Willis Ward (back row) was part of the 1934 U-M football team (Athletic Department (University of Michigan) records, BL019540)
Willis Ward: More Than the Game
This exhibit focuses on the life of Willis Ward, a Michigan football player who was infamously benched because of his race in a game against Georgia Tech on October 20, 1934.
Drawing on an array of newspaper articles, interviews, oral histories, photographs, and other records, the exhibit documents Ward’s early life, his time at the university, the game itself, and his career after graduation. Going beyond stories of breaking barriers, the exhibit aims to trace complexities around racial discrimination, policy choices, sports, and the relationships between the university and Detroit.
Project Overview
Creator
Greg Kinney, Caitlin Moriarty, Andrew Rutledge, Brian Williams, Lara Zielin / Bentley Historical Library
Format
Online Exhibit
Publication year
2021
Willis Ward catching a pass in practice, 1934 (Athletic Department (University of Michigan) Individual Files, BL019824)
