As the University of Michigan undertakes the complex task of relocating a historic residence, the past and present of its illustrious alumni converge. Raoul Wallenberg, a prominent figure remembered for his humanitarian efforts, once lived in a modest boarding house in Ann Arbor. This unassuming dwelling is now set to become a landmark, positioned beside the former student home of renowned playwright Arthur Miller.
Relocation Plans
The Board of Regents approved a plan in May to move Wallenberg’s former residence to the corner of Jefferson and Division streets, adjacent to Arthur Miller’s previous home. This relocation is an aspect of the preparations for the upcoming Central Campus Residential Development, which aims to introduce over 2,300 student beds between Hoover Avenue and Hill Street.
This autumn, construction teams have been preparing the South Division Street location with a new foundation. Scheduled for November 22, the move is anticipated to connect the legacies of two influential U-M alumni, showcasing their distinct impacts on the world — one through humanitarian efforts and the other through cultural contributions.
Born in 1912, Raoul Wallenberg came from a wealthy Swedish family often compared to the Rockefellers. Yet, despite his privileged upbringing, he remained humble. At 19, Wallenberg arrived in Ann Arbor, attracted by the university’s global reputation.
Wallenberg engaged actively in campus life, joining debate societies, exploring the area by bike, and attending Charlie Chaplin screenings. “I feel so at home in my little Ann Arbor that I’m beginning to sink down roots here and have a hard time imagining leaving it,” he expressed in correspondence with his parents.
According to a 2012 Michigan Today article, classmates remembered Wallenberg’s humility, recalling his decision not to join a fraternity to remain accessible to all students. “There was just no snobbery about him,” one classmate noted.
After graduating with high honors in architecture in 1935, Wallenberg returned to Europe.
The future site of the Wallenberg house at the corner of Jefferson and Division streets was prepped earlier this fall with a new foundation. Arthur Miller’s former home is also pictured. (Photo by Deborah Holdship, Michigan Today)A Legacy of Bravery
Fast forward to the 1940s, Wallenberg’s remarkable courage became evident during the Holocaust in Hungary. He was assigned as a special envoy to Budapest, working to protect Jews from Nazi oppression.
With creative use of his architectural skills, Wallenberg designed “Schutz-Pass” passports, which resembled official Swedish documents and saved thousands from deportation. He also set up shelter homes under Swedish protection and bravely intervened with German officers to free train passengers bound for concentration camps.
His efforts during the war are credited with saving approximately 70,000 lives. However, in January 1945, Wallenberg was detained by Soviet forces, disappearing soon after. His whereabouts remain a mystery, yet in 1981, the U.S. Congress posthumously made him an honorary American citizen, sharing this honor exclusively with Winston Churchill.
Preserving History
For years, Wallenberg’s old house served quietly as a student rental, blending in with similar structures around Ann Arbor. Most residents had little idea of the hero who once resided within its walls.
In the mid-1960s, U-M alumnus John White lived nearby at 320 E. Madison St., unaware of Wallenberg’s legacy. “Our building was one of a pair of modern structures next to the Wallenberg House, but I was unaware of him and his history at U-M,” he shared on Michigan Today’s website.
White later discovered Wallenberg’s legacy through documentaries and university events. He recounted, “In that lecture, one of the slides included an artifact with his campus address. I was struck by the coincidence and shared it with my former roommates.”
As the block undergoes redevelopment, White observes, “While it was sad to see our old apartment be demolished, I am heartened to know that his campus home will be preserved for the coming generations of students.”
The upcoming juxtaposition of Wallenberg’s and Miller’s former student quarters is a fitting tribute to their shared time in Ann Arbor, where the lessons they learned shaped their extraordinary lives.
— This story has been adapted from a Michigan Today piece, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” by Deborah Holdship.
