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UMD Stadium Cushion

 Item — Box: 1
Identifier: 2022-016-UMD

Content Description

The collection contains one University of Minnesota Duluth stadium cushion, given as a welcome gift during UMD freshman orientation in 1967 or 1968.

Dates

  • Creation: 1967-1968

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

The following historical information was provided by the donor, Stephen Welsh, UMD class of 1969.

"This cushion is one of the many hundreds that were offered free of charge as a campus welcome gift to incoming UMD freshman during orientation/registration in 1967 or 1968, years during which I worked with other juniors and seniors as 'Orientation Sponsors" in helping new students. I believe there were about 1,000 incoming freshman in each of the above years, and I recall that UMD's total enrollment first passed the 5,000 mark at about this time.

In the later 1960s, accepted applicants came to UMD before fall quarter classes started, staying for two days to officially enroll, meet other new students, learn about the University's history and traditions, and be informed about academic opportunities and requirements. Available degrees, majors/minors, liberal arts expectations, and the grading system were explained by the Sponsors: upperclassmen who had gone through extensive training to present the material and answer questions. There were about a dozen freshman in each of a Sponsor's orientation groups. Local students lived at home during these proceedings, but students from out of town were lodged in Grigg's Hall during their stay. Sponsors also functioned as chaperones in Griggs.

After ID cards were prepared and distributed, the new students were guided through the actual registration process. Sponsors checked each student's proposed fall quarter class schedule, and then helped pull class cards from which class rosters would be compiled for the teaching staff when school commenced.

In addition to the academic aspects of their visit, the freshman were also acquainted with the campus, food services, parking, athletics, organizations, residence hall rules, etc. The stadium cushions were distributed to students in each group on their last day of the registration procedure. Very few declined to accept one. I cannot recall who provided/funded these mementos. It might have been the Bookstore, Student Personnel Services, Kirby Student Center, the Athletic Department, or Student Association."

Extent

1 Item

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains one University of Minnesota Duluth stadium cushion, given as a welcome gift during UMD freshman orientation in 1967 or 1968.

Physical Location

This collection is located at the University of Minnesota Duluth Archives. For more information about this collection or to make an appointment, contact us at libarchives@d.umn.edu or 218-726-8526.

Author
S. Aue
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Collecting Area Details

Contact The University of Minnesota Duluth Archives and Special Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
Kathryn A. Martin Library
University of Minnesota Duluth
416 Library Drive
Duluth MN 55812-3001
(218) 726-8526