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"Beware of Kidnappers" (Fugitive Slave Act)

  It could very well be that one of the “worst laws in the history of this country” is not what some might imagine. The Fugitive...

More on "Beware of Kidnappers" (Fugitive Slave Act) Updated 1/30/18 by P. Higo
"Hello Stranger" 1930 Student Union Opera

"Hello Stranger" was a 1930 production of the University of Detroit's operatic endeavor for the 1930 season. It was a story of aspiring...

More on "Hello Stranger" 1930 Student Union Opera Updated 10/11/18 by P. Higo
1837 William Whipper: "practice of non-resistance to physical aggression"

“Resolved, That the practice of non-resistance to physical aggression, is not only consistent with reason, but the surest method of obtaining a...

More on 1837 William Whipper: "practice of non-resistance to physical aggression" Updated 10/2/17 by P. Higo
1957 Homecoming with a Shakespearean Theme

The University of Detroit Mercy is celebrating Homecoming this weekend, September 29-30. It includes a dinner dance, fun run, a tug-of-war...

More on 1957 Homecoming with a Shakespearean Theme Updated 9/28/17 by P. Higo
1961 Last Dance for J-Prom

What had been an annual tradition, starting in 1914, the Junior Prom (also called J-Hop) came to an end in 1961. It was a grand occasion where...

More on 1961 Last Dance for J-Prom Updated 11/8/17 by P. Higo
1965 — Aerial View

The 1965 Tower Yearbook begins with an aerial view of the campus.  Spending a few minutes on the two images offered here, allows...

More on 1965 — Aerial View Updated 8/9/18 by P. Higo
1967 Detroit Riots – The View from University of Detroit McNichols Campus

On the 50th Anniversary of the July 1967 Detroit Riots, there has been a lot of discussion in the media as to how it affected the people in the...

More on 1967 Detroit Riots – The View from University of Detroit McNichols Campus Updated 11/22/22 by P. Higo
A Memorial Day Tribute

...

More on A Memorial Day Tribute Updated 5/24/18 by P. Higo
A Note on the New Year from 1855

The following editorial was published in the Provincial Freeman newspaper on January 6, 1855. The digitized version of this editorial in the Black...

More on A Note on the New Year from 1855 Updated 1/6/18 by P. Higo
A Piece of the Moon at the Library

It was 50 years ago, July 20, 1969, that Neil Armstrong, became the first man to set foot on the moon. It took a few years later, but the University...

More on A Piece of the Moon at the Library Updated 5/29/19 by P. Higo
A Train Connection at the University of Detroit

With the recent announcement of Ford Motor Company acquiring the historic Michigan Central Train station, in browsing the files in archives, I...

More on A Train Connection at the University of Detroit Updated 6/20/18 by P. Higo
A Very Merry Madrigal Christmas

The University of Detroit sponsored Madrigal Dinners in full medieval costumes from 1964-1966. The students put on the production with songs by...

More on A Very Merry Madrigal Christmas Updated 11/27/17 by P. Higo
A Wind Tunnel for Aeronautical Engineering

At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees held on March 19, 1921, the reverend Fathers unanimously agreed with Professor Dunn to start a program...

More on A Wind Tunnel for Aeronautical Engineering Updated 10/18/18 by P. Higo
Aces Wild 1927 University of Detroit Student Opera Musical Comedy

While the Archives floor is undergoing renovation, I will be running some past blogs. In an alphabetical browse through the theatre files of...

More on Aces Wild 1927 University of Detroit Student Opera Musical Comedy Updated 11/7/19 by P. Higo
Aretha Franklin: Honorary Doctor of Music

Aretha Franklin recieved an honorary degree from the University of Detroit in 1987. Her citation reads: Respect -- not only is it the title...

More on Aretha Franklin: Honorary Doctor of Music Updated 8/14/18 by P. Higo
“A Boy of 1812″

Things were never really what you might call cordial between the New World and Britain during the early 1800s.  There was the whole mess between...

More on “A Boy of 1812″ Updated 6/12/18 by P. Higo
“Our Wish is to Do Good”

The Colored American was among 40 black newspapers published before the Civil War.  Although it’s first issue was available in...

More on “Our Wish is to Do Good” Updated 10/26/17 by P. Higo
“Southside View of Slavery”

A documentary on Public Television (PBS) called The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross offers an excellent overview of slavery in the...

More on “Southside View of Slavery” Updated 2/7/18 by P. Higo
Benny Napoleon, Class of '82

I was sad to hear of Benny Napoleon's passing of the coronovirus. As I was reading all the news articles and hearing on the radio other...

More on Benny Napoleon, Class of '82 Updated 12/20/20 by P. Higo
Big Mac on Campus

OK- well not exactly ON campus, but you can't miss it. McDonald's set up shop at the corner of McNichols and Livernois in 1989....

More on Big Mac on Campus Updated 8/4/17 by R. Davidson
Black Abolitionist Archive – the Canadian connection

Communication holds together the people within a defined social structure.  Slavery as a social institution in the early years of this country,...

More on Black Abolitionist Archive – the Canadian connection Updated 2/18/19 by P. Higo
Bob Seger-The Early Years

Recently, Bob Seger announced some of the dates for his final tour. In one of his early performances, he played here for the University's Spring...

More on Bob Seger-The Early Years Updated 9/19/18 by P. Higo
Bob-Lo Memories

The recent news that one of the Bob-Lo boats, the Ste. Claire, caught fire during its renovation, probably brought back a lot of memories from...

More on Bob-Lo Memories Updated 7/12/18 by P. Higo
Christmas Ads: Smoke'm if you got 'em

Back in the days when companies were allowed to advertise cigarette brands, Varsity News would put them in the student newspapers.Here are a few from...

More on Christmas Ads: Smoke'm if you got 'em Updated 11/28/18 by P. Higo
Civil War and Civil Rights

It was fear mostly that kept free black men from being accepted for enlistment in the early days of the Civil War (1861-1865).  Although they...

More on Civil War and Civil Rights Updated 9/14/17 by P. Higo
Come fly the friendly skies of the University of Detroit Flying Club!

While the Archives floor is undergoing renovation, I am rerunning some past blog posts. The University of Detroit Flying Club was first formed...

More on Come fly the friendly skies of the University of Detroit Flying Club! Updated 10/23/19 by P. Higo
Editorial Cartoon from Varsity News 1976

I guess some things never change. Editorial cartoon from Varsity News Jan 13, 1976

More on Editorial Cartoon from Varsity News 1976 Updated 8/23/21 by P. Higo
Equitable Laws: The Greatest Good of the Greatest Number- Black Abolitionist,1863

In light of some current criticisms surrounding some apparent racist comments by Donald Trump, I thought I would find an item in the Black...

More on Equitable Laws: The Greatest Good of the Greatest Number- Black Abolitionist,1863 Updated 7/24/19 by P. Higo
Football on Thanksgiving

Around the Detroit area, a football game on Thanksgiving means a game with the Detroit Lions. But long before there was even a Detroit Lions team...

More on Football on Thanksgiving Updated 11/9/18 by P. Higo
For the Class of 1969: Has it been 50 years since....

Back in 1969: the average cost of a car was $3,270, a gallon of gas was 35 cents. The United States would land the first man on the moon. The first...

More on For the Class of 1969: Has it been 50 years since.... Updated 4/25/19 by P. Higo
From the 1968 Commencement File

From 50 years ago....       from artist Charles Thurston, some pointers on "How to Watch a Graduation"...

More on From the 1968 Commencement File Updated 5/17/18 by P. Higo
Game Night at the Library

Each year the McNichols Library sponsors a night of games for Detroit Mercy students, staff and faculty. A variety of video and card games...

More on Game Night at the Library Updated 11/1/17 by P. Higo
Golfing at the University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy is one of the partners of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the first PGA Tour to be held in the City of Detroit at the...

More on Golfing at the University of Detroit Mercy Updated 6/26/19 by P. Higo
Happy Easter

Varsity News April 4, 1950

More on Happy Easter Updated 8/16/17 by R. Davidson
Happy Thanksgiving

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More on Happy Thanksgiving Updated 11/13/17 by P. Higo
Happy? New Year!

Varsity News Jan 13, 1976

More on Happy? New Year! Updated 1/3/18 by N. Blume
Homecoming 1956: Disneyland Theme

Homecoming time! Back in 1956, the university celebrated with a parade with a Disneyland theme for the 35 floats, a Homecoming Queen, the U. of D....

More on Homecoming 1956: Disneyland Theme Updated 9/27/18 by P. Higo
Human Chess Game at the University Detroit 1959

Monarchy met Democracy in a full scale "Human Chess Game" at the University of Detroit in 1959. Moving on a 576 square-foot chess board...

More on Human Chess Game at the University Detroit 1959 Updated 6/7/18 by P. Higo
Index Card Collection: Maurice Greenia Jr.

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More on Index Card Collection: Maurice Greenia Jr. Updated 11/1/18 by P. Higo
International Intercollegiate Turtle Derby at the University of Detroit

  It has been ten years since I last posted this item! An oldie but goodie that I think is worth posting again. There are races like the...

More on International Intercollegiate Turtle Derby at the University of Detroit Updated 5/15/23 by P. Higo
James T. Callow Folklore Archive-Some Unexpected Finds

While the Archives and Special Collection area is undergoing some renovations, I will rerun some previous postings. Many times when I am looking...

More on James T. Callow Folklore Archive-Some Unexpected Finds Updated 11/22/22 by P. Higo
Josiah Henson and Harriet Beecher Stowe

It seems an unlikely pairing, but one theory in the history of slavery assures us that Harriet Beecher Stowe was influenced to write her novel Uncle...

More on Josiah Henson and Harriet Beecher Stowe Updated 2/6/19 by P. Higo
L. Brooks Patterson, Class of '61, Law '67

Most people in Michigan knew L. Brooks Patterson when he was serving as Prosecutor (4 terms) or Oakland County Executive (7 terms). Love him or hate...

More on L. Brooks Patterson, Class of '61, Law '67 Updated 8/8/19 by P. Higo
Library Advice: Too Little? Too Late?

Finals week coming up! If you are just now getting started on your report...

More on Library Advice: Too Little? Too Late? Updated 4/1/19 by P. Higo
Library ALMOST done.....

Just a few more finishing touches to do.... Computers going up!   Bookmark cafe coming along.... New furniture added...

More on Library ALMOST done..... Updated 7/26/18 by P. Higo
Library before the internet

OH NO! The system is down! Well, guess we will just have to do stuff the old fashion way-with paper and pencil and a good memory as to where the...

More on Library before the internet Updated 3/7/18 by P. Higo
Library Construction Update

Its getting there, but still has a ways to go.....      

More on Library Construction Update Updated 6/4/18 by P. Higo
Library Renovation Update

Just a couple more weeks and the library renovation should be just about done! See new more modern water fountain! Cafe's new home...

More on Library Renovation Update Updated 7/19/18 by P. Higo
Library renovation-just need to add students!

It took all summer, but the first floor of the library is finally open for business!          ...

More on Library renovation-just need to add students! Updated 8/27/18 by P. Higo
Lillie B. Kassab Memorial

  Students and visitors have probably passed by the Lillie B. Kassab Memorial thousands of times without too much notice. It was...

More on Lillie B. Kassab Memorial Updated 1/25/18 by P. Higo
Manuscribblers to Writers Club to Creative Writing Collective

The University has a number of ways for students to express their creative writing skills. In 1945 a club called "Manuscribblers" was...

More on Manuscribblers to Writers Club to Creative Writing Collective Updated 1/28/19 by P. Higo
March Madness-Maybe Next Year

The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team has in the past, taken part in the NCAA Basketball Tournaments. They have played in the...

More on March Madness-Maybe Next Year Updated 3/21/19 by P. Higo
Martin Luther King Jr.-Still Dreaming

More on Martin Luther King Jr.-Still Dreaming Updated 1/11/18 by P. Higo
Memorial Day May 29, 1951

Memorial Day Service May 29, 1951 Marble table at the base of the University of Detroit Mercy Tower

More on Memorial Day May 29, 1951 Updated 8/2/17 by R. Davidson
Memories for the Class of 1967

No cell phones back then! New buildings on campus being put up. The chaos and frustration of registering for class!...

More on Memories for the Class of 1967 Updated 8/10/17 by P. Higo
Mercy College newspaper 1970

From October, 1941 through April 1989, Mercy College of Detroit offered its academic population news and information through the publication of a...

More on Mercy College newspaper 1970 Updated 8/4/17 by R. Davidson
Merry Christmas

More on Merry Christmas Updated 12/13/21 by P. Higo
Merry Christmas 1945

 

More on Merry Christmas 1945 Updated 1/28/19 by P. Higo
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

More on Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Updated 12/10/19 by P. Higo
Merry Christmas!

More on Merry Christmas! Updated 12/15/22 by P. Higo
More things change, more they stay the same: 1946 vs 2017

As I was browsing through the 1946-1947 Varsity News for something to post on this blog, I came across a couple of items that are still very much...

More on More things change, more they stay the same: 1946 vs 2017 Updated 9/12/17 by P. Higo
One more time-the Tower clocks

This is a rerun, but it's "timeless" (sorry could not help myself) Take a look at the first picture of the tower and compare it...

More on One more time-the Tower clocks Updated 7/13/23 by P. Higo
Recent Fr. Dowling's Watercolors Acquired

A couple of Fr. Dowling's watercolors have come back home. If these pictures could talk it would be interesting as to what travels they took that...

More on Recent Fr. Dowling's Watercolors Acquired Updated 6/28/18 by P. Higo
Roller Skating Party!

Back in the 1940's there was a roller skating rink on the corner of Livernois and McNichols (not sure which corner).

More on Roller Skating Party! Updated 2/25/19 by P. Higo
ROTC-Air Force, Angel Flight

Back in the late 1950's to '70's there was an auxillary group of women with the ROTC Air Force division called Angel Flight. The...

More on ROTC-Air Force, Angel Flight Updated 3/27/19 by P. Higo
Safety Street 2021

This year Safety Street at the University of Detroit Mercy, all the trick or treaters will pick up their treats as a drive through. Maybe not as much...

More on Safety Street 2021 Updated 10/28/21 by P. Higo
Safety Street at the University of Detroit Mercy

While the archives area is being renovated, I am rerunning some past postings. In 1990 the University of Detroit Mercy chapter of the American...

More on Safety Street at the University of Detroit Mercy Updated 10/22/19 by P. Higo
Safety Street from 1999

Safety Street is an annual event at the McNichols campus of the University of Detroit Mercy. It started from the School of Architecture in 1990 and...

More on Safety Street from 1999 Updated 10/25/18 by P. Higo
Some Gestures from the University of Detroit Mercy Folklore Archive

In the archives are photos of gestures from the Folklore Archive collection. I am posting some of them here (there are 79 total pictures, in the...

More on Some Gestures from the University of Detroit Mercy Folklore Archive Updated 1/20/18 by P. Higo
Some Political Thoughts from 1969 -Fifty Years Ago!

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More on Some Political Thoughts from 1969 -Fifty Years Ago! Updated 1/28/19 by P. Higo
SPRING BREAK!

More on SPRING BREAK! Updated 3/1/18 by P. Higo
St. Patrick’s Day Tug-of-War, Irish vs. German with University of Detroit St. Francis Club

HOW IT ALL BEGAN (From the St. Francis Club Archives)   Legend has it that the whole thing began with a tussle between one Adolph Schultz...

More on St. Patrick’s Day Tug-of-War, Irish vs. German with University of Detroit St. Francis Club Updated 3/8/23 by P. Higo
Take the Library Survey-Chance to WIN $50 Amazon Gift Card

        JUST A FEW MORE DAYS LEFT! Click this link or copy into your browser:...

More on Take the Library Survey-Chance to WIN $50 Amazon Gift Card Updated 4/11/18 by P. Higo
Thanksgiving 1947

From Varsity News, 1947

More on Thanksgiving 1947 Updated 11/14/18 by P. Higo
The 1960′s “Take-Over Generation”

The 1963 Tower Yearbook introduces the reader to 12 months of changes summed up in one span of time between March 15, 1962 to March 15, 1963. The...

More on The 1960′s “Take-Over Generation” Updated 10/4/18 by P. Higo
The age of inquiry

In March, 1827, Freedom’s Journal, the first black-owned and operated newspaper was established with the goal of reaching the free...

More on The age of inquiry Updated 8/2/17 by R. Davidson
The McCabe Lounge

How many times have you gone down to the Lower Level of the McNichols Library on your way to get something to drink or eat from the vending...

More on The McCabe Lounge Updated 6/6/19 by P. Higo
The VITA 1928

Just an interesting Ad from the 1928 Varsity News Commencement issue. Not much in the way about the commencement-mostly ads, jokes, cartoons (I guess...

More on The VITA 1928 Updated 8/1/18 by P. Higo
Tiny Treasures in the Archives

A few of the very small items held in the university library archives.  

More on Tiny Treasures in the Archives Updated 1/28/19 by P. Higo
Travelogue 1863

During the years of African-American Newspaper publication in the 1800s, articles would often appear regarding travel across the new territory that...

More on Travelogue 1863 Updated 3/2/18 by R. Davidson
Tribute to Peter Sieruta

The Archives are undergoing a major renovation for the next few weeks. The material will, for the most part, not be available. so I will be rerunning...

More on Tribute to Peter Sieruta Updated 10/9/19 by P. Higo
Tuyere Fraternity 1918-1977?

The Tuyere fraternity started in 1918, but under the name "Cosine Theta". At first it was just a club licensed to play cards and have a...

More on Tuyere Fraternity 1918-1977? Updated 10/9/17 by P. Higo
University of Detroit Mercy Presidential Trivia

As Donald B. Taylor has been offically installed as the latest president of the University of Detroit Mercy, here is a bit of trivia on some past...

More on University of Detroit Mercy Presidential Trivia Updated 3/27/23 by P. Higo
Valentine's Day Blog from 2014

This is an update of a blog posted in 2014. I thought since this blog would come up around February 14, I would find some nice Valentine’s...

More on Valentine's Day Blog from 2014 Updated 2/13/23 by P. Higo
Valuable Package (Henry 'Box' Brown)

On June 7, 1849, an amazing tale of one man’s courageous flight from slavery was published in the Emancipator, one of many black abolitionist...

More on Valuable Package (Henry 'Box' Brown) Updated 1/30/18 by P. Higo
Varsity News: Celebrating 100 Years!

Varsity News, the student newspaper is published by the University of Detroit Mercy. It has been running almost continuously for 100 years. There...

More on Varsity News: Celebrating 100 Years! Updated 9/11/18 by P. Higo
Watergate and Impeachment

There is growing talk of impeachment and comparison of the Watergate scandal to Mueller's report on the Russian interference of the 2016...

More on Watergate and Impeachment Updated 7/31/19 by P. Higo
Welcome National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference!

The first Jesuit to set foot on what is now Detroit was Father Jean Enjalran on June 7, 1687. Fast forward 190 years for the establishment of the...

More on Welcome National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference! Updated 7/8/19 by P. Higo
William Still, Black Abolitionist

“There is a flow to history and culture. This flow is rooted and has its wellspring in the thoughts of people. People are unique in the inner...

More on William Still, Black Abolitionist Updated 2/5/20 by P. Higo
Women's and Gender Studies Program: Celebrating 25 Years!

In response to student concerns, academic developments of the the late 20th century, and social movements around the globe, the idea of a...

More on Women's and Gender Studies Program: Celebrating 25 Years! Updated 10/19/17 by P. Higo

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