Irving Copi

Irving M. Copi
From the 1934 Zenith (Duluth Central High School Yearbook)

Internationally known logician and philosopher Irving Marmer Copilowish was born on July 28, 1917, in Duluth, Minnesota. His parents were Samuel B. and Rose (Marmer) Copilowish, who had immigrated from Russia in the 1890s. Samuel had opened East End Cleaners in Duluth in 1914 and operated the business for 45 years at 926 E. Superior St. Irving later shortened his name to Copi, a nickname of his father’s. The family resided at 814 E. First St. when Irving was born, and later moved to 419 Eighteenth Ave. E. Irving had one sibling, an older sister named Priscilla.

Irving attended Duluth Central High School, graduating in 1934. He was active in debate, participating in his junior year on a team captained by Abraham Kaplan, and serving as captain himself in his senior year. He was also active in the Stylus Club, the Zenith (yearbook), the Spectator (school newspaper), and the class play.

Bygones

Local news from 20 and 40 years ago from the Duluth News-Tribune. This column appears daily Monday through Saturday in the Duluth News-Tribune. Researched and written by the Reference Staff at the Duluth Public Library.

News Tribune
June 12, 1967

Gov. Harold E. LeVander has announced the appointment of Jack B. Arnold of Duluth as the governor’s representative to the newly created Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission. The commission was formed to aid the economic development of the region.

Fairmount Park will be the site of the annual school patrol picnic tomorrow morning. Duluth police patrolman William Kehoe, head of the school patrol program, said the day’s highlight will be the awarding of bicycles to a boy and girl.

News Tribune
June 12, 1987

All 95 tickets for the Concorde jetliner’s July 26 90-minute sightseeing flight over Lake Superior and Canada have been sold, according to Dan Russell, executive director of the Duluth Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. The tickets cost $675 each.

Members of the Rotary Club of Duluth voted yesterday to allow women to join the organization. Club President Dave Allison refused to disclose the exact count but said many more than a two-thirds majority of “yes” votes were cast.

Abraham Kaplan

 From the 1933 Zenith (Duluth Central High School Yearbook)

Noted philosopher Abraham Kaplan was born in Odessa, Russia, in 1918, and moved to Duluth, Minnesota, at the age of six with his family. His father was Joseph J. Kaplan, a rabbi, and his mother was Chava Kaplan. Joseph served as rabbi at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue at Third Avenue East and Fourth Street from the mid-1920s until about 1940 . While in Duluth, the family resided at 308 E. Sixth Street and at 229 E. Fourth St.

Abraham had four older sisters—Edna, Eva, Etta, and Sadie. He entered Duluth Central High School in 1931 at the age of 13. He was involved in the Stylus Club literary magazine and the Debate Team, and was chosen as captain of the Debate Team for the 1932-33 school year. He graduated from Central in 1933 at 15 years of age. Next to his yearbook photo is the caption: “A brilliant scholar, and Central’s finest orator.“

Syttende Mai in Duluth 100 years ago

From the 5/17/1907 Duluth News Tribune

From the 5/18/1907 Duluth News Tribune

Syttende Mai

May 17th is Norwegian Constitution Day, and is an official holiday in Norway. Information about the historical background of this holiday, and the celebrations that take place across Norway and abroad, can be found on Wikipedia.

Check back tomorrow to see how Norwegian Indendence Day was celebrated in Duluth 100 years ago.

Postal rates increase

Starting Monday, May 14, 2007, the cost to mail letters and packages will go up. Read the details on the USPS website

Cinco De Mayo

The 5th of May commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Celebrations are common in Mexico and in U.S. cities with significant Mexican populations. More information about the history can be found on the website The History of Cinco de Mayo

Ideas for celebrating Cinco de Mayo, including recipes, crafts, and quick facts, can be found on the website Cinco de Mayo.

Bygones

Local news from 20 and 40 years ago from the Duluth News-Tribune. This column appears daily Monday through Saturday in the Duluth News-Tribune. Researched and written by the Reference Staff at the Duluth Public Library.

News Tribune
April 27, 1967

Duluth Mayor Ben Boo yesterday ordered a halt to the practice of employees using city cars for private purposes. Boo said there is evidence that many vehicles are being used for noncity business.

The Duluth Builders Show, which opens tomorrow in the Arena, is the first of its kind here. Sponsored by theDuluth Home Builders Association, it will include more than 100 displays and exhibits and two daily stage shows.

News Tribune
April 27, 1987

Selection of a new UMD chancellor has been narrowed down to three finalists — Dr. Lawrence Ianni, Dr. William Vasse and Dr. Barbara Brownstein. The new chancellor will replace Robert Heller, who plans to retire June 30.

Chez’s, 127 W. Superior St., a women’s clothing store for more than 30 years, will close this week, according to owner Ron Beaupre. Chez’s was a victim of Duluth’s three-year Superior Street reconstruction and insufficient free parking, Beaupre said.