Summer Camp, 1939-1988
Scope and Contents
The Summer Camp series documents the history, administration, and eventual sale of the Dominican Province's camp property in Menominee, Michigan, from its early years as a novitiate and student summer retreat through its transformation into Camp Tamarack, a summer camp for church groups. Materials include foundation and property records, staff administrative documents, including reports, directives, assignments, application materials, state regulatory compliance documentation, provincial council and board of directors records, general correspondence, camp handbooks and registration materials, newspaper clippings, and records related to the camp's 1988 sale. The series also includes two sub-series including one for Photographs covering camp buildings, grounds, activities, religious professions, and social life, and an AV Material sub-series containing audiovisual documentation, most notably the 1964 promotional video, "Beginnings," which contains several scenes at the property.
Dates
- Existence: 1939-1988
Biographical / Historical
The Dominican presence in Menominee, Michigan began in 1937 when a summer camp, "Dominican College Camp," was founded to promote the health of novices and students. The original studium in River Forest, IL was built on a swamp and some students experienced ill health because of the moisture and a few were said to have contracted tuberculosis and there was a desire to offset the increasing costs associated with sending student brother classes to summer ministry assignments across the growing province.
As formation changed in the 1970s, the camp transitioned to a summer camp for church groups known as "Camp Tamarack" run by Fr. Greg Heille, OP and occasional summer retreat house for members of the province. The camp faced challenges with upkeep and was sold in 1988. Following the sale, the camp was reestablished for special needs children under the same "Camp Tamarack" name from 1993-1997.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (One full and one half boxes and one oversized photo album. )
Language of Materials
From the Sub-Group: English
Subject
- Camp Tamarac (Menominee, MI) (Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Archives of the Province of St. Albert the Great, U.S.A. Repository
1910 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago Illinois 60608 United States
3122430011
archivist@opcentral.org
