Carolyn

UP Trivia / Bar Bets: Who put Sol in the Solar System?

February 2, 2017 By Carolyn

Large slide rule, ca1959 (University Museum, click to enlarge)

Positioned above the interior doorway of the University Museum is a large-scale yellow Pickett N4-ES Vector Hyperbolic Log Log Dual-Base Slide Rule. With moving parts. Somewhat easier to use than a Rubik’s Cube. The moving parts were the point, allowing classroom demonstrations.

Slide rules are the trombones of scientific equipment (the abacus = the xylophone?), an early improvement on the humble pencil, and a short-cut saving pages of parchment in calculating large equations. The invention of the slide rule arriving in the seventeenth century, having to wait for the discovery of logarithms (1614), which had to wait for Copernicus to give us large-distances — planetary orbits in a heliocentric dynamic — to measure. (But before Newton & Leibniz and the discovery of calculus.)

Aristarchus of Samos [fl. 250 BCE] according to the report of Archimedes (trans, Thom. Heath, 1897), considered the distances of the heliocentric system to be too incomprehensible to measure (like the interior angles of a chiliagon or the enumeration of the sand-grains on all the beaches of all the oceans). John Napier in 1614 in Mirifici Logarithmorum Cannois Descriptio found a way to fold complex equations answering the problems of scale and celestial magnitudes.

Slide rules were used by Engineering and Physics students at UP through the 70s. The slide rule was a useful tool for solving equations in analytics and trigonometry. Once a required school supply, the microchip revolution doomed this plastic analog technology. The introduction of the (affordable) pocket calculator in the mid to late 1970s eliminated the slide rule from shirt-pockets and belt-holsters, leading to a different aesthetic in geek chic. Even so, the slide rule is a tool requiring neither batteries nor electricity for those who appreciate (or enjoy) manual computations in case of power-outages.

(Researched by the University Archivist)

Photo gallery, click on images to enlarge

Slide rules with deluxe leather pocket protectors (University Museum)

Slide rule sold in UP bookstore (University Museum)

Large slide rule close up, ca1959 (University Museum)

Large slide rule, ca 1959 (University Museum)

The Limit y = f(x), retired after many years on display in the Math department

Ugly Sweaters and cool hats

January 24, 2017 By Carolyn

Winters in Oregon feature scenic views of snow-covered mountains beckoning skiers and snow boarders to the slopes. Mount Hood — the closest, just two and half hours from Portland — has been a skiing destination spot for UP students from likely before the campus Ski Club was formed in 1939. The club still going strong today, paired with snowboarding; included among a long list of sports clubs from Student Activities.

1948-49 Ski Team1949 Log (University Museum) — 1948-49 Ski Team – Front: Bob Strand, Dave Hayes, Ted Little Back: John Little, John Heffernan, Bob Wieseman, Ed Cade, John Clark, Bill Hoffstetter, E.P. Goodrich – 1949 Log (University Museum)

And once upon a time UP had a Ski Team (1946 to mid-1950s) which engaged in intercollegiate competition against colleges and universities in the West and Canada. Pilot skiers competed on Mount Hood and locations such as Donner Summit in CA; Yosemite; Banff in Canada. During their short run, the Ski Team had successes each year– 1947 in the Giant Slalom Race – Pilots took 5 of the first 10 places; 1948, 1st and 5th place individual at Yosemite; 1949, a 1st in Giant Slalom; 1949, 3rd team overall against University of California, Stanford, and University of Oregon; 1950, 1st place in the Pacific Northwest Ski Association meet; advancing in 1951 a 5th place finish at the National Intercollegiate Ski Championship; and in 1954, 1st place again locally at the Oregon Intercollegiate Memorial Ski Championships.

The Rec Sports sends out a weekend Ski Bus during the season, and continues to offer rental equipment for recreational opportunities for students on a continuing basis, not just during the rare campus closure and even rarer twelve-inch snowfall.

Photo Gallery (click on image to enlarge)

Tom Martin; Gene Brady, Banff, Alberta, Canada, n.d. (University Archives)

Ken Underdahl, ’52, 1950 Log (University Museum)

John Little models ski apparel, 1949 Log (University Museum)

Anders Woldseth, 1952-53 team (University Archives)

1947-48 Team at Yosemite – Kneeling: “Gee Gee” Goodrich, Tom Stewart, Ted Little; Standing: Barney Becker, John Younie, Fredi Lowel, Ruth McElroy, Alan Fischer – 1948 Log (University Museum)

1948-49 Ski Team – Dave Hayes, John Clark, Jim Carr, Jack Viodoni, Bill Hoffstetter, Ted Little – 1949 Log (University Museum)

1947-48 Ski Team, 1948 Log (University Museum)

In Memory: Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., March 31, 1946 – December 5, 2016

December 13, 2016 By Carolyn

Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., 2001 (University Archives) — Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., 2001 (University Archives, Click to enlarge)

Rev. Ronald J. Wasowski, C.S.C., associate professor of Environmental Science, passed away unexpectedly the evening of December 5, 2016 at the age of 70; in phased retirement and his last year of classroom teaching. At UP since 1998, offering general and upper division science courses, and contributing to student life as Mehling Hall Pastoral Resident, Voice for Life Chaplain, and more.

Which sounds sort of ordinary, maybe even dull. How about this? For the past three years, Fr. Wasowski was part of the University of Portland archaeological team, the Pollentia expedition, spending part of each summer in Mallorca, Spain. The excavation is uncovering a Roman-era city. Fr. Wasowski’s contribution to the team was the use of drones in Archaeology (tracing the outlines of city-walls, building foundations, and streets from the air), and nick-named “Father Drone” by expedition colleagues. He flew drones and taught classes where students spend class-time and homework FLYING camera-drones. Helicopter camera-drones, all too cool for the catalogue, where the course title is listed as ENV 384 / BIO 384 / CE 458 Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, listed within the academic degree concentration Quantitative and Spatial Methods, which also requires course-work in Vector Calculus and Ordinary Differential Equations (bring on the drone lab).

He also knew far too much about rocks, minerals, meteor showers, and regular weather. Sharing enthusiasm and abiding inquiry with students and friends both.

Fr. Wasowski taught at the University of Notre Dame, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, and the University of Portland, earning tenure twice (he departed Notre Dame when their Earth Sciences/Geology program folded).

Clark Library Digital Collection about the 2015 Pollentia Expedition
http://up.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16472coll4

Fr. Ron Wasowski’s Aerial Photography – 2015 Pollentia Expedition
http://up.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p16472coll4/searchterm/Aerial%20Photography/field/subjec/mode/all/conn/and/order/nosort

Photo gallery, click to enlarge images

Father Ron Wasowski, C.S.C. with Drone, Pollentia Expedition (Maria Erb photo)

Holy Cross First Profession Class (Back row, 3rd from left, next to Tom Oddo), 1966 (University Archives)

Fr. Wasowski with a drone, Pollentia Expedition, 2015 (Clark Library digitial collections)

Back row: David Kroon, Lewis Lum, Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., Rev. John Kurtzke, C.S.C., Front row: William Fuller, Michael Akerman, David Cresap, Steven Vegdahl, 1998 (University Archives)

Holy Cross Retreat at Mt. Angel Abbey Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., Rev. James Connelly, C.S.C., Rev. James Lies, C.S.C., 1998 (University Archives)

Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., 1998 (University Archives)

Fr. Ron Wasowski, Junior Parents Weekend Mass, 2013 (Marketing & Communications)

Library Dedication, 1958

November 30, 2016 By Carolyn

University of Portland Library Dedication Book, November 30, 1958 (University Archives) — University of Portland Library Dedication Booklet, November 30, 1958 (University Archives)

The University Library was in the basement of Christie Hall from the 1930s until 1958. The basement space was quickly outgrown and the book collection put at risk from leaky water pipes — with as many as fifty-one leaks in one year! — but there were no resources to move or replace the library and study space. Planning for a new library extended through two decades while gathering funding through private gifts and foundation grants. Groundbreaking for the new library occurred on October 24, 1957 and the dedication of the completed building on November 30, 1958.

Pictured here is the spacious central study area, from 1958 library and in today’s Clark Library, remodeled and expanded in 1979, renovated in 2013.

Library reference room, ca1958 (University Archives, click to enlarge)

Clark Library, Fall 2013 (Marketing & Communications, click to enlarge)

For more pictures and history of the library, visit the Clark Library’s Digital Buildings Collection displaying images of photographs and objects of the library held by the University Archives and Museum (with descriptions from the Archives and Museum).

Related blog post about the library:
https://sites.up.edu/museum/extended-hours-weekends-and-late-night/

In Memory: Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., June 12, 1929 – October 30, 2016

November 10, 2016 By Carolyn

Rev. Joseph Browne, ca1994 — Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., ca1994 (University Archives)

Fr. Joseph P. Browne, C.S.C., died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Notre Dame at the age of 87. He gave many years of faithful service at the University of Portland, most notably as director of the Clark Library.

Ordained a Holy Cross priest in 1955, Fr. Browne’s academic career began as an instructor in moral theology at Holy Cross College (Washington, DC). He was, however, the newest and latest hire, and so, as he reports with a continuing sense of question and whimsy, “it fell to me to take classes at nearby Catholic University where they had a School of Library Science”. His superiors having read in his character and talents the future of a professionally-trained librarian. As a newly minted librarian he was sent on his way to UP and the University’s library science program. Two years later he was named University Librarian upon the retirement of Br. David Martin, C.S.C.; a position Fr. Browne was to hold twice — 1966 to 1970, and from 1976 until his retirement in 1994. (During the pause between his stints as library director he was lent out as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, 1970-73.)

During Fr. Browne’s years as director the Clark Library doubled in size, expanded and remodeled in 1979. At the same time automated systems were introduced and the library ventured into early interlibrary cooperatives for the purpose of collection and resource sharing with Portland area libraries (PORTALS) and other colleges and universities throughout the Northwest (NAPCU), leading directly to today’s membership in the Orbis Cascade Alliance (Summit).

Upon retiring from UP, Fr. Browne became pastor of St. Birgitta Parish (Portland) from 1994-2004. In 2009, he moved to Holy Cross House at Notre Dame where he resided until his death.

Among Fr. Browne’s awards and achievements: President of the Catholic Library Association, 1971-73; The Culligan Faculty Award in 1979; and the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontiface distinguished service award in 2008. He was also State Chaplain for the Oregon Knights of Columbus and an expert in parliamentary procedure. His jacket-lapel sometimes sporting the keys of St. Peter, other times, crossed gavels. A Religious, a Priest, a Librarian, a Parliamentarian: obedient and admiring and a servant of good order.

(Photo gallery from the University Archives and Log Yearbooks, click on images to enlarge)

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1976

Back: Nan DeRouse, Michael Storwick, Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Margaret Kleszynski Front: Susan Hinken, Vickie Hamilton, Roxane Dimyan, Nadene Miller

Brother David Martin, C.S.C. and Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1984

Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Susan Hinken, Br. Frank Drury, C.S.C., Nadene Miller, Barbara Lay, Pam Horan, 1987 Log

C. Paul Vincent, Kathleen Stansgar, Vickie Hamilton, Jean Ann Drew, Lelah Conrad, Pam Horan, Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., library director; Jane Wahl Ozura, Br. Frank Drury, C.S.C., Mary Devlin

Fr. Joseph Browne with Library Science Class, 1964

Mike Clark, Maurie Clark, regent 1967-2001, Richard Cole, Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1979 Library Open House

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., in front of Library, 1967

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, 1972 Log

Library Director, Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1966

Rev. Joseph Brown, C.S.C., Christmas gathering, 2010

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1968

Campaign Trail: George W. Bush, 2000

November 3, 2016 By Carolyn

In August 2000, the Chiles Center at University of Portland was once again host to a presidential candidate. Texas Governor George W. Bush, (R) visited the campus for a campaign rally sponsored by the Republican Party. Running as a compassionate conservative, Bush received the Republican party nomination for president at their national convention earlier in the month. On winning the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush completed the second father-son duo (41 & 43; John Adams and John Quincy Adams were 2 & 6; the Harrisons 9 &23, grandfather and grandson; the Roosevelts were fifth cousins, 26 & 32) to hold the nation’s highest office.

(Click on gallery images to enlarge)

Texas Governor George W. Bush and University of Portland President Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., August 11, 2000 (University Archives)

Laura and George Bush greet children in the Chiles Center Hall of Fame Room, August 11, 2000 (University Archives)

Texas Governor, George W. Bush, University of Portland Chiles Center, August 11, 2000 (University Archives)

Laura and George Bush, Chiles Center, August 11, 2000 (University Archives)

Campaign Trail: President Ronald Reagan, 1984

November 1, 2016 By Carolyn

Admission for President Reagan Campaign Rally, October 23, 1984 (University Archives)

President Ronald Reagan Campaign Rally, University of Portland Chiles Center, October 23, 1984 (University Archives)

The University of Portland’s newly dedicated Chiles Center athletic arena still smelt of fresh varnish and the stadium seating was still cushioned and clean when President Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign visited the Chiles Center in October of 1984. Appearing before a crowd of students and Reagan supporters, President Reagan (R), focused his remarks on national security while speaking out against his opponent, former Vice President Walter Mondale (D-MN). Reagan deviated from his prepared speech with occasional quips meant to quiet and deflect hecklers in the audience. President Reagan visited UP two weeks before the national election, carrying away the roars of an enthusiastic crowd and a Pilots jacket presented by UP Student Body president, Kelly Krautscheid, ’85 and Wally Pilot.

President Ronald Reagan receives Pilots Jacket from Wally Pilot and Student Body President, Kelly Krautscheid, October 23, 1984 (University Archives)

Text of Reagan speech at the Chiles Center, October 23, 1984
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-reagan-bush-rally-portland-oregon

Campaign Trail: Robert F. Kennedy, 1968

October 27, 2016 By Carolyn

University of Portland faculty, staff, and students were treated to an unexpected visit by Senator Robert F. Kennedy, (D-NY) on March 26, 1968, just ten days after he declared his candidacy for U.S. President. Senator Kennedy’s surprise visit (?) found a crowd of over 1,000 gathered in the University Commons to hear him during his Oregon tour before the local Presidential primary. Among his supporters nationally were the poor, minorities, Catholic voters, and naturally, Democrats. Emerging as one of the leaders for the Democratic nomination for president, Senator Kennedy was assassinated a couple months later in California on June 5, 1968.

(Photo Gallery from the University Archives, click on images to enlarge)

Rev. Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C.; Senator Robert F. Kennedy, D-NY, Rev. Joseph Powers, C.S.C. (back to camera), Representative Edith Green, D-OR, March 26, 1968

Camelot Again, Robert F. Kennedy Speaks to UP Crowd in the Commons, March 26, 1968

Senator Robert F. Kennedy, D-NY, Campaign Speech in the Commons, March 26, 1968

Students listening to Senator Robert F. Kennedy in the Commons, March 26, 1968

Senator Robert F. Kennedy Campaigns at UP, The Beacon, March 28, 1968

Capacity Crowd Fills the Commons to Hear Senator Robert F. Kennedy, March 26, 1968

Media Cameras Record Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s Campaign Speech in the Commons, March 26, 1968

Student with Senator Robert F. Kennedy, March 26, 1968

In Memory: Dr. James T. Covert, April 20, 1932 – October 13, 2016

October 26, 2016 By Carolyn

Dr. James Covert, 1994 (University Archives)

Professor Emeritus, Historian, and Pride of the Bluff, Dr. James T. Covert, passed away October 13, 2016 following complications from a stroke suffered earlier in the summer. Aged 84, Dr. Covert was a UP alumnus as well as a professional and institutional pillar of the modern University of Portland.

Infused with Pilot Purple since his arrival on campus in 1955, but living off-campus as a married freshman and graduating on-schedule B.A. ’59, the young history major was a man in a hurry, soon returning to the Bluff in 1961 as a member of the history faculty while pursuing a doctorate at the University of Oregon. A popular teacher of European history, Dr. Covert’s former students credit him as an inspiring teacher who fueled their love of history. Dr. Covert spent his entire academic career at UP, retiring with emeriti rank in 1997. His service to UP includes time as department chair and on numerous faculty committees. His service to students extended from the classroom to acting as Faculty Representative for Athletics for twenty-three years (nineteen years as member of the executive committee of the West Coast Athletic Conference). He received the Culligan Award in 1967, Alumnus of the Year Award in 1976, and the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1986. Together with his wife, Sally, the family created the James T. Covert Family Endowed Scholarship, providing direct support to UP student life. Eighteen students have received the scholarship since 1996.

Dr. Covert also founded “The Order of the Blue Carbuncle” (Sherlock Holmes Society) in 1971, mentioned because, naturally, his Holmes pipe and deerstalker cap are on display in the University of Portland Museum.

Commissioned to write the University of Portland history for the University’s Seventy-Fifth Anniversary in 1976, Dr. Covert brought his experience as a UP student and as a faculty member to his task. The finished product “A Point of Pride: The University of Portland Story” has graced the bookshelves of many UP alumni and friends since. After writing of “A Point of Pride“, Covert began saving pieces and treasures of University history from alumni and friends and he became – by default? – the founder and first director of the University of Portland Museum (October 15, 1992). Still carrying on Dr. Covert’s vision to preserve UP’s past for future generations to come, the Heritage Room in 14 Shipstad Hall is open (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 a.m. to noon; 1:00-2:30 p.m.; Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to noon; 1:00-2:00 p.m.; or by appointment) to students, alumni, staff, and friends of the University.

As a side note, Dr. Covert designed the University Maces used in academic processions.

Covert photo gallery (from the University Archives and Log Yearbooks)
(Click on images to enlarge)

Dr. Thompson Faller smashes pie in Dr. Jim Covert’s face (1978 Log)

Steven Taylor ’78, Suzanne (Becker) Taylor ’81 and Dr. James Covert at the Inauguration of Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. as University President, 2004 (Steven Taylor photo)

Dr. Covert with students (1986 Log)

Dr. James Covert, 1976 (University Archives)

Future UP history professor as member of the History Club during senior year, 1958-59 (1959 Log)

History and Political Science Faculty (1989 Log)

Dr. Jim Covert with Students, 1992 (University Archives)

The Order of the Blue Carbuncle (Sherlock Holmes Society), 1971 (University Archives)

Dr. Jim Covert with broken foot talking to long-time friend, Dr. Thom Faller, 1972 (University Archives)

Delta Epsilon Sigma (1987 Log)

Playing Guitar at Coffee House (1976 Log)

Young professor, Dr. Covert, holding his son, Marc, while wife, Sally, takes photo, August 1961 (University Archives)

Jim Covert, junior class photo (1958 Log)

Dr. James Covert, 1997 (University Archives)

Dr. Covert with students (1985 Log)

Dr. Covert carrying one of his handcarved maces for UP Summer Commencement, 1978 (University Archives)

Dr. Jim Covert, Museum Director, with Museum memorabilia (1994 Log)

Dr. James Covert, 1962 (University Archives)

History and Political Science Faculty (1995 Log)

Dr. Thompson Faller, Culligan Award winner and Dr. James Covert, Burlington Award winner, 1986 (University Archives)

Covert eating pie, Engineers Field Day Competition, October 1980 (1981 Log)

Campaign Trail: Nelson Rockefeller, 1964

October 25, 2016 By Carolyn

Nelson Rockefeller Flyer, May 13, 1964 (University Museum, click to enlarge)

Two days before the May 15, 1964 Oregon primary, New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, (R) campaigned at University of Portland in Howard Hall in his bid for the presidency. That appearance obviously sealing the deal: because Rockefeller, representing the moderate-liberal faction of his party, won the Oregon Republican primary. But then his opponent, Senator Barry Goldwater, (R-AZ) won the California primary election and subsequently became the Republican presidential nominee. Rockefeller mounted three unsuccessful runs for the presidency; 1960, 1964, and 1968; he achieved national office only when President Gerald Ford appointed him as Vice President (1974-1977) after a period of constitutional unpleasantness in the early 1970s.