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Michigan Technological University Winter Carnival Collection

 Collection — Box: 1-4
Identifier: MTU-167

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Collection, 1928-2019, of Winter Carnival, a long-standing tradition at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Includes programs, correspondence, pictorials, videocassettes, photographs, and other printed ephemera.

Dates

  • 1928-2019

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

Michigan Tech often registers more than 200 inches of snow in a season. Not content to let this abundant natural resource go to waste, students band together in an annual celebration of the beautiful, tough, exhilarating, and character-building climate. Winter Carnival began in 1922, with a one-day Ice Carnival. It was so popular that students made it an annual event, and Winter Carnival as we know it began to take shape. It was suspended in 1930, in the aftermath of the stock market crash, but in 1934, Blue Key Honor Fraternity resurrected the event. Then, 1936 brought the biggest change, one that would become Carnival's best known tradition: snow statues. Since then, the statues have become famous for their size, detail, and design as building methods (and secrets) have been passed from year to year. During World War II, Winter Carnival was again suspended. It took off again in 1946, when the Stage Revue was added, with fraternities, sororities, and other campus organizations presenting skits for the enjoyment of the crowd and the performers alike.

Extent

2.22 Cubic Feet (3 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, and 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection, 1928-2019, of Winter Carnival, a long-standing tradition at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Includes programs, correspondence, pictorials, videocassettes, photographs, and other printed ephemera.

Title
Michigan Technological University Winter Carnival Collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Russell; revised by Allison Neely on 04/26/2019 and 10/07/2021.
Date
6/8/2011
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US