Archive Posts
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Tales from the Archives: Echoes from Past Basketball Courts and Hockey Rinks
AthleticsAs we count down to the opening of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, let’s look back at the many venues St. Thomas basketball and hockey teams once called home. The first St. Thomas basketball team tipped off in 1904 inside a narrow, low-ceiling gym on the first floor of the Dormitory Building. The space…
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Reflection: St. Thomas Homecoming
People & CultureThere was extra energy on campus all week as students geared up for Homecoming weekend. A new expression of school spirit this year was “the Homecoming Taxi” – a festively decorated golf cart careening around campus, with two exuberant students at the wheel, offering rides even if the passenger only needed to walk 50 feet… -
Three Journalists Inspire Young Storytellers
People & CultureFeatured speakers at the 2025 ThreeSixty Journalism Homecoming gala have careers ranging from the New York Times, the Boston Globe, People, The Root and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. They also were either alums of the journalism program or former mentors to the students. They encouraged the young journalists in the room to find their… -
Tales from the Archives: Marking 140 Years Since 1885
AlumniOn Sept. 8, the University of St. Thomas marks an important milestone: the 140th anniversary of its founding as the St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. It was on Sept. 8, 1885, when St. Thomas Seminary opened its doors to students. The first to enroll was John Volz, a 16-year-old from Faribault. By the end of the… -
Largest First-Year Class in St. Thomas History Marches Through the Arches
People & CultureThe skies over St. Paul had a steady drizzle on the morning of the University of St. Thomas’ annual March Through the Arches as first-year students gathered at the edge of the lower quad, adjusting purple shirts and snapping photos with family. Then, a few minutes before the ceremony began, sunlight broke through. It was… -
Life at St. Thomas: Summer
PhotosLife at St. Thomas is an ongoing feature highlighting the images that capture what daily life on campus is like. Check out some of the images from University of St. Thomas photographers taken during summer 2025. -
In Our Prayers: Michael E. Dougherty ’66
In Our PrayersThe University of St. Thomas community mourns the passing of Michael Emmett Dougherty ’66, an alumnus, trustee, visionary philanthropist and founding benefactor of Dougherty Family College (DFC). He died Aug. 10, 2025. Together with his wife Kathy and their family, he established Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas to create a pathway… -
Tales from the Archives: The Grotto
Quotes from the QuadAmid the hustle and bustle of campus, it is sometimes difficult to find a quiet spot to pause and reflect. But tucked near the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library on the south campus, the Grotto provides a peaceful retreat. This space traces its roots to the mid-1910s when a group of seminarians at The Saint Paul… -
Tales from the Archives: 10 Gems Revealing St. Thomas History
People & CultureThe University of St. Thomas archives hold fascinating materials that offer a window into the history and evolving story of campus life, academics, and community. These collections preserve the moments, both monumental and everyday, that have shaped the university’s identity. University Archivist Ann Kenne shares 10 of her favorite items from the collections. General ledger,… -
Tales from the Archives: St. Thomas Aquinas in Campus Art
Faith and MissionAs we mark the 800th birthday of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2025, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on the many depictions of our university’s namesake that that adorn the St. Thomas campus. Perhaps the most familiar image of St. Thomas is the statue embedded in the university’s campus landmark, the Arches. Installed during the…