Marquette Histories: New and Old

May 2007--Celebration of Marquette University's 125th anniversary has served as the occasion for publishing the newest history of the university. Milwaukee's Jesuit University: Marquette 1881-1981, written by Dr. Thomas J. Jablonsky,  has just been issued by Marquette University Press.  Also, as a capstone library contribution to the anniversary, the Libraries' Department of Special Collections and University Archives has opened its newest digital project, the complete text of the 1906 and 1953 out-of-print histories.

Milwaukee's Jesuit University is "based on an entirely new reading of the tens of thousands of pages of primary sources" held by university archives. [Preface] Dr. Jablonsky focused on three themes--administrative history of the university, the development of student culture, and the "roller-coaster" relationship with Milwaukee and the surrounding region--all richly illustrated with over 100 images from archival files.  Published by Marquette University Press, the 438-page hardcover book lists for $40 and may be purchased in-person at the Marquette Spirit Shop or the Book Marq, or directly from MU Press by telephone (800-247-6553) or online ordering. Copies are available in the Libraries' Browsing Collection.  Excerpts from Milwaukee's Jesuit University have been published in Marquette Magazine's Fall 2006 and Winter 2007 issues.

Thomas J. Jablonsky, associate professor of history, is the Harry G. John Professor of Urban Studies, and director of the Institute for Urban Life.  A native of Chicago, Dr. Jablonsky completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at California State University, Los Angeles, and his doctorate in American history at the University of Southern California, where he subsequently spent two decades before coming to Marquette in 1995.

The new digital collection features two out-of-print histories of the university.  The first, published for the silver jubilee in 1906, is titled Marquette College, a Quarter-Century, 1881-1906: Stray Leaves from the College History.  More vignettes than historical analysis, the 129-page book offers a year-by-year chronology, "Random Jottings."  The second, written in 1953 by Rev. Raphael N. Hamilton, S.J., history professor, dean of the Graduate School, and university historian, was titled The Story of Marquette University; An Object Lesson in the Development of Catholic Higher Education.  The two e-books are mounted in an online environment powered by CONTENTdm, the same interface used for the digital Hilltop collection, allowing rich capabilities for display, search, and browse.  The digital histories will interest alumni and researchers whose access to the older titles was limited.

Access to MU digital collections is unrestricted; visit any time of day from any location.  For more information please contact Matt Blessing, Department of Special Collections and Archives, at (414) 288-5901 or Matt.Blessing@marquette.edu