{"id":2164,"date":"2022-09-06T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/?p=2164"},"modified":"2026-01-12T21:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T21:34:00","slug":"student-publications-at-mundelein-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/2022\/09\/06\/student-publications-at-mundelein-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Publications at Mundelein College"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In order to celebrate the 90 year Anniversary of Mundelein\nCollege, the WLA applied for and received the Illinois\nHistory Digital Imaging<\/a> grant. The IHDI grant is aimed at digitizing\ndocuments of historical significance and making them accessible at the Illinois Digital Archives<\/a>. I have been\nlucky to be part of a team that is digitizing items from Mundelein College held\nat the WLA. We\u2019re scanning and describing thousands of publications,\nphotographs, and other items related to the history of Mundelein College so\nthat they are more accessible to the public.[1]<\/p>\n\n\n

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Mundelein College Skyscraper staff celebrates receiving the All-American Honor Rating by the National Newspaper Critical Service of the Associated Collegiate Press. Pictured are Columnist Mary Anne Pope, Artist Diane Mazza, Contributor Carlotta Serritella, and Contributor Maureen Racine. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1962-05-22)] [2] [ mc_student_pubs_0052].<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Throughout the digitizing process, I\u2019ve been fascinated by the rigor with which students published journals, newspapers, and pamphlets. Mundelein College students maintained a rich tradition of self-published literature of their sixty-year history. They collected articles and essays, cropped and captioned photos, and folded thousands of pages. The resulting, now digital, volumes demonstrate Mundelein College students\u2019 work and the joy with which they performed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve digitized dozens of publications. Here are some of my\nfavorites:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Clepsydra often featured small pieces of writing like this short poem, \u201cPyromagia,\u201d by Emer Phibbs about the coming of Autumn. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1932-11) [mc_clepsydra_0007_Page_05-06].<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Clepsydra<\/em> (1932-1938) is a beautifully bound collage of student verse and prose. The name comes from the ancient Greek water clock used to limit the speaking time of Athenian orators. The editors of the Clepsydra <\/em>wrote that this helped to \u201cmake their speeches clear, concise, forceful.\u201d Therefore, it is the clock, they say, that \u201caided our language to acquire that power and clarity that are its greatest charm.\u201d [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other interesting publications include The Mundelein College Review<\/em> (1938-1991), an impressive scholarly journal filled with criticism, fiction, and scholarly work. The short-lived political pamphlet Take Issue<\/em> (1970-1971) illustrates how Mundelein students saw their place in the world. And Mundelein Scholar <\/em>(1985-1990) was the last student newspaper before the school\u2019s affiliation with Loyola University. <\/p>\n\n\n

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In the Mundelein Scholar <\/em>office, a student works at a dry mounting heat press. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (circa 1980s) [mc_student_pubs_0025].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Already digitized and available on the WLA website, The\nSkyscraper<\/em> (1931-1969)<\/a> is one of my favorite time capsules in the\nMundelein College collection.  It was a\nnewspaper that served as a voice of the students as they react to politics,\nsocial movements, and personal experiences during the first half of the\ncollege\u2019s history. From the first issue on January 30, students thought of\nthemselves as muckraking journalists \u201ccovering assignments,\u201d \u201crustling news,\u201d\nand facing \u201cdeadlines.\u201d [4]<\/p>\n\n\n

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The \u201cThe Sky-Line\u201d in the Skyscraper<\/em> newspaper was filled with funny quips about student life. (1931-05-29)] [5] <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

But the Skyscraper<\/em>\nwas more than serious information. Early editor, Doris Barnett, invented a\nsatirical section to lampoon student life called, \u201cSkyline.\u201d Writers anonymously\nsubmitted clever limericks and comical poems, and published under pseudonyms\nlike \u201cO. Kay,\u201d \u201cPeter and Paul,\u201d \u201cThe Banshee,\u201d \u201cNemo\u201d and \u201cNight Owl.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The photographs we\u2019ve digitized from the WLA\u2019s collection reflect the student-led nature of the publishing process. The editorial boards organized a schedule of articles, photographs, and advertisements. They scheduled articles weeks and months in advance, wrangling students and keeping them to deadlines. Though printing technology changed over the course of the Skyscraper\u2019s<\/em> history, the editorial grind in 1931 looked much like it does in today\u2019s college newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Skyscraper<\/em> editorial staff planning was messy work. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (circa 1960s) [mc_student_pubs_0060].<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They met with journalists and editors of newspapers to learn\nabout the craft. Mundelein College students benefited from their proximity to\nChicago\u2019s many newspapers and from the rich tradition of Catholic presses in\nthe U.S. and around the world. [6]<\/p>\n\n\n

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Pictured are Mundelein College students Eileen Schaefer, Mary Etta Talarico, Dianna Artori, Joanne Infantino, and Maxine Tyme, members of the Press Club and staff members of the Skyscraper<\/em>, talking to Daily News City Edition editor, Maurice Fischer. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1963-12-06) [student_pubs_0054].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Editors cropped the photographs, picked the font sizes and fit articles onto the page like puzzle pieces. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1940-02-09) [student_pubs_0036].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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The final step in the publishing process for Skyscraper <\/em>editors was sending the finished proofs to the printer. This photo shows a Skyscraper <\/em>editor, likely Co-Editor Elizabeth \u201cBetty\u201d M. Vestal<\/a>, working over a proofing press similar to those sold by the Chicago company Vandercook and Sons<\/a>. The early proof presses of the 1930s created the ability to see a representation of the final paper before being sent to the printer. This phase remained essentially the same over the next thirty years, but the proof presses became faster and easier to use. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1940-03-06) [mc_student_pubs_0031]. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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After enjoying the satisfaction of completing the paper and holding the finished product in their hands, they started the process all over again. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1956-10) [mc_student_pubs_0039].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The photos and publications that our team has digitized from\nMundelein College\u2019s past contextualize otherwise snapshots found in the already\ndigitized Skyscraper <\/em>newspaper. For example, the page below is a\nfascinating time capsule from November 1, 1968. The top article features the\nMundelein Marauders, the school\u2019s football team, who played other women\u2019s\ncolleges in the region. These pad-less pigskin pounders provided entertainment\nfor the school\u2019s fans in the oft forgotten sport of women\u2019s tackle football.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This back page spread from the Skyscraper<\/em> November 1968 contains an article about the Mundelein Marauders football team, an attack on a Mundelein dorm by Loyola students, and political ad from Richard Nixon that played on the anger of progressives in the wake of the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.] [7] <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Among our newly digitized photos for the IDHI project is the\nentire roll of film from the Skyscraper <\/em>reporter who documented the\nevent.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Here\u2019s the photo from the article of the Mundelein Marauder flanker, Margaret Desmond, setting up the team\u2019s touchdown. Notice the line on the ground where she has been forced out of bounds, the person on the left who appears to be an observer jumping out of the way, and the young man in the naval cap giddily chasing the play to get a better view of the action. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1968-10-26) [mc_departments_athletics_0349].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Equally entertained and entertaining are the Mundelein College cheerleaders who seemingly outnumber the team itself. This photo is from the Mundelein College Collection in the process of being digitized by the WLA. (1968-10-26) [departments_athletics_0343].<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The newly digitized Mundelein College student publications\nprovide a window into college life in the middle of the twentieth century. The\nRichard Nixon campaign ads and the discontinued collegiate sports stand out as\nquirky practices of past peoples. But as college\nnewspapers shutter and shrink across the country<\/a> due to lack of funding,\ninterest, or both, publications like the Skyscraper, Scholar, <\/em>and Review<\/em>\nalso remind us of the immeasurable value of the seemingly frivolous elements of\nliberal arts education. By struggling through the process of publication from planning\nto printing, Mundelein College students gained life experiences. They were\nforced to negotiate with tight timelines; they learned the usefulness of levity\nand comedy; they saw their work come to life on the page. It\u2019s been a pleasure\nto work with these items, learn how they intersect with each other, and help to\nmake them more accessible to researchers. [8]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anthony is a US History and Public History PhD student at Loyola University Chicago. His research focuses on the influence of celebrity on politics and identity during the Civil War era. Professionally, he\u2019s interested in interpretation and public programing in museums. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[1] https:\/\/www.luc.edu\/media\/lucedu\/wla\/pdfs\/Press%20Release%20April%202022.pdf<\/a>; https:\/\/www.idaillinois.org\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2] https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/SO_1ea946f5-6802-4386-845a-df3a9646135c\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3] (mc_clepsydra_0001_page 113)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4] https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_6bec9dc5-ecc7-4ab4-87c4-264131028b1a\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4] https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_6d7a9814-fd60-4aa0-84b5-d4ca34986ae4\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[5] https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_6d7a9814-fd60-4aa0-84b5-d4ca34986ae4\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6] https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_17932ea5-c058-4892-80be-bce9bab3462e\/<\/a>\n; https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_8482c33d-7acd-49be-ade2-a4644f4dc4a8\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[7] Skyscraper 1968-11-01_page 8 https:\/\/luc.access.preservica.com\/uncategorized\/IO_8d3e9730-c001-45a1-8655-a34150060e70\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[8] https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2019\/08\/death-college-newspapers\/595849\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\nLoyola University Chicago’s Women and Leadership Archives Blog is designed to provide a positive environment for the Loyola community to discuss important issues and ideas. Differences of opinion are encouraged. We invite comments in response to posts and ask that you write in a civil and respectful manner. All comments will be screened for tone and content and must include the first and last name of the author and a valid email address. The appearance of comments on the blog does not imply the University’s endorsement or acceptance of views expressed. Questions? Please contact the WLA at wlarchives@LUC.edu<\/a>. <\/em><\/span> \n\n
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In order to celebrate the 90 year Anniversary of Mundelein College, the WLA applied for and received the Illinois History Digital Imaging grant. The IHDI grant is aimed at digitizing documents of historical significance and making them accessible at the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":2169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2164"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2164"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2449,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2164\/revisions\/2449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libblogs.luc.edu\/wla\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}