Tappan History
History of Tappan Middle School
Our school was named in honor of Dr. Henry Phillip Tappan, the first President of the University of Michigan (1852).
Henry Phillip Tappan was a reverend, educator, and philosopher. He was of strong conviction and personality.
He was known as a distinguished thinker and he authored several books.
Dr. Tappan resigned from the University of Michigan in 1863.
Tappan School, a timeline:
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1885: Tappan Elementary School was established on East University Avenue.
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1920s: The University of Michigan acquired Tappan Elementary, eventually renaming it East Hall.
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1925: Tappan Junior High School opened at the site of what is now Burns Park Elementary.
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1951: Tappan Junior High moved to its current location on Stadium Boulevard and was renamed Tappan Middle School. The school was designed by architect Paul Kasurin.
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2021: Tappan Middle School was recognized as a "School to Watch".
(Source: President as Poet: a Note on the Life of Henry Philip Tappan, Part 4 & http://davetgc.com/Ann_Arbor_