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Welcome to the Kenneth Spencer Research Library blog! As the special collections and archives library at the University of Kansas, Spencer is home to remarkable and diverse collections of rare and unique items. Explore the blog to learn about the work we do and the materials we collect.

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Summer on the KU Campus, 1920s-2000s

Celebrate the last weeks of summer (according to the academic calendar, at least) with these photographs of a sun-soaked past on the KU campus.  And while you’re at it, contemplate a new fall research project: when did Potter Lake lose its diving platform and why?!?

Photograph of people swimming at Potter Lake, 1925

Swimming at Potter Lake, 1925 (above) and circa 1926 (below).
Call Number: RG 0/24/1: Potter Lake (Photos). Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of swimmers, diving platforms, and sunbathers at Potter Lake, ca. 1926

Photograph of four women with rackets preparing to play tennis or badminton, 1940s

Summer sports:  women with rackets, 1940s (above) and croquet during summer session PE, 1941 (below).
Call Number: RG 71/0: Student Activities (Photos). Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of man with croquet mallet and ball during summer session PE class, 1941

Photograph of Potter Lake with two boys fishing , 1950.

Above: Fishing at Potter Lake, 1950. Photograph by Bill Olin. Call Number: RG 0/24/1: Potter Lake (Photos).
Below: Chatting in front of Watson Library, 1950s. Call Number: RG 71/0: Student Activities (Photos).
Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of a man and a woman chatting in front of Watson Library, 1950

Photograph of two women playing in the water of the Chi Omega Fountain, 1970s

Above: Splashing in the Chi Omega Fountain, 1970s. Call Number: RG 0/24/1: Chi Omega Fountain (Photos).
Below: Fishing at Potter Lake, 1970s. Call Number: RG 0/24/1: Potter Lake (Photos). Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of boy fishing at Potter Lake in the 1970s.

Photograph of man skateboarding Skateboarding at "Wescoe Beach" in front of Wescoe Hall, 1980s.

At “Wescoe Beach”: skateboarding, 1980s (above) and sunbathing, 1980/1981 (below).
Call Number: RG 71/0: Student Activities (Photos). Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of student sunbathing at the "Wescoe Beach" in front of Wescoe Hall, ca. 1980/1981.

Photograph of two five students by the Chi Omega Fountain, 1991

Chi Omega Fountain: lounging by the edge, 1991 (above) and floating on rafts, 2000 (below).
Second photograph by Doug Koch. Call Number: RG 0/24/1: Chi Omega Fountain (Photos).
Click to images to enlarge.

Photograph of two men floating on rafts in the Chi Omega Fountain, circa 2000.

 

Elspeth Healey
Special Collections Librarian

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 at 3:44 pm and is filed under University Archives. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.