The DLS Archive Project 21 cabinets of documents and photos 5 boxes of files 33 miscellaneous totes 15 cubic feet of yearbook photos 16 boxes of miscellaneous photos “These items represent the history of De La Salle and St. Joseph’s. Right now, they’re part of a loosely organized archive that has been maintained at the school for many years,” said Chris Czarnik, Director of Advancement. “We’re looking at all of this material, much of it significant in the school’s history, and figuring out how best to preserve it in a digital format that is easily accessible to current and future generations of Pilots.” The archives contain pictures of the school’s many milestones. From its opening in 1926, to the building of the gym, the Brothers’ house, and the Annex at the Detroit campus. The 1982 move to Warren, and three subsequent expansions of the Common Rd. campus. The opening of the Brother Robert Activity Center.
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And all the pictures in between. Championship teams. Pep rallies. Videos of musical productions. Yearbooks. Negatives from the days before digital. School newspapers. Honors convocation programs. Basketball programs. Trophies.
De La Salle memorabilia. John Monigold, Director of Alumni, said, “De La Salle Collegiate is proud of its long and storied history and for that reason it is important to preserve the archives.” The DLS archives have grown over the past three decades, since faculty member Bryan Killingbeck, moderator of the school yearbook for many years, began collecting memorabilia. The “hard copy” material has moved several times before arriving at its latest home, in a 20’ by 6’ storage area in the 600 wing. Some of the non-digital material is beginning to “decompose” since the archives are in various cardboard boxes and some metal filing cabinets, and not in a climate-controlled environment. Over the past two decades, with the advent of digital cameras, there are also thousands of digital photos stored on hard drives in computers around the building, external drives, and online. There is even a video on YouTube from the school’s groundbreaking ceremony in 1926, showing Bishop Michael Gallagher walking onto the grounds at Conner and Glenfield. “It’s a big job. We’ve got to establish a workflow for scanning and saving,” said Vicki Granger, Director of
Perhaps the most significant material to be preserved are the pictures of every graduating class, back to 1929 for DLS and to 1901 for St. Joe’s. Although displayed behind glass, a casual glance shows that the pictures are showing their ages. Br. Patrick McNally, associated with De La Salle and St. Joe’s for over 60 years, said, “We have such a rich history. It’s important to preserve our past as we look to the next 100 years.” The De La Salle Alumni Association has offered to honor the past by offering to donate the necessary funds to digitize the The 1936 football team.
