Heritage & Traditions at Aquinas College

Oral History of AQ

 

"This is a collective memoir - recollections of some of us who observed and participated in what took place at Aquinas College."
- Dr. Norbert Hruby, former Aquinas College President and originator of the oral history project

CD Track Listing
Ordering Information

 The result of a five year project involving hundreds of taped hours of memories and reflections, "Historically Speaking" is a five Cassette/CD oral history, a sort of "family album" of Aquinas College. The is a circulating copy in the Aquinas Media Center.

Contact Archivist Emily Koelzer at 616.632.2040 or ejk005@c178.net for more information on AQ History

Recorded interviews with former faculty, students, and administrators allow you to turn back the clock to the years when you were at Aquinas College and hear the history of this dynamic four-year liberal arts college.

"Historically Speaking" is available as a full set of five CD's or cassette tapes, or they may be purchased individually.

CD/Cassette 1: Modest Beginnings: 1931-1945

Major Events:
- Founding of Catholic Junior College
- First academic leaders and faculty
- Facilities and expenses
- Student life
- Expansion to four-year college
- Impact of World War II 
- Purchase of the Robinson Road campus
Voices:
- Sr. Agnes Thiel, O.P.
- Sr. Euphemia Poppell, O.P., FF
- Joseph Cavera, CJC, '34
- Mary Schmidt Robach, CJC, '34
- Msgr. Arthur Bukowski, P
- Casimir Razmus, CJC '38
- Helen Imperi Alexander '43
-William Alexander '46
-Mary Elise Marin Henehan '46
-Kenneth Marin '47, FF
-Sr. Jean Milhaupt, O.P., '45, FF
- Charley Beckman '43


CD/Cassette 2: Beginnings on Robinson Road: 1945-58

Major Events: 
-Adaption of buildings
- Use of downtown property
- Students and student achievement
- Traditional religious events
- Academic requirements
- Administrators and faculty
- Athletics
- New administration building
- Sale of downtown property
Voices: 
- Marie Elise Marin Henehan '46
- Lyle Morrison '52
- Joseph Murphey '59
- Sr. Henry Suso Lerczak, O.P., FF
- Patricia Geoghan Knop '52
- Margaret Mayan Glinke '56
- Robert Pumford '56, FF 
- Mildred de Alva Marin '47
- Rev. Arthur Bukowski, P 
- Jacob Robinson '57
- Henry Saverson '57
-Thomas Zoellner '50
-Sister Jean Milhaupt, O.P., '45, FF
-Joseph Hansknecht '50
-Sr. Mary Bride Ryan, O.P., FF
- Sr. Ann Frederick Heiskell, O.P., FL

 

CD/Cassette 3: Expansion of Facilities: 1959-1968

Major Events:
- Albertus Hall
- Residence Halls
- House of Studies
- Regulations
- Academic Atmosphere
- Faculty and administrators
- Social life, cultural atmosphere
- Service projects
- Aquinas awards
- Resignation of Msgr. Bukowski
Voices: 
- Sr. Barbara Hansen, O.P., '63, FF, FA
- Russell Hogan '69
- Patricia Kozal '70
- Margaret Duva Haviland '70
- John MacDonald '70
- Cathly McGuigan MacDonald '70
- Charles Frydrych '62, F
- Kenneth Marin '47, FF 
- Joyce McNally, FA
- Sr. Amata Fabbro, O.P., '61, FF
-Sr. Rosemary O'Donnell, O.P., '61, F
- Sr. Jean Milhaupt, O.P., '45,FF
- Terry Bocian '70, F
-Mary Lou Smith '61
- Betty Jennings, FF, FA
- Larry Burns, '63
-Marian Dougherty Burns '65
- Dennis Lieber '69
- Herbert Martin, FF
- Sr. Aquinas Weber, O.P., '58, FF
- Sr. Lois Schaffer, O.P., '58, FF
- Helen Imperi Alexander '43

 

CD/Cassette 4: Changing Times: 1969-1986

Major Events: 
- Encore and Career Action Programs
- Self Study and changes
- New undergraduate programs
- Emeritus College
- Master of Management Program
- Student life
- Expansion of athletic program
- Shirley Chisolm episode
- Harbor Springs retreats
- New building and renovations
- Eastown project
Voices: 
- Sr. Marjorie Vangsness, O.P., CJC, '38, FF, FT
- Joan Crandall Hamann '61, FF, FA
- Kenneth Marin '47, FF
- Dr. Norbert Hruby, FP
- Dr. Lee Jacokes '61, FF
- Sr. Aquinas Weber, O.P., '58, T, A
- Dr. Michael Williams, F
- Mary Alice Williams, AF
- Sr. Agnes Thiel, O.P., FA
- Norman Tychson, FF
- Gary Eberle, F
- Sr. Barbara Hansen, O.P., '62, FF, FA, FT
- Betty Jennings, FF, FA
- Jim Schulz, FA
- Kate Pew Wolters '78, T
- Helen Mackey Lehman '83
- Brian Plachta '81
- Phyllis Schensul '78\Dorothy Lincer '74
- Patricia Ailes '81
- Dr. Michaeleen Kelly, F
- Dr. Glenn Barkan, F
- John Teusink, FF
- Paul Bieneman, F
- Terry Bocian '70, F, A
- Dr. Andrew Jefchak, FF
- Sr. Amata Fabbro, O.P., '61, FF
- Paul Nelson, FA, FP
- Edward ("Ned") Smith '61, FT
- Gary Robertson, F
- Sr. Mary Navarre , O.P. '67, F

 

CD/Cassette 5: Expansion to the Future: 1986-1998

Major Events: 
- Selection of Dr. Peter O'Connor as president
- Upgrading facilities
- Brown Center , Reformed Bible College purchases
- Financial Crisis
- "Aquinas Grows" campaign
- Peter O'Connor resignation
- Paul Nelson becomes president
- Curriculum changes
- Faculty achievements
- Death of Msgr. Bukowski
- Service houses and programs
- Student projects
- Computer expansion
- Cultural developments
- Gift from Peter Wege
- Resignation of Paul Nelson
- Selection of Dr. Harry Knopke as president
Voices: 
- Dr. Peter O'Connor
- Sr. Barbara Hansen, O.P., FF, FA, FT
- Dr. Donald Chaffee, FA, F
- Allene Kieff, F
- Paul Nelson, FP
- Edward ("Ned") Smith '61, FT
- Dr. Daniel Brooks, F
- Dr. Renee Stahle, F
- Randy MacGeorge, A
- Brad Winkler, A
- Stella Ferris, A
- Paul Antor '91
- Joyce LaFleur, A
- Tony Foster '73
- Linda Nemec Foster '72
- Peter Wege, T
- Dr. David Weinandy, F
 

Ordering Information

 You may order the complete set or individual sections of "Historically Speaking: Narrative Recollections of Aquinas College" by using the printable order form (pdf) or contacting our Alumni Office at (616) 632-2494.
Cassettes: $5 each or $20 for the entire set of 5
CDs: $10 each or $40 for the entire set of 5
Shipping and handling is included in the price.

CONTACT INFO

AQ History
Ryan Wendt
aqhistory@c178.net