Category Archives: Tamarack Archive

1917

The 1917 Tamarack, published in June of that year, presents a portrait of a university deeply committed to the war effort. What begins as 14 pages of interesting advertisements (which capture the readers’ attentions right away), leads subtly into the strongly patriotic support of the country’s entry into World War I. Reading through the pages of this issue offers visitors a glimpse into a time of war before this country really knew how horrible a world war could be. There was no precedence for this type of combat as country after country got involved. This young generation in this country had never known bloody warfare, especially the type that awaited them. There was no way of knowing how terrible this would be....

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Tamarack Archive , , , Updated: October 9, 2014

The Last Light-Hearted Year

On June 28, 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne, and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated while they were visiting Bosnia. By July of that year, Austria-Hungary and Serbia were at war; and by the end of August Germany, Russia, France, Great Britain, and Belgium were all involved in what would become the first World War. While President Woodrow Wilson worked to keep the U.S. out of the hostilities, the entire world shook with rage and horror over...

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Tamarack Archive , , , , Updated: June 5, 2014

Tamarack Collection Overview

This first publication of the Tamarack came after 20 years of discussion about whether or not to start a college newspaper, or so the editor tells his readers in his “Salutatory” introduction (shown below). The college itself had only been around that long. And during those first 20 years Detroit College was alone, the only Catholic college in Michigan. Having its own newspaper was important not only to ensure its place among institutions of higher learning, but as an expression of pride in its knowledgeable and talented student body. And now, at long last, here it was fresh and humble....

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Tamarack Archive , , , , Updated: April 17, 2014

Changing Seasons

The very first Tamarack (volume 1, number 1) was published in April 1897. That spring must surely have begun in a similar fashion to the way it begins today: hopeful, bursting with flowers, sunshine, and the unspoken promise of a fresh start. The students who haunted the hallowed halls of Detroit College back then must have welcomed the end of winter with as much enthusiasm as today’s students. Spring meant a release from negotiating the icy streets, the snowy treks to campus, the unyielding freezing temperatures, and the general mess of winter. Back then without the advantages of current cold temperature attire, it must have taken a lot of determination just to get to class. And how wonderful it must have been to at last know the sun would grace those final days of classes before the end of the semester....

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Tamarack Archive , , , , , , , , Updated: March 13, 2014

The Future of the Moving Pictures

You may have surmised by now that my current favorite archive is the Tamarack. What a wonderful find this collection is! Opening these dusty pages is like finding hidden treasure. These young student writers, likely only published in this one tome, were the reporting witnesses to an age that valued insight and “letters” (or writing well) over technological witticism....

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Tamarack Archive , , , , Updated: February 20, 2014

Belle Isle Bridge Fire

On April 27, 1915, a fire destroyed the mostly wooden bridge connecting the mainland to Belle Isle. Those fortunate enough to have a camera with them at the time captured some pretty dramatic images. Others, like the students at the University of Detroit, relied on their ability to communicate the excitement of the day through the written word....

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Tamarack Archive , , Updated: February 4, 2014

The Existence of God

Since questions regarding life were first asked, thinkers have been seeking to prove the existence of God. Through the ages, various arguments have been put forth on this subject, from Plato and Thomas Acquinas to modern scholars. In the late 1800s, this question was taken on by the students at the University of Detroit. The result was a prize Catechetical Essay published in the July, 1898 edition of the Tamarack....

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Tamarack Archive , , , , Updated: January 7, 2014

The Great Debate of 1898

In the first few pages of the June 1898 issue of the Tamarack, is the Skinner Prize Debate, an interesting argument on U.S. immigration laws. The discussion begins with a resolve: “That the immigration laws of the United States should be made more stringent.” This caught my eye as I was skimming over the offerings in this edition of our new Tamarack archive. From what I remembered from U.S. history, the U.S. during this time was welcoming immigrates with few exceptions. We had a vast country to fill in the late 1800s and those from other countries who sought freedom and boundless beauty were clamoring to populate it....

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Tamarack Archive , , , , Updated: March 7, 2014
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