Bentley Has a Harmon Exhibit

Submitted by Seth on

02 or SKIP- Section 2 Tom Harmon

Michigan basketball standout Tom Harmon [Bentley online library]

When I dropped off copies of HTTV to thank the Bentley Library they offered me a tour of the stacks. Among the unbelievable treasures they've accumulated in there one was several shelves worth of just-donated Tom Harmon memorabilia. Boxed as it was it was hard to get a sense of what was in there—war artifacts, lots of tape of his career as a broadcaster, a fake Michigan helmet somebody made for him, phone numbers for every beautiful starlet of the 1940s…

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Michigan war hero Tom Harmon [Bentley]

That has now been sorted through and made into an exhibit. Press release? Press release:

Harmon of Michigan

The Bentley Historical Library is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibit, “Harmon of Michigan” focusing on the life and career of University of Michigan football legend Tom Harmon. The exhibition, in conjunction with the "unretiring" of Harmon's famed number 98 jersey this season, highlights Harmon’s college career at Michigan, both as a student and an athlete. Using archival documents, photographs, and artifacts, including material recently acquired through Harmon’s son, Mark Harmon, the exhibit traces Harmon’s career as the University of Michigan’s first Heisman Trophy winner, World War II pilot and war hero, and a pioneering radio and television broadcaster. The exhibit is curated by Greg Kinney.

The exhibit runs from September 3 to December 20, 2013.

Exhibit Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

If you're wandering around campus on Saturday with not a clue what to do with yourself since the game's not until 8, wander up to North Campus and the Bentley for a special event.

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Michigan broadcaster Tom Harmon [Bentley]

Special Event: September 7, 2013, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On September 7, the day of the Note Dame game, at which Tom Harmon will be honored, the Bentley Library will have special exhibit viewing hours. There will also be repeated showings of the 1965 television program “One Saturday Afternoon.” Produced on the 25th anniversary of Harmon’s Heisman Trophy win, the program was hosted by Bing Crosby. “One Saturday Afternoon” includes archival footage of Harmon’s Michigan football exploits, interviews with Michigan coach Fritz Crisler and teammate Forest Evashevski. The program also features some rare footage of Harmon’s early days as a television broadcaster and variety show host.

The Bentley Historical Library is located on the University of Michigan’s North Campus at 1150 Beal Avenue.

Campus Bus - North Commuter, Bonisteel Boulevard and Beal Avenue stop.

For further information contact the Bentley Historical Library by phone at (734) 764-3482 or contact Greg Kinney at [email protected].

Now go argue about whether they should retire 98. My feeling is if you're going to leave just one alone it should be that one.

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Besides starring in multiple other sports, defeating the Nazis, and many years of success in broadcasting, people sometimes forget Harmon was a decent football player too. [Bentley]

Comments

thisisme08

September 4th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^

I still believe a better, as well as being cleaner (e.g. no number switching for 1 year) way to honor these former players would have simply been to create the Legends patch and sew that onto the deserving player.

In theory the whole jersey thing sounded cool when it was announced but the logistics of it just make it impossible to implement effectively besides the fact Ol' 98 is/was a player who can never be replicated.