University of Portland Museum

Carolyn

Campaign Trail: John F. Kennedy, 1960

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The University of Portland was a stop on the campaign trail for Senator John F. Kennedy, (D-Mass) when he appeared before a capacity crowd in Howard Hall just four days ahead of the May 20 Oregon primary election in 1960.   Kennedy, who downplayed his Catholicism during his candidacy, was hoarse from days on the campaign trail and so did not speak at the event: U.S. Representative Edith Green, (D-Ore.) and chairperson for the Kennedy in Oregon, delivered Kennedy’s speech for him.  The future president did manage to use some of his voice to answer questions following the speech.   A campus group, Students for Kennedy, sponsored the event including a reception in the Pilot House.

(From the University Archives, click on gallery image to enlarge)

Rev. Paul E. Waldschmidt, C.S.C., Academic Vice President; Rev. Howard Kenna, C.S.C., UP President; Representative Edith Green, D-Ore.; Senator John F. Kennedy, D-Mass, May 16, 1960
Senator John F. Kennedy Campaign Visit at UP, The Beacon, May 20, 1960
Senator John F. Kennedy, D-Mass, Presidential Campaign Visit at University of Portland, May 16, 1960

 

Campaign Trail: Harold Stassen, 1952

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In 1952 University of Portland’s Education Hall was host to former Minnesota governor Harold Stassen (R) on a campaign stop two days before the presidential primary in Oregon.   Today a footnote known as a perennial presidential candidate, the 1952 election was his second campaign for the nation’s highest office.  Stassen entered the 1952 race after a strong showing in the 1948 campaign where he debated New York Governor Thomas Dewey (R) in the first audio recorded United States presidential debate.   That debate was held in Portland’s KEX radio station the night before the Oregon primary.  1948 and 1952 were the first in a string of unsuccessful presidential campaigns for Stassen, ultimately mounting nine (!) attempts at the presidency between 1948-1992.

Harold Stassen Campaigns at UP, The Beacon, May 16, 1952 (University Archives)
Harold Stassen Campaigns at UP, The Beacon, May 16, 1952 (University Archives)

 

University Chapel

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Chapel of Christ the Teacher Dedication, October 5, 1986 (University Archives photo)
Chapel of Christ the Teacher Dedication, October 5, 1986 (University Archives photo)

The Chapel of Christ the Teacher was dedicated 5 October 1986, and so is thirty years old this year.  The name of the chapel expresses an essential theme of the University of Portland mission.  As such, ‘Christ the Teacher’ is a motif that appears and reappears across campus defining and anchoring the spaces of campus life, dating back, probably, since before universities and corporations had a need to write out their mission statements.

The Sedes Sapientiae bas relief on the façade of the Library (1958) is an image of the child Jesus supported on his mother’s lap.  The icon is a flat, literal reading with little poetry or ambiguity: Mary is the Seat of Wisdom because her child, Jesus, teaches from that throne.  The same arrangement of mother and child is repeated on the reverse face of the O Cruceiro (1986), the granite path-marker which stands sentinel opposite the south steps of the Clark Library entrance.

Campus architecture repeats this visual theme in spatial arrangement.  St. Mary’s was constructed (1937) as the first Commons, the student cafeteria.  When the current dining facilities were built (1958), the St. Mary’s building was repurposed as the university chapel (1958-1985).   Outgrowing St. Mary’s, The Chapel of Christ the Teacher was our first building designed and dedicated as a chapel.

With the intention of maintaining the near linkage between the two buildings, a Marian Garden was planned to enclose the area joining the Chapel and St. Mary’s.  This space for reflection was fulfilled in stages, with the Galati rosary garden (1996) and the Bell Tower Plaza (2009).

The Figure of Christ the Teacher is also the principle sculpture in the Oddo Memorial group on the plaza between Franz and Mago Hunt Halls, classroom buildings for the Fine Arts, Business School, and humanities classes.

Library, Chapel, classrooms: in prayer, academics, and study: Christ the Teacher is present at the University of Portland.

For a related post about the Chapel: https://sites.up.edu/museum/sanctuaries/

(Gallery of Photos from the University Archives)

Tower Proposal, 2006
St. Mary’s, 1972
St. Mary Cloister Garden, 1994 (Wayne Chin painting)
St. Mary’s, 1967
O Cruceiro, installed in 1986 and renovated in 2013
Chapel of Christ the Teacher, replacing roofing tile, 2016
Library facade. Sedes Sapientiae, installed in 1958; cleaned and waxed in 2013
Christ the Teacher (Oddo Memorial), 1995
Seat of Wisdom and Christ the Teacher icon diptych
Seat of Wisdom and Christ the Teacher tapestries, Chapel of Christ the Teacher

Campus Growth: 1991-2016

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1991 Campus Map, notice anything missing?
Added since then, Franz Hall (1995), Corrado Hall (1998), Swindells (1999);
and THE WHOLE NORTH QUAD of Portsmouth Avenue, including Haggerty-Tyson, Fields &
Schoenfeldt, Lund Family Hall, The Beauchamp Wellness and Recreation Center !!!!!!!

Campus Map, 1991 (University Archives, click to enlarge)

Campus Growth, 1991-2016

As August closes, the Lund Family Residence Hall still has some roofing, brickwork and maybe some plumbing, polishing, and other fixing too, where the building is still being polished.  That is, our newest building has not yet reached its full-growth as the 2016-2017 academic year begins.

Of course the campus itself has not finished growing either.  The University began in one building long ago and has expanded greatly over the last century.  A notable and major growth spurt occurred twenty years ago, dating back to just before this year’s entering Class of 2020 first opened their bright eyes to regard the world.

As a component of Strategic Planning between 1991-1996 we were able to raze the ‘temporary’ World War II Army Surplus annexes on the academic quad (housing labs, offices, classrooms, health center, student media) moving the Schools of Education and of Business, and science labs into new buildings.  Until Corrado Hall was built in 1998, the newest student residence hall had been Shipstad (1967) from thirty years before.

Student Communications Building, one of the War Surplus Buildings located where Franz Hall is today, ca1980s (University Archives photo)
Student Communications Building, one of the War Surplus Buildings located where Franz Hall is today, ca1980s (University Archives, click to enlarge)
Franz Hall (left), Orrico Hall (foreground) (Jerry Hart Photo)
Franz Hall (left), Orrico Hall (foreground) (Jerry Hart Photo, University Archives, click to enlarge)

Aerial View of Campus, 1991
https://digital.up.edu/Documents/Detail/1991-view-from-overhead/96317

Digital Collection of Campus Aerial Views and Maps

Yesterday’s New Faculty

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Each year the campus community is ever renewed with new members, about whom established faculty and staff forever sigh: so young.  Even the senior class envies the fresh-faces of the freshmen class.

But everyone was new once: Our 25 year class of new faculty and staff from 1991 includes — Brian Doyle, editor of Portland Magazine; Howard Feldman, Business; Patrick Berg, Political Science.  Each continuing to enrich our common enterprise.  Beginners from 20 years ago include — Mark Kennedy, Engineering; Regina Largent, Army ROTC, then, first director of the Shepard Freshman Resource Center; Peter Osterberg, Engineering; Patricia (Tisha) Morrell, Education; Stephen Vegdahl, Computer Science/Engineering; and Zia Yamayee, Dean of Engineering from 1996.  People whose continuing influence benefits UP student life and learning today.  But the maximum impact member of the 20 year club is surely *** Kirk Mustain *** Chef, Supervisor, Manager in the Kingdom of Bon Appetit at the Commons, Pilot House, and new to Lund Family Hall.  We all rely on him and his ever-young reading of the need, care, maintenance of a quirky community.

Also, on March 3, 1991, Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C. was inaugurated as the 18th President of the University of Portland.

(Photos from the University Archives, click to enlarge.)

Tisha Morrell, 1997
Steven Vegdahl, 1997
Brian Doyle, 1994
Col. Regina Largent (Army ROTC), 1997
Howard Feldman, ca1993
Kirk Mustain, 2000
Mark Kennedy, 1997
Zia Yamayee, 1997

Rudolph (Rudy) Scholz, Olympic Gold Medalist

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The last of our early Olympians is Rudolph (Rudy) Scholz, the first of our University-connected competitors to win gold in two Olympic games.

Rudolph Scholz attended Columbia Preparatory School for one year, 1911-1912, moving to California to complete his studies.   He made his mark here in basketball and baseball.    Small in size but quick to react on the court and field.   As a forward on the basketball team, “Rudy was the best scrapper on the team.  What he lacked in inches he made up in cleverness.  Very fast and good on tossing baskets.” (Columbiad, April 1912)   As short stop for the baseball team, he was a “fielding star.” (Columbiad, May 1912).

Columbia Preparatory School Basketball Team, 1911-12; Rudolph (Rudy) Scholz, 3rd from left in the back row (Columbiad, April 1912; University Museum photo)
Columbia Preparatory School Basketball Team, 1911-12; Rudolph (Rudy) Scholz, 3rd from left in the back row (Columbiad, April 1912; University Museum photo)

Rudy must have hit a growth spurt before attending Stanford University where he joined the school’s rugby squad, beginning of a lifetime career in rugby.  In 1920, at the age of 24, he competed with the United States rugby team to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympic games in Antwerp, Belgium.  He returned with the team for the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France to win his second gold.

Olympic gold medal, Antwerp 1920, designed by Josue Dupon (from Wikimedia, click to enlarge)
Olympic gold medal, Antwerp 1920, designed by Josue Dupon (from Wikimedia, click to enlarge)

Rugby was part of the Olympics in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 and then it disappeared from the Olympic scene.  It is one of two sports returning to the Olympics in the 2016 games.

Amateur Athletics: Discus

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Discus throw has been part of the original Olympic games since the first Olympics in 1896.   Women’s competition in discus was added to the Olympics in 2000.

If not for Xena, Warrior Princess, no one would know why anyone ever put the discus throw into athletic competitions.  Our records up to 1914 suggest that discus was not an event in early Track and Field here.  There is a sketch of a student-athlete in Columbia track uniform with a discus in hand on the front cover of the March 1925 Columbiad.   After track was reinstated as a major sport in 1934-35, the records record a cluster of discus marks for UP Track and Field.  So, the March 1, 1935 Columbiad, documents Edwin (Moose) Dunstan (W. Elwyn Dunstan ’38) tossing a discus 117 feet.   Notable squad records also show up in the 1938 Log where Joseph Enzler (Class of ’40) throws for 140′ 4″;  exceeded in the 1940 Log record of James Shanahan’s (Class of ’41) throw of 144′ 6″.

Photo gallery of student-athletes in discus throw (University Archives photos; click image to enlarge)

Unknown student, 1930s or 40s
Discus practice (Christie Hall in Background), ca1948
Ed Altenhofen, discus, 1954
Discus thrower, 1969 Log

 

Amateur Athletics: Swimming

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Swimming was one of the original Olympic games in 1896.

‘Upon the Bluff high over the Willamette where the spires of learning reach up to the sky’, swimmers and swimming have been part of campus life since before Howard Hall opened its doors in 1927.   But industry and landfill have since pushed swimming out of the river.  The Howard pool a long-time mainstay.   Whether engaging in a recreational swim or competitive swimming, students have been practicing freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke in the Howard Hall pool for years, with occasional interruption.   For example, when snow collapsed the roof in 1937; and also the time the pool froze-over (February) and then too the building fire (March) in 1949.  (https://sites.up.edu/museum/march-19-1949-howard-hall-fire/)   Generally, a place of calm restoration.  During the years 1982-1989, former University President Rev. Thomas Oddo, C.S.C., often spent late night hours in the pool swimming in solitude.

Photo gallery, click on photo to enlarge:

Swimming Team Patch, late 1930s (University Museum)
Swimming in Howard Hall, ca1935 (University Archives photo)
Swimming in Howard Hall, 1930s (University Archives photo)
Swim team, 1951 Log (University Archives)
Swim team, 1940 Log (University Archives)
Swim Team, 1933 (University Archives photo)
Swim class, ca1950s (University Archives photo)

 

Amateur Athletics: Women’s Tennis

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Tennis was one of the original Olympic games from 1896-1924 and re-instituted in 1988.

One of our recent acquisitions in the University Museum is this women’s varsity letter jacket from Eileen Cebula Smith ’82, four-year member of the University’s women’s tennis team as a singles and doubles team player from 1979-1982.

Varsity Letter with Tennis Patch, 1982 (donated by Eileen Cebula Smith '82, University Museum)
Varsity Letter with Tennis Patch, 1982 (donated by Eileen Cebula Smith ’82)
Varsity Letter Jacket with Tennis Patch, 1982 (donated by Eileen Cebula Smith '82, University Museum)
Varsity Letter Jacket with Tennis Patch, 1982 (donated by Eileen Cebula Smith ’82)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eileen’s family has long-ties to the University.  Her grandfather, Eugene Schmitt, was a track standout for Columbia University Preparatory School, graduating in 1915 and her father, Leonard Cebula, graduated in 1953.   Two of her three brothers played soccer for the Pilots, and two nephews, recent graduates, are now counted as Pilot alumni.

Amateur Athletics: Tennis

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Tennis was one of the original Olympic games from 1896-1924 and re-instituted in 1988.

Men’s Tennis 1952-1956

1955 Tennis Team, Log 1955 (University Archives, click to enlarge)
1955 Tennis Team, Log 1955 (University Archives, click to enlarge)

“Their streak, unmatched before or since in University athletic annals, began May 10, 1952, with a win against the Seattle University Chieftains.  Four years later, on May 19, 1956, coach Mike Tichy’s Pilot men’s tennis team lost a match (to Seattle).  Between those two May days the men won 79 consecutive matches and went 17-0 in 1953, 22-0 in 1954, 18-0 in 1955, and 18-1 in 1956, that one loss being the killer on the very last day of the season.  In any sport, a mammoth streak like the Pilots’ record run is fueled by a mysterious combination of talent, skill, hard work, perseverance, good coaching, and a vast eagerness to seize every opportunity to win.”  (from University of Portland Athletic Hall of Banquet Program, Thursday, June 22, 1995)

Photo gallery: click on image to enlarge

p.s. shameless promotion.  The story of Coaches Bill Rose and Mike Tichy, the Streak, and players such as Jim Flynn are told delightfully in the book, The Magnus Factor: The Bill Rose Story, Rise to One, by Mike Wittmayer, ’69.  Available at the Pilot House Bookstore!