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: Winter Wonderland Edition

January 23rd, 2020

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 Lippincott Hall in snow, 1940
Lippincott (Old Green) Hall and Spooner Hall in snow, 1940. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Snow 1940 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Throwback Thursday: Spooner Hall Edition

October 10th, 2019

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!

A postcard featuring Spooner Hall, 1920s
A postcard featuring Spooner Hall, 1920s. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/22/83 1920s Prints: Campus: Buildings: Spooner Hall (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Throwback Thursday: Fall Equinox Edition

September 26th, 2019

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 the KU campus during the fall, 1995
The KU campus during the fall, 1995. The students are walking front of Watson Library. Lippincott (Old Green) Hall is in the background, with the tower of Dyche Hall visible behind it. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/G 1995 Prints: Campus: General (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Throwback Thursday: Cows on Campus Edition

August 15th, 2019

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 cows grazing near Potter Lake, 1918
Cows grazing near Potter Lake, 1918. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Potter Lake 1918 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

The buildings visible in the background are, from left to right, Dyche Hall, Green (now Lippincott) Hall, Old Fraser Hall, Strong Hall, Robinson Gymnasium, and Old Haworth Hall.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Throwback Thursday: Listen to the Music Edition

July 25th, 2019

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 man playing a guitar as a woman watches from the Chi Omega Fountain, 1969-1970
A man plays a guitar as a woman watches from the Chi Omega Fountain, 1969-1970. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Chi Omega Fountain 1969/1970 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collection).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services