dy until 1860, fifteen years after the first class was
graduated. This first association was characterized as "somewhat
informal in its nature," but the usual statement of the object was
forthcoming. According to the preamble of the constitution these were,--

the improvement of its members, the perpetuation of pleasant
associations, the promotion of the interests of the University, and
through that of the interests of higher education in general.

This Association was superseded in June, 1875, by an incorporated
organization, the "Society of the Alumni of the University of Michigan,"
in which, notwithstanding its general name, membership was restricted to
graduates of the collegiate department. A similar association of the Law
School was formed in 1871 and before many years all the departments had
similar bodies. But the interest taken was more or less perfunctory, and
in 1897 a consolidation of all the departmental organizations was
effected, resulting in the present Alumni Association of the University
of Michigan, with ex-Regent Levi L. Barbour, '63, '65_l_, as its first
President.

He was succeeded in June, 1899, by William E. Quinby, '58, of Detroit,
who was followed in turn the next year by Regent W.J. Cocker, '69. Judge
Victor H. Lane, '74_e_, '78_l_, Fletcher Professor of Law, was elected
President in 1901, and so effectively has he served the interests of the
alumni that he has been continued in that office for the past twenty
years.

Two important steps were taken by the new Association immediately upon
its consolidation in 1897. The first was the appointment of a General
Secretary to devote his whole time to furthering the interests of the
alumni organization. Ralph H. McAllister, a former member of the law
class of '89, was first elected to this position, but was succeeded in
January, 1898, by James H. Prentiss, '96, who was followed three years
later by Shirley W. Smith, '97, at present Secretary of the University.
The present Alumni Secretary, Wilfred B. Shaw, '04, was appointed in
October, 1904. The purchase of the graduate journal, _The Michigan
Alumnus_, established in 1894 by Alvick A. Pearson, '94, was another
significant step. The _Alumnus_ is one of the oldest graduate
publications in the country, with the _Yale Alumni Weekly_, established
in 1891, and the _Harvard Graduates' Magazine_, a quarterly, which
appeared a year later, its only predecessors. Both of these journals are
pu