Hill Auditorium’s Historic Lectern: A Century of Influential Voices

Hill Auditorium's oak lectern, gifted by the Class of 1913, has stood witness to a century of influential debates.

June 8, 2026

For over a century, Hill Auditorium has stood as Michigan’s premier venue for public speaking and debate. Throughout its history, speakers of influence have utilized an oak lectern gifted by the Class of 1913. This significant piece of furniture has withstood countless speeches, from influential voices to controversial figures.

Could the Class of 1913 have predicted the impactful speakers who would one day stand at this lectern? The lectern itself became a point of contention among the students. When 1913’s literary class discussed a gift, male students suggested donating to the Michigan Union, prompting senior women to oppose as it was a male-only building.

Ultimately, the women prevailed, and the class gifted a reading desk for the upcoming auditorium. Newspapers in Ann Arbor and Detroit highlighted this “fine scrap.” Designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn, the Hill Auditorium lectern cost $250, yet its value as a witness to history is immeasurable.