS
ITALIAN
GEOL. ½
Math 3 Alg & Anal. Geom
4
C
AL
ALGEB
1½
2 PHYSIOG. ½, 1
JOURNALISM
4
A
Pol.Sci.107 Amer, Government
3B
6
LATIN
Hist 12 Civil from 1648
12
15
3016
32
GEOM
1½
GROUP II
RHETORIC
2nd sem 1933-1934
CIVICS.
RUSSIAN
Phys. Ed.
P
1/2
DRAW. %. I
DOM. SCI. 1, 2
SEMITICS
Total
15
19
30
50
Psych 122 Psych. of Managem't
2
C2
MAN. TR. 1. 2
COM. BR. 1. 1
SPANISH
MUSIC, 1, 2
1st. sem 1932-1933
Econ 122 Labor II
3
B
6
PUB. SP.
Type. 12
GEN. SCI. 1/2, I
TOTAL
14/13
Enal. 31 Introd Enal. Lit.
3
6
Econ 172 Princ. of Account.II
3
8
6
15
GROUP II
ACCIENCIES
French 31 Second year Fr.
4
4
Hist. 138 Hist. South since 1860
3C
3
ANATOMY
ASTRON
Math. 51 Finance
3
3
Pol.Sc.108 American Govern.
3
A
9
BACT
ADVANCED STANDING
BOTANY
Econ. 51 Prin.of Econ I
3.
6
Sec. 51 Principles
3
B
6
COURSE
IIRS
CHEMISTRY
Hist: 143 Pol.4 Const. Hist. U.S.
3
Total
17
32
33
64
GEN. LING
GEOLOGY
83
Total
16
46
75
1st.sem 1934-1935
MATH.
MINERALOGY
2nd Sem 1932.1933
101 Organiz of Prod.
3B6
PATHOLOGY
Engl. 32 Shakespeare
m
N
6
Bus.Ad.121 Business Statistics
3B6
PHYSICS
PHYSIOLOGY
Psych 31 Elementar
9
Econ 125 Indust Incentives
2
4
PSYCHOLOGY
3.
2
Econ 52 Principles
3B6
Econ 197 Soc- Econ Reform
3B6
ZOOLOGY
Geogr. 33 Commercial 3
C
Econ 221 Seminar in Labor
2
B
4
TOTAL
862
Hist. 144 Pold Con. U.St
3
H
6
Total
13
26
46
90
GROUP III
BUS. AD
12
Total 15
61
sem 1934-1935
ECONOMICS
GEOGRAPHY
NY
3
Econ 131 Corporations
3
B
6
HISTORY.
B
6
3
June 1933 Eirsthalfat
Econ 222 Seminar in Labor
2B4
PHILOSOPHY
HOL SCT.
WAY
program completed with
60 100
Hist. 140 U.S. Recent Decades
386
SOCIOLOGY
BusAd.102 Personnel
3B6
Grand Rapids, Mich,
TOTAL
8153027
Transferred to second half
Bus Business Statistics
3B
6
OTHER SUBJECTS
of program
/
ANTHROPOLOGY
2
Total
14
2860118
DRAWING
EDUCATION
FINE ARTS
HV. 1,82
2163 Lake Drive
FORESTRY
HYGIENE
COMPLETED
LAND. DES
GROUP I
LIB. SCI.
ORGUP и
MIL. SCI
GROUP 111
ok
MUSIC
REFTORIC
01132
SPEECH
Gerald Ford
LEFT
RETURNED
DATE
FACULTY AUTON
DATE OF BIRTH
July 14, 1913
Phys.Ed.Comple Hyg Lect.Come
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
REMAR AND SPECIAN ACTION
OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
This student is eligible to this College unless otherwise
stated in the "Faculty Action" column. There is no in any case,
to his admission to any other college on the record, which is
certified by signature and seal.
MAR 37
Carlhillians Assistant Registrar
Date
Seal
Key to Marking System:
A-Excellent: B-Good; C-Fair; D-Passed, without points; E-Not Possed;
I-Incomplete; X-Absent from Examination; NR-Not Reported. Each
hour of credit is valued in points CS follows: A-three points; B-two
points; C-one point; D-no points; E-no hours of credit and negative
one point,
NAME AND
HOM
Form 5158 9-36 4M
52
LAW SCHOOL
Mr.
Gerald Ford
is admitted to the
first
Year Class on certif
University
from
U.of Mich. Col. L. S.&A
College,
where he has completed
four
years of
college work and received the degree of
A.B. June 1935
He is to elect
19
Dean.
(over)
Provisional credit (subject to more definite adjustment at a later date) is allowed as indicated below.
Hours
Subjects
Subjects
Hours
Credit
Credit
Remarks:
Form 479 10-36 1M
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL
Record of
Name and Address of Parent or Guardian
Gerald Ford, Jr.
Mr. Gerald R. Ford
Date of Birth
July 14, 1913
1011 Santa Cruz
Entered on
A.B. 1935
Grand Rapids, Michigan
From
University of Michigan
From
To
101/2 weeks in the summer session 1937, June 21- - September 1
Enrolled in School
Years 1937
Grades:
Sem.
DUM
A.-Excellent
SES
COURSES
Hours
B.-Good
Points
1st Year
Common Pudicial-Adminjstration
4
B
12
C.-Satisfactory
Contracts
D.-Unsatisfactory
Required
Criminal Law & Procedure
+
B
12
Equity I
E-Failure
Property (Personal)
X.-Absent from examination
Property (Titles)
Torts
P.-Advanced standing
2nd Yr
Evidence
Equity II
Points:
Points are allowed as follows:
Administrative Tribunals
for each hour of A-four: B-
three; C-two; D-one: and
Bailments and Utilities
E-none.
Bills and Notes
Business Associations
Required for graduation:
Conflict of Laws
Constitutional Law
Corporations, Municipal
Hours:
Creditors Rights
Domestic Relations
Points:
Equity III
Insurance Law
International Law
Practice Court
Property (Rights in Land)
Property (Future Interests)
Roman Law
Sales
Electives
Securities
Taxation
Trade Restraints
Trial and Appellate Practice
Trusts
Wills and Administration
Total hrs. carried
8
Deducted
Total hrs. credit
SUMMARY
REMARKS
Hours
Carried
A
B
C
D
E
X
P
Points
1957 Sum SES
8
8
24
Form 3099 11-34 500 S
MALCOLM FARMER, Chairman
HAROLD F. WOODCOCK, Business Manager
YALE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
RAY TOMPKINS HOUSE
NEW HAVEN . CONNECTICUT
Dec. 3, 1937
Professor Lady
ann arbon, mich.
Michigan Jan school
Dean Professor Sandy
last wuh, one with my employer The athletec
Following several conferences
D incetor and the other with D can clark of
the faw School a believe that 2 am going
to be able to take mini hanns of wort in
the law school the second term. I am
naturally quite about the opportunity
and before being able to take advantage It
the law school must have my various
records. Could you possibly forward a transingt
7my nather searty record? 2 would
MALCOLM FARMER, Chairman
HAROLD F. WOODCOCK, Business Manager
YALE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
RAY TOMPKINS HOUSE
NEW HAVEN . CONNECTICUT
certainly appreciate whatever you can do for
me along This lini
I expect to be in ann arton sometime
within the next few was and at that
Time would enjoy talking with you on the
counses to follow here.
Thanking you for the above favor I remain,
Seventy Herald yours Ford
December 6, 1937.
Dean Charles E. Clark,
Yale University Law School,
New Haven, Connecticut.
Dear Dean Clark:
At the request of Mr. Gerald Ford, we
are sending to you herewith a transcript of his record
in this School.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
PAL/HG
December 6, 1937.
Mr. Gerald Ford,
Yale University Athletic Association,
Ray Tompkins House,
New Haven, Connecticut.
Dear Mr. Ford:
I have just received your letter of December
3. We have mailed to Dean Clark a. transcript of your
record here. I am pleased to know that you will find it
possible to take two or three courses in the Law School,
during the second semester.
I hope to see you when you come to Ann Arbor
for the Christmas vacation. If I can be of any help in
the matter of your elections for the second semester, I will,
of course, be glad to assist you. You may want to make
those elections after giving some consideration to the cour-
Bes which will be open to you here next summer.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary
PAL/HG
500 MICHIGAN TRUST BUILDING
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
WE TAKE PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING
THAT GERALD R. FORD, Jr., RETURNED FROM
ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY,
HAS BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FIRM.
BUTTERFIELD, KEENEY & AMBERG
JANUARY 15, 1946
WORTH MONEY
IF IT'S REAL
Holding Jerry's Signature?
BY JIM GALLAGHER
should be sold at auction, Hamilton said.
Free Press Staff Writer
They would probably draw more money at auction, he
If you've ever received a letter from Gerald Ford and
explained. His own commission on auctioned items is 35
tossed it into the circular file, give yourself a swift kick in
percent.
the back pocket-the one you keep your wallet in.
Now that the one-time congressman from Grand Rapids
worth as much as $2,500.
Gerald Groy C.
SEVERAL DEALERS around the country (including
is president of the United States, autograph collectors are
Mary Benjamin of Walter R. Benjamin Inc. of New York,
willing to pay good money for any piece of paper he ever
which is listed in the Detroit Yellow Pages) told the Free
touched a pen to.
Press they were not interested in buying any samples of
Ford's signature for months or even years, because of the
A plain old "Jerry Ford" on the bottom of a typewritten
difficulty in determining which ones are authentic.
letter can be worth $20 or $30. A handwritten letter can be
However, both Hamilton and Darvick feel it will take
them only a few weeks to make the distinction between the
Not every document bearing the president's signature
real thing and those penned by secretaries or machines.
was actually signed by him. Politicians often permit secre-
taries to sign their correspondence, and they also make use
"No secretary can reproduce the signature exactly,"
of the autopen, a mechanical device that reproduces a sig-
Hamilton said, and autopen signatures are always identical,
nature as if it were handsigned.
Printed signature on stationary: It may or
so it is easy to identify autopen patterns after seeing enough
But those that prove to be authentic can mean found
may not be photo of real thing.
signatures.
money for lucky name-droppers.
What he and Darvick want right now are photostats of
Ford signatures SO they can begin separating the wheat
ACCORDING TO Charles Hamilton, a New York docu-
from the chaff.
ments dealer, more than 10,000 Americans collect presiden-
tial autographs, but only 200 or 300 possess the signature of
the newest chief executive.
Furthermore, anything pertaining to Gerald Ford is of
Herald Bord
Hamilton's address is 25 East 77 St., New York, N.Y.
10021. Darvick, who also teaches elementary school, re-
ceives mail at P. 0. Box 102, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230.
Both said they will evaluate photostats received in the
great interest to historians, authors and archivists, Hamil-
mail. At this point they do not wish to receive originals.
ton said.
Darvick, who possesses a complete set of the signatures
Michigan residents have been corresponding with Ford
VICE PRESIDENT
of American vice presidents, appears to have a head start.
for almost three decades, 50 the state is a potential gold
He already owns a full-page, hand-written letter from Ford
mine for collectors and dealers.
when he occupied that office and also has a commemorative
This one is an authentic signature.
card signed by Ford only hours after he was sworn in as
One part-time dealer, Herman Darvick of Brooklyn,
second in command last December.
N.Y., recently advertised for Ford material in local newspa-
But Hamilton has the advantage of experience. He first
The president signing Nixon's pardon: Only
pers. Like Hamilton, he is willing to pay "about $20" for a
made the public aware of the autopen with his book, "The
signature, which he believes he can seif for at least $30.
200 or 300 collectors possess the actual sig-
"Dealers usually make 100 percent profit," he said.
couple of years when the market is flooded," he said.
Robot that Helped to Make the President," in which he
Hamilton's advice to anyone who has a Ford signature or
"Right now collectors are starved for them."
revealed for the first time that much of John Kennedy's
nature of the new chief executive.
correspondence was signed by machine.
document: Sell it immediately.
More valuable documents, such as handwritten letters or
"They're worth a lot more now than they will be in a
typed letters with very unusual and interesting content,
Please Turn to Page 4C, Col. I
Jerry Ford's
Signature
Continued from Page IC
one autopen pattern for Ford.
Darvick believes Ford
"Up until that time,' Hamil-
signed most of his mail as a
ton said, "no one knew the
congressman but began to rely
machine was being used. The
on the autopen after he be-
general idea is to deceive peo-
came vice president.
ple into thinking that they got
Several attempts by the
a letter from the president
Free Press to have the White
himself."
House describe the president's
For Kennedy, Hamilton
letter-signing procedures were
eventually identified seven au-
unsuccessful.
topen patterns and signatures
The most valuable presiden-
by 18 secretaries.
tial signatures, Hamilton said,
He already has identified
are those of Washington, Lin-
coln, Jefferson, John Adams,
and Kennedy.
Least valuable are those of
Van Buren, Fillmore and Cool-
idge.
Even though he is a political
disgrace, Richard Nixon's sig-
nature still draws at least $25,
Hamilton said.
"He used to sign autographs
after church," he added, "and
those are worth about $75.
They've taken on an additional
interest in light of the way his
career developed."
\
Gerald Ford
coaching at yale
Univ suree June
1935 ; has had no
law any place
wies fill in applica-
Tion blank before
June 19, 1937
FORD, GERALD