Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
“Back to School” Through the Ages
S
ince this is the JN’s “Back to
School” issue, a long-stand-
ing annual feature, I thought
I should do my part by
presenting some helpful
content from the past to
properly get the kids ready
for school this fall. Using
just the search term “back
to school,” I found 1,547
pages with relevant con-
tent in the JN and Jewish
Chronicle in the William
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish
Detroit History.
To be sure, not all the mentions in the
Archive deal with getting the kids ready
for their return to the classroom … and
creating some peaceful space for Mom
and Dad during the day! Some entries
are society news bits regarding college
students returning to campus. Others
are not about the traditional concept of
back to school. For example, an adver-
tisement from the Jan. 25, 1924, Detroit
Jewish Chronicle for the Detroit Institute
of Technology promoted “practical
instruction” in various skills such as
pharmacy, business programs and engi-
neering. Perhaps a bit, or maybe, seri-
ously discriminatory by 2023 standards,
the ad emphasized “evening classes at
the ‘School for Men.’” It had a clip-out
coupon for your convenience (conve-
nient if you were a man, I guess).
The first bonafide “Back to School”
ad that I could find was one aimed at
Mom. Anticipating her “being burdened
with extra heavy washings,” the Palace
Model Laundry wanted everyone to
know that it would be happy to help
with washing clothes, especially “until
the family settles down to the fall sched-
ule” (Sept. 24, 1925, Chronicle). A very
nice offer, indeed (for a fee, of course).
Several other ads stood out from the
hundreds of back-to-school pitches.
In just one of many ads over the years,
United Dairies wanted you to know that
“Milk Brings the Family to Attention …
with Extra Energy.” This version has an
interesting graphic of Dad, Mom and
son saluting a bottle of milk while not-
ing that the U.S. needs strong families
(Sept. 10, 1943, JN). This ad was pub-
lished during World War II.
“Young Detroit Goes Back to School”
— but apparently not before a trip
to Windsor, Ontario. The Boystown
Girlstown Youth Center in that city —
“Air Conditioned for Your Shopping
Comfort” — had all the clothes your
kids would ever need for school, from
skirts, dresses and sweaters to blazers,
shirts and topcoats (Aug. 22, 1947, JN).
Of course, closer to home, Hudson’s
claimed to send “Them Right Back to
School;” Right meaning Hudson-style
high fashion, of course (Aug. 20, 1948,
JN).
But what about school supplies? No
problem, just “Shop Sentry for Mini-
Prices on School Supplies.” This Detroit
drugstore chain could meet every need,
from pencils and crayons to paper and
(for teachers, I assume) “100 ct. aspirin”
(Sept.1, 1967).
Finally, the JN cover from Aug. 20,
2020, tells another story that parents
with school-age kids would just as soon
forget. The image of Spiro Farber says
it all — he’s wearing a mask because the
nation was in the grip of COVID-19
when school began that year. That was a
tough, tough “Back to School” year for
kids and their parents. Hopefully, one
never to be repeated.
The lesson for the day, readers, is a
simple one — the JN is there for you
when it’s “Back to School” time.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives,
available for free at thejewishnews.com.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
70 | AUGUST 17 • 2023