A couple of items that were published in the student newspapers (Varsity News and Outer Echoes) on the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Every year in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. students at the University of Detroit Mercy do some community service such as cleaning projects on campus and other service centers. ...
Dudley Randall, poet, publisher, editor and also a librarian at the University of Detroit (1969-1975) where he was also the poet-in-residence, was born on January 14, 1914. He worked at a foundry, Ford Motor Company and in the post office and saw military service during World War II. He earned degrees in English (1949) and Library Science (1951). Throughout his life and his many travels to such place as as the Soviet Union and Africa, he found inspiration for his...
By 1964 the “fuzzy unkempt mops and unsyncopated sounds and gyrations” of The Beatles had invaded the United States. Judging by the Varsity News Editorial, not everyone thought they were going to be the standard that future bands would be measured against. With the likes of Miley Cyrus twerking across the video screen, the Beatles look pretty boring now. Pat Higo, Archives and Special Collections Librarian...
The beginning of 1922 started out with grand plans for the new location for the University of Detroit on Livernois, 42 acres which was recently purchased under the presidency of Reverend John P. McNichols, S.J. One of the first buildings built was the stadium, which was expected to seat 75,000, but was later scaled back to seat 20,000. Oh well, a new year, a new location and high hopes for the future of the University of Detroit. In the 1921-1922...
As kind of a follow up from an earlier blog on Christmas advertisements-here are a few Christmas ads for cigarettes. Think about it-when was the last time you saw an ad for cigarettes at all? The last time there were ads for cigarettes in the Varsity News was back in 1963. Pat Higo, Archives and Special Collections Librarian ...
A Riding Club was officially recognized by the Student Council in November 1963 (Varsity News Dec. 3, 1963). It started out strong with 52 members. The Klentner Riding Academy (KRA) in West Bloomfield Hills was the club’s riding site. Initially there were five weekly riding classes (by 1965 it must have gone down to only once a week) for beginners to the more experienced riders. Lessons cost members $2. Some of the members had their own horses! The purpose of...
As people head out to the malls for their Black Friday deals, here are a few ads from the Varsity News from 1949 to 1960 that I found interesting. Happy Shopping! Anyone still have a “Musical Beer Mug” with a UD crest? I would love to have one for the archives! Pat Higo, Archives and Special Collections Librarian ...
According to the Varsity News, the 1947 Gobble-Hobble ended a 16 year “No Dance” record at Dowling Hall. The dance sponsored by Sodality, was held in the Dowling Hall gymnasium. The ceiling was covered in balloons that would send down beams of colored light on the dancers below. Ted Esser’s Orchestra would provide the music. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! and to all our Jewish Friends HAPPY HANUKKAH! or HAPPY THANKSGIVUKKAH!!! Pat Higo, Archives and Special Collections Librarian...
From 1980 to 1991 Mercy College of Detroit awarded Mercy Medallion to recognize and thank those honored for their service to the people of Detroit and Michigan through their own personal works of Mercy. The Mercy Medallion was one of the highest honors the College could bestow. It was a sterling silver disc reflecting the Mercy College seal. The central ornament of the seal is the Mercy College Coat of Arms which consists of a shield symbolic of the Order...
