I just heard on the radio Vivaldi's concerto for two mandolins.  This
brought back memories of a post card my daughter sent to me when she was in
school on which the picture side was the Loyola University [now Concordia]
symphony orchestra in the early years of the last century.  Many of the
players were holding what appeared to be mandolins.

Were mandolins common as an orchestral instrument long ago, or were they
unique to a then Roman Catholic university?

Do our fretted friends have any insights into this question?

Kindest Regards,

Alex Renwick,
Ottawa, Canada