News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.
A canopy of beautiful pink blossoms heralds the arrival of spring on our campus. For some background about these flowering trees and selfie-magnets, the University Archives and Museum share some photos and write about these flowering cherry trees in their most recent post for the Museum blog. Follow this link.
For more information, contact Carolyn Connolly, museum coordinator, at piatz@up.edu.
The University Museum holds vintage spirit or student life memorabilia in the collection and for public display. Wally Pilot items, or the mystery mascot precursor, SPU (Spirit of Portland U) are among the most popular throw-backs. As a new academic year begins, the museum and archives feature this University Pennant from the late 1940s.
For photos and a brief history follow this link.
For more information, contact the University Museum at museum@up.edu.
The University Museum’s collection contains an assortment of medical supplies and equipment. Items no longer in use, or renovated and adapted for safety and efficiency. For students and visitors today these pieces provide a glimpse into medical history and pique the curious-minded. As the University prepares for the return of students, focused on cleaning and sanitizing in these unprecedented times, we highlight this sanitization piece from the 1940’s. Follow this link for more.
Summers in Oregon with clear night skies offer impressive views of the stars and planets from The Bluff. For over 50 years, the Starr Observatory stood behind the Commons as a beacon for astronomy enthusiasts. To learn more, follow this link.
The University Museum’s nursing collection contains an assortment of medical supplies and equipment, including items no longer in use, or renovated and adapted for safety and efficiency. For students and visitors today these pieces provide a glimpse into medical and nursing history and pique the curious-minded. In this post we take a closer look at this tonsillectomy bag from the 1940s or 1950s. Click on this link for more.
Under the category of CAMPUS LIFE, the 1957 Log has page after page with photos documenting the Welcome Dance, Engineers’ Barn Dance, Twirp Dance, Biologists’ Ball, Musicians’ Ball, Sweethearts’ Ball, Homecoming Dance, and Military Ball. For decades, the campus calendar could be measured against this rhythm of formal and theme dances complementing the daily focus on classwork, library, and exams. For a glimpse into UP social life in the 1950s and 60s, follow this link to the latest Museum blog post.
What’s old is new again? Six feet = social distancing. Dispersal of crowds. All of which rings a bell. We searched both memory and the University Archives for moments and policies of social distancing in UP’s past. Here is a notable public spaces pronouncement, 1970s style. Follow this link to see more.
Hello, Sherlock Holmes fans! It’s Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birthday today. Did you know the Portland & Vancouver Sherlock Holmes Society originated at UP under the direction of Dr. James Covert (“The Grande Olde Honker”)? Here’s the scoop! Follow the link for more.
Congratulations to our retiring faculty! The University Archives and Museum have a new blog post recognizing these nine members of the University faculty for their many years of service. Visit this site for a slideshow of the honored retirees and see how they’ve changed over the years.
With the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2020 Commencement exercises, the staff of the University Archives and Museum looked through archive files for other commencement interruptions. We found one, in 1948. Visit this site for the full story.