Marquette's Olympic Heritage

"Marquette's First Olympian:
John J. Brennan and the 1908 Olympics"

presented by

Dr. Harvey Sobocinski

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

7:00 p.m.

Prucha Reading Room,
Raynor Library 3rd floor

Photo from the University Archives Scrapbook Collection

The Libraries' Department of Special Collections and University Archives invites students, faculty, and all members of the campus community to join alumnus Harvey Sobocinski (Marquette B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) as he presents his research on Marquette's first Olympian, John J. Brennan, on April 15th at 7:00 p.m.  A passionate Irish-American patriot, Brennan traveled to the heart of the British Empire to compete for his adopted country.  He was one of 76 members on the 1908 U.S. Olympic team, participating in the broad jump, high jump, and triple-jump at the London Games.

Dr. Sobocinski completed his doctorate in 1980 under the direction of Irish historian Thomas Hachey.  In 1984 and 1994 he received "Teacher of the Year" awards from the University of Wisconsin-Marinette Center and UW-Sheboygan Center, respectively.  Dr. Sobocinski's current research project, Track and Field at Marquette, 1893-2005: A Ring of Champions, A Century of Excellence, prominently features Brennan as one of several Olympic athletes.

The lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Prucha Reading Room, located on the third floor of the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library.  The event is free and open to all, although alumni and members of the general public must pre-register for the event by telephoning the Department of Special Collections and University Archives at (414) 288-7256.