Joe Grabenstein: Grabbing up La Salle history

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
April 9, 2008

In the lower level of College Hall exists La Salle’s very own “walk-in time tunnel,” at least, that’s what La Salle Archivist Brother Joe Grabenstein likes to call the La Salle Archives. The rooms contain a plethora of La Salle paraphernalia, from old Explorers signs to a mannequin wearing an old basketball uniform. A glass case holds an old basketball next to a pair of Nike sneakers signed by Tom Gola. Grabenstein, affectionately called Bro. Joe, spends 11-hour work days collecting and organizing the history of both La Salle and the Christian Brothers, and he loves every minute of it. By his freshman year in high school, Grabenstein knew he wanted to do something history related.

Olivia Biago - The Grabber holding a College Hall Beerstein.

“I’m from a very historic small city in Maryland,” said Grabenstein.

Grabenstein grew up on the street that was once Cumberland Road, America’s first interstate highway. Grabenstein attributes his interest in history to growing up in a historic area, as well as interesting school teachers.

“I found myself hooked on teachers and classes where the teacher made history come alive,” said Grabenstein. “The other subjects didn’t jump at me. I knew there was fun stuff and interesting stuff in history. So, I taught it [for] 18 years.”

At 15, Grabenstein decided that if he were to do something with history, he would have to become a Christian Brother because all of his teachers were Brothers. Two weeks after graduation, 40 years ago, Grabenstein entered the brotherhood.

“And I have never regretted it,” he said.

After graduating from La Salle in 1973 with his Bachelor’s Degree in history, he taught middle school, as well as some high school, in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. In Baltimore, Grabenstein’s lecture style became very popular among his students.

“Frequently I’d get the question, ‘Brother, are you giving the lecture today?’” said Grabenstein. “The more preparation [one] puts into his or her work, the more enjoyment the listeners have.”

Grabenstein taught world and American history. His favorite category in history is American history, specifically military history of the Civil War and World War II, which certainly helped while he taught at St. John’s, a Catholic military middle school in Washington, D.C.

“One of the ROTC teachers said when he got my students he knew [they] were well-prepared for the military lessons they’d receive,” said Grabenstein.

Although Grabenstein enjoyed teaching, after 18 years he began to feel burned out, and looked for a career change.

“I was teaching mostly junior high and high school,” said Grabenstein. “The kids were different and it [became] harder to entertain the kids. To teach anymore, you almost have to be a lawyer.”

While Grabenstein needed a change, he did not want to lose his interest in history. Then, one day, the subject of archiving came up.

“I networked, I prayed, just made lots of contacts,” said Grabenstein. “My predecessor [at La Salle] was in his 70s and beginning to think of retirement. The timing was perfect.”

Grabenstein began working in the La Salle Archives in the summer of 1992. Jan. 1, 1994, he took over as head archivist.

When Grabenstein took over, he made sure to ask Brother Ed Sheehy for some advice.

“I said, ‘Brother Ed, what do you recommend I do to do a good job in this field?’ and Brother Ed had good advice: make yourself indispensable.”

For Grabenstein, that meant making the archives come alive, “as I once tried to make history come alive to my students,” he said.

Grabenstein decided that one way to do this was to give presentations on the history of La Salle.

“For about eight years I would give an average of 30 presentations a year on La Salle history to freshmen and other groups,” said Grabenstein.

However, so many presentations eventually became too much and he decided to cut back. He still gives some talks, but mostly to seniors, parents and alumni.

“When I was here as a student, nobody would go around and tell us about St. La Salle,” said Grabenstein. “Students here now are more aware of La Salle’s history than before.”

Grabenstein, a self-proclaimed “saver,” has collected many La Salle related-things over the years, which as earned him a reputation around campus.

“One of the staffers calls me a grabber,” said Grabenstein. “‘He’s stealing stuff for history again!’ he says.”

Grabenstein was also called “Brother Archives” by the Philadelphia Inquirer in the Sept. 16, 2001 issue which ran a feature article on him.

“This was the biggest surprise I ever got,” said Grabenstein. “I thought it would [run] on a Saturday next to the comics.”

Instead, the article ran in the Sunday edition of the paper following 9/11.

“They wanted something positive, but history-related,” said Grabenstein. “The saddest thing I ever had to do was [collect things on 9/11]. At one mass, they had prayers. Well, I found myself going around getting anything I could get my hands on … because it was a part of our history.

“How did we cope with 9/11? Well, that story’s in the archives.”

In fact, Grabenstein says there are thousands of stories in the archives; thousands of random and interesting facts.

Grabenstein spends the majority of his time dedicated to the archives and organizing everything with his student workers, whom he proudly introduces to every visitor. He also enjoys traveling and politics; Grabenstein is an avid watcher of CNN and the History Channel. He also likes to take the subway around Philadelphia to Center City or historical sites. Grabenstein collects things Maryland related, as well as newspapers and old books. His collection of front page headlines ranges from the Civil War to the death of John Paul II.

Grabenstein has a love for quoting mottos, mostly his own originals, and some mottos of others. There is one in particular very special to Grabenstein.

“I always begin and end every talk with 11 words,” said Grabenstein. “You are an important part of something much bigger than yourselves.

“You can change your major, address, career, even your name, but you can’t change your roots.”

biagio1@lasalle.edu