The University of Kansas

Inside Spencer: The KSRL Blog

Books on a shelf

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.

Throwback Thursday: Streetcar Edition

June 8th, 2017

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 34,800 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Photograph of a streetcar in front of Bailey Hall, 1910

A streetcar in front of Bailey Hall, 1910. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Streetcars 1910 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants

Throwback Thursday: Between Classes Edition

January 19th, 2017

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 34,500 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Welcome back, Jayhawks! It’s the first week of the new semester, meaning that campus is once again busy and bustling, just like the scene shown in this week’s photograph.

Photograph of KU students walking between classes, 1940-1949

Students walking along Jayhawk Boulevard between classes, 1940-1949.
Bailey Hall is on the right. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 71/0 1940s Prints: Student Activities (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants

Throwback Thursday: Snowy Campus Edition

January 5th, 2017

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 34,500 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

It’s a snowy day on Mount Oread, so this week’s photo shows what a snow-covered KU looked like roughly one hundred years ago.

Photograph of campus in snow, 1915

View of campus, covered in snow, looking south, 1915.
From left to right are Spooner Hall (then Spooner Library), Dyche Hall,
Green (now Lippincott) Hall, Old Fraser Hall, Chemistry Hall, Old Snow Hall,
Bailey Hall, Strong Hall, Robinson Gymnasium, Old Haworth Hall, and
Marvin Hall. Potter Lake is also visible. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Snow 1915 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants

Throwback Thursday: Memorial Drive Edition

May 26th, 2016

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 27,000 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

In honor of Memorial Day, this week’s post highlights one of the war memorials on the KU campus.

Photograph of a car driving down Memorial Drive, 1940s

The road that became Memorial Drive, 1940s. In the background is Bailey Hall,
which used to have chimneys along its roof. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Memorial Drive 1940s Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Photograph of a couple walking along Memorial Drive, 1940s

A couple walking along an undeveloped Memorial Drive, 1940s.
They are near the west side of Snow Hall, shown in the background;
Jayhawk Boulevard is off the right side of the picture. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Memorial Drive 1940s Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt, Megan Sims, and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants

Throwback Thursday: Winter Solstice Edition

December 17th, 2015

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 15,100 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

There’s no snow on Mount Oread yet, but this snowy picture seems fitting for the Winter Solstice next Tuesday; it’s the shortest day and longest night of the year and the first day of winter. Here’s hoping for a snow day in the new year!

Photograph of Jayhawk Blvd looking towards Old Fraser, 1939/1940

Snow-covered Jayhawk Boulevard looking towards Old Fraser Hall,
located approximately where modern Fraser Hall stands, 1939/1940.
The building on the left is the corner of Bailey Hall. The pair of signs visible just above
the walkers’ heads is located in front of Watson Library.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Snow 1939/40 Prints: Campus:
Areas and Objects (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt, Megan Sims, and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants