Tag Archives: history

The Madrigal Christmas

During the Renaissance (the early 16th century), the Madrigal, a part-song for several voices, developed as a result of an interest in the musical tones that Italian language and poetry encouraged from the human voice. It was the sound, the music of language itself that offered the art of this expression. Poets and musicians had long recognized this unique aspect of language, but the two merged during this time to form something completely unique and profoundly beautiful....

Read more
University of Detroit Chorus Collection , , , , , , , Updated: December 23, 2015

Thanksgiving Day

In 1863, the debate about establishing a national day of Thanksgiving was well underway. On September 28th of that year, Sarah Hale, American writer and editor, wrote an impassioned letter to Abraham Lincoln encouraging him to set aside an official day to recognize the spirit of thankfulness that defined the country overall. This, she argued, would be of benefit to the entire population especially during this time of civil war....

Read more
Black Abolitionist Archive , , , , , , , Updated: November 23, 2015

Light Up the Land

The history of the University of Detroit Mercy begins with the establishment of Detroit College by the Jesuits in 1877. The legacy of the university stretches the expanse of years since then from its humble beginnings on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit to the location of the current main campus now on Livernois. The college became the University of Detroit in 1927, and merged with Mercy College in 1990, to become the University of Detroit Mercy. That’s the basic historical timeline that takes us from UDM’s origins to 2015 when it was ranked, “… in the top tier of Midwestern regional universities” according to the Education edition of the U. S. News and World Report. These days, this quality ranking and the history of the university is easily available through a quick search of the web....

Read more
Light Up the Land , , , , , Updated: October 16, 2015

“Where is Charles O’Conor?”

The U.S. Civil War officially began in the early months of 1861. Rumblings of war and early warning signs were very apparent in the months and years preceding this official date, however. Members of the free black population were already taking steps during this time to sabotage what they called the “slavocracy” as an economic institution. And they were doing a great job of it. Slowly but surely each patient step toward disruption through “agitation” (as they called it), legal wranglings, and speaking engagements was making an impact....

Read more
Black Abolitionist Archive , , , , , , , , , Updated: October 7, 2015

The Library

These days the library has become more of a center for learning, sharing, and community than a warehouse of books. In its early days, however, students and faculty who used the library were regarded as “customers” who checked out books in a very formal fashion. They looked up the call numbers printed on cards maintained using the Dewey Decimal System, and a technician or librarian would retrieve the books for them through a system of call boxes and “dumb waiters.” It was very formal, very procedure oriented, and very tedious for all concerned....

Read more
University of Detroit Tower Yearbook Collection , , , , , , , Updated: September 29, 2015

“Southside View of Slavery”

A recent documentary on Public Television (PBS) called The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross offers an excellent overview of slavery in the United States from its early beginnings in the 1500s to its final end in 1865. This view aligns closely with the history recorded in the Black Abolitionist Archive’s editorials and speeches. Slavery wasn’t anything new when this country was first established. What WAS new, however, was the notion of “who” slaves were and how this tied in with racial discrimination. This didn’t start suddenly. When slavery was first introduced in this country, slaves (and indentured servants) were of many races, including Native Americans. This change was gradual, but at one point in the history of the United States, “slave” was equated with African captives....

Read more
Black Abolitionist Archive , , , , , , Updated: August 26, 2015

1917

Shortly after the declaration of World War I, University of Detroit students began marching drills in the playing field next to the Jefferson Street campus. These would later become more serious as an officer from the Thirty-First Michigan National Guard was obtained to guide these drills. Without really realizing it, students, who had previously held hopes for careers in business, finance, and engineering were being groomed for war....

Read more
University History Collection , , , , Updated: August 26, 2015

“The Land of Steady Habits”

Humor can be cathartic, but who would expect to find humor during the bleak years of American slavery? Yet humor can actually be beneficial to human beings dealing with hardship. Humor offers a way of connecting with others dealing with the same issues; a way of relating to shared hardships. It says, “Yes, I know! Me too!” to those in similar circumstances, and helps them weather the storms together. Laughing during times of trouble can help release the stored energy of anger, express the bafflement over injustice, and work through the total irrationality of human action. Seeing the humor when it seems everything around you is unbelievably difficult helps elevate pain and the stresses of daily living. It can even aid creativity, problems solving, and an individual’s ability to cope....

Read more
Black Abolitionist Archive , , , , , Updated: August 14, 2015

The Athletics Edition

In June, 1907, a special edition of the Tamarack called The Young Tamarack was issued. According to an editorial published in this edition, there were two reasons for this … both relating to athletics. The first reason was the formation of the Athletics Association, which, the writer tells us, would help finance the Athletics program at the university. An association of this type would also help establish some by-laws for participation in the various sports available at the University of Detroit at that time....

Read more
Tamarack Archive , , , , , , , Updated: July 28, 2015

“Our Wish is to Do Good”

Like all such newspapers in circulation at the time, the Colored American offered a way to keep people connected and informed. It offered them a voice and a platform for debate when no other resource was available. And though various sources disagree on the years of its publication (originally from 1837 to 1842), it made a significant impact on those who would fight for freedom....

Read more
Black Abolitionist Archive , , , , , Updated: August 26, 2015
Page 2 of 712345...