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.
This is the latest installment in a recurring series of posts introducing readers to the staff of Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Today’s profile features Rebekah Ramos, who joined Spencer Research Library in August 2025 as the Curator of Latina/o Collections.
Rebekah Ramos, Curator of Latina/o Collections. Click image to enlarge.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico but I moved to Texas when I was sixteen. I jumped around the state quite a bit for school, living in cities like Frisco, Lubbock, Sherman, and most recently Austin.
What does your job at Spencer entail?
As curator of Latina/o Collections I’m in charge of collecting materials that document and preserve the history of Latina/o individuals, families, and organizations in Kansas. Latinos have been part of this state’s history for more than a hundred years, and I’m working to build a collection that reflects the many experiences and stories that exist within this community.
How did you come to work in libraries/archives/special collections?
During undergrad, in the midst of a new semester and trying to stay sane during Zoom classes, I applied for and was hired as a student assistant at the Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive’s Oral History Project. During my time there, I reviewed and cleaned up transcriptions of oral history interviews that were conducted with Vietnam War veterans. Then, while I was completing my degree in Information Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, I worked as a graduate student technician at the LLILAS Benson’s Digital Scholarship Lab, where I had the opportunity to work with Latin American and U.S. Latina/o archival materials.
What part of your job do you like best?
I love getting to meet new people! As someone who is not originally from here, it’s been interesting getting to learn about the variety of nationalities, backgrounds, and stories that make up the Latino community in Kansas.
What do you have on your desk?
I have a bunch of sticky notes with reminders of things I need to look up or do, and a huge pile of books I’m trying to read, like What Kansas Means to Me, Who Owns Native Culture?, and Catching Stories: A Practical Guide to Oral History. There are also a couple of trinkets to remind me of home, like a Mexican rag doll I keep under my monitor.
What is one of the most interesting items you’ve come across in Spencer’s collections?
Some of the most interesting items I’ve come across were two photographs I found in the Bourquin Family Collection. Photographs in this collection were taken by a Swiss family that moved to Horton, Kansas, in the late 1800s. The collection’s finding aid showed that there are a couple of photographs that include the name “Little Mexico” in their title.
I was really surprised to find these photographs, since I hadn’t seen any record or evidence of Mexican immigrants in Horton in any of our other collections or online sources. Digitized newspaper clippings confirmed that during the 1920s there was an area of the town that housed many of the Mexican immigrants that had come to work at the local railroad center.
“High water at railroad dam and Little Mexico, May 8, 1921.” Bourquin Family Collection. Call Number: RH PH 30, Box 14, Folder 623. Click images to enlarge.
What are some of your favorite pastimes outside of work?
I am an avid reader and proud bookworm! But I also love going to the movie theater, getting food or coffee with friends, baking, and watching TV.
This is the latest installment in a recurring series of posts introducing readers to the staff of Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Today’s profile features Kate Stewart, who joined Spencer Research Library in August 2025 as the Curator of the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements.
Kate Stewart, Curator the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements. Click image to enlarge.
Where are you from?
I was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and when I was five, we moved to Merriam, Kansas, where I spent the rest of my childhood. Since I left at 18 for Vassar College, I have moved around a lot all over the country. Most recently, I was living in Tucson and before that, Washington, D.C. It is really great to be back in the area that I think of as home! My older brother and a lot of my high school friends went to KU, so I have many fond memories of hanging out in Lawrence in the ‘90s. Fun fact: I went to Day on the Hill for the first time in 1993 when I was in 8th grade! Unfortunately, that was the year after the infamous Pearl Jam show, but I did get to see MU330 and many other bands in Lawrence.
How did you come to work at Spencer Research Library?
I have been working in archives for almost twenty years, mostly in temporary positions that focused on political and oral history collections. When I saw this job posting, I knew it was my dream job. Not only is it exactly the kind of work I want to do, but I also have been wanting to move back to the area for the past few years. I feel incredibly lucky to be here every day.
What does your job at Spencer entail?
I’m the Curator of the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements, which has a large number of books, ephemera, and manuscript collections related to left- and right-wing movements in the United States. In particular, it is the premier archive for researchers studying right-wing extremism and one of the only ones in the U.S. that collects that kind of material. My primary job duty is to acquire new items and collections in this area, which means I get to shop online for rare books and ephemera and work with people interested in donating their personal and organizational collections to the Spencer Library. I will also be teaching instruction sessions related to the Wilcox collection for KU classes and researching stories about how politics and libraries are interconnected.
How did you come to work in libraries/archives/special collections?
My mom, aunt, and grandfather were all librarians, so I grew up hanging out in libraries quite a bit, especially when I was in college. After getting a master’s in history at the University of Iowa, I decided to get my master’s degree in library and information science there too and join the family business. As a student, I got to work at the Iowa Women’s Archives, which was a terrific first job for me in this field. From there, I have had many different jobs (including five temporary ones) in archives or libraries, including the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the U.S. Senate, and the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona. I have also worked as a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and editor for many years as well, which has been a great joy.
What part of your job do you like best?
Walking through the building, especially the stacks, when I’m alone and it’s dark. I always feel like I’m in the suspenseful part of a horror movie, and it’s quite an adrenaline rush. But when it comes to my actual job duties, I really love working with students. It’s so much fun to blow their minds about what we have at the library and that it’s all here for them.
What do you have on your desk?
I have some duplicate zines from the collection Spencer acquired from the Solidarity Library, including one titled Winning Office Politics Quickly that has been making me laugh. I have a lot of books from Watson Library about the FBI for an article I’m working on about the scandalous publication of Max Lowenthal’s book on the FBI in 1950, which I have been wanting to write for many years. I have also started bringing in ephemera from my own past to decorate my office, and I am glad to get some of it out of my moving boxes and into a good home.
What is one of the most interesting items you’ve come across in Spencer’s collections?
While looking at zines for classes that are coming in this semester, I came across a famous one called Sniffin’ Glue. It was created in 1977 in London by Mark Perry, a punk fan and musician. It has some really great illustrations and photos from that time of bands like the Ramones and the Clash.
The front cover of Sniffin’ Glue, July 1977. Call Number: RH WL D9321. Click image to enlarge.
What are some of your favorite pastimes outside of work?
A lot of my life outside of work is consumed by reading about politics and participating in political organizations, although I don’t know if I should call that a pastime since it isn’t exactly enjoyable a lot of the time, especially these days. When I really want to relax, I take a long hike or go to a baseball game (I am a Royals and Nationals fan). I am also an obsessive music fan (and musician) and love to play card games.
Kate Stewart Curator of the Wilcox Collection of Contemporary Political Movements
This is the latest installment in a recurring series of posts introducing readers to the staff of Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Today’s profile features Jason W. Dean, who joined Spencer Research Library in June 2025 as a Rare Materials Cataloging Librarian.
Rare Materials Cataloging Librarian Jason W. Dean. Click image to enlarge.
Where are you from?
I was born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in Midland – both in what I call far West Texas. I went to college in Abilene at a small liberal arts university there, where much of my family went to college. I then taught and lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for a few years before starting my library career. My work has taken me several places: Arkansas, central Texas, Kansas City, and now Lawrence. I appreciate Lawrence and how it feels like it’s just in The West, which reminds me of the big skies of my youth.
How did you come to work at Spencer Research Library?
I’ve had the good fortune to know Spencer Director Beth Whitaker and Special Collections Curator Elspeth Healey for a while. Maybe I met them at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) conference in Las Vegas in 2014? I learned about Spencer through Beth and Elspeth, but really got to know Spencer when I visited several years ago on a day trip from the Linda Hall Library. Of course, the outstanding collection and staff were well-known to me. I wanted to return to focus on the material, and the faculty position here was the right fit at the right time with the right people.
What does your job at Spencer entail?
I am responsible (along with my colleagues in processing) for the description of printed items acquired by or added to the Spencer collections. In my time here already, I’ve cataloged a number of modern paperback science fiction books from the collection of William F. Wu, some bound manuscripts, and some new acquisitions. My bread and butter are early modern books that I catalog with Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books) – or DCRM(B) – but I am branching out (and dusting off my Resource Description and Access (RDA) cobwebs) with the help of my colleagues.
How did you come to work in libraries/archives/special collections?
I started my post-college working life teaching history to high school students in north Dallas, which I discovered was not for me. I really wanted a career that would allow me to learn and be curious as a part of my work, and librarianship really seemed the best fit. My introduction to rare books began at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and was cemented at Crystal Bridges, where I worked to catalog Bill Reese’s American color plate book collection. I came to bibliography later in my career, when my former colleague Jamie Cumby taught me the fundamentals of collation.
What part of your job do you like best?
Conceptually I like the professional norms we have around access, privacy, and our broad commitment to, well, sharing. Special collections libraries take things that are expensive and precious and make them accessible and (almost) free.
On the micro level, using bibliographical and other tools to help folks learn more about the physical aspects of the items in Spencer’s collections and either use those descriptions in their own work or decide to come and use the item in person.
I also really enjoy writing. There’s some great stuff in the works for publication, and I am so pleased that I can do that as a normal part of my job.
What do you have on your desk?
There are some things I keep at my desk I feel like are worthy of sharing here. First, this broadside printed at Firefly Press – an adaptation of Beatrice Warde’s famous lines about a printing office.
Jason’s office broadside. Click image to enlarge.
I also have this retablo of St. Jerome at my desk. A retablo is a two dimensional image of a saint painted by a santero, a maker of this uniquely New Mexican form of folk art. My friend Dr. Charles M. Carrillo made this image of Saint Jerome (a patron saint of librarians and archivists) to watch over me while I work, which he does!
Jason’s retablo of St. Jerome. Click image to enlarge.
I also keep a book snake on my desk that’s been with me for 15 years. One of my colleagues at the Carter, Maryjane Harbison, made this book snake for me. It’s here with mementos from other workplaces and such: a piece of the Kimbell’s travertine, the box “original staff” at Crystal Bridges were given at opening, and medallions from the Linda Hall Library and Southwestern University.
Items from Jason’s desk. Click image to enlarge.
What is one of the most interesting items you’ve come across in Spencer’s collections?
Below is the title page of the Spencer copy of Newton’s Principia Mathematica, which was a focus of some of my scholarship a few years ago. When I look closely at the book, two things are interesting to me: it has the “two line” imprint statement on the title page, not mentioning a distributor, which is the first state of the title page, and uncancelled.
The title page of Spencer’s copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica, 1687. Call Number: Pryce D4. Click image to enlarge.
There’s another item which tells us more about this copy: the diagram on page 112 is printed upside down. Other copies of the book have this corrected with a cancel leaf. We can surmise that the Spencer copy is perhaps an early state of the S issue of the book, especially given the rarity of the uncancelled page 112, as noted by Henry Macomber in his census!
Page 112 in Spencer’s copy of Newton’s Principia, 1687. Note the upside down diagram. Call Number: Pryce D4. Click image to enlarge.
What are some of your favorite pastimes outside of work?
As I mentioned above, I collect art (and books, but isn’t that cliché?) – specifically the santero art I talked about, but also katsinasand photography. Photography is my hobby; my grandfather taught me photography as a teenager and it’s a passion we share with my youngest brother.
My reading interests are varied, but there are three mystery series I adore: Tony and Anne Hillerman’s Chee and Leaphorn novels, the Inspector Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri, and the Bernie Gunter books by Philip Kerr.
I adore classical music, specifically of Bach and Philip Glass. I also serve on the board of Summerfest, so classical music is one of my favorite things.
I also do some very informal bookish writing with my good friend Rhiannon Knol. We write a bibliography and books focused newsletter called Half Sheets to the Wind.
Tadalafilo – principio activo
El medicamento original es “Cialis” (Eli Lilly).
Fue desarrollado por los estadounidenses, y lo inventaron en primer lugar para competir con el único rival existente en ese momento: el sildenafilo, la conocida Viagra de la compañía Pfizer.
Sí, el tadalafilo nació en una lucha competitiva por el mercado. Su principal diferencia para el paciente común respecto al sildenafilo consiste en que el tadalafilo tiene una duración de acción más prolongada —de veinticuatro a cuarenta horas— y además comienza a actuar más rápido, ya a los quince minutos después de la toma. A diferencia del sildenafilo, que empieza a actuar, en el mejor de los casos, a la media hora.
¿Por qué entonces no pasarse todos al tadalafilo y dejar al sildenafilo fuera del mercado, si “no es tan bueno”? Pues porque, en igualdad de condiciones, el tadalafilo resulta bastante más caro. Así que haga su elección según las posibilidades de su bolsillo y las tareas que quiera resolver: una acción romántica puntual o un tratamiento prolongado.
Eficacia del tadalafilo
El tadalafilo es uno de los medicamentos más eficaces para el tratamiento de los trastornos de la erección, es decir, la incapacidad repetida o persistente de lograr y mantener una erección suficiente para una relación sexual satisfactoria.
Así que, si una sola vez “no funcionó” o “se perdió”, no es motivo para correr a la farmacia a comprar tadalafilo, sino más bien para descansar o tomarse unas vacaciones.
Causas de la disfunción eréctil
Las causas de la disfunción eréctil pueden ser variadas:
Problemas vasculares u hormonales
Efectos de medicamentos
Traumatismos (incluso deportivos)
Factores psicológicos
Pero sepa que todo esto se puede superar y tratar.
En cualquier caso, recuerde: los eficaces son los medicamentos, no los complementos alimenticios. Los suplementos (BAA) no se recomiendan para tratar la disfunción eréctil. Aunque el tadalafilo sea un medicamento de prescripción, en la práctica casi nunca se exige receta. Esto fomenta la automedicación y, debido a su alto precio, la venta del medicamento genera buenas ganancias a las farmacias. Por eso, como alternativa más económica, muchos compran el genérico del Cialis
Tadalafilo con comida y alcohol
Si su objetivo no es el tratamiento de la disfunción eréctil, sino simplemente una velada romántica, tome tadalafilo no más tarde de 15 minutos antes del acto sexual en dosis de 5 mg, o 20 mg si planea toda la noche.
El tadalafilo se toma por vía oral independientemente de las comidas, con medio vaso de agua a temperatura ambiente. La comida grasa no reduce su eficacia. En cambio, el zumo de pomelo aumenta la concentración del fármaco en la sangre, así que un vaso de zumo recién exprimido viene muy bien.
El tadalafilo se puede tomar junto con alcohol —esto no interfiere en su acción—, pero no se recomienda tragar la pastilla con alcohol, té o café.
El tadalafilo no causa dependencia
Ni en tratamientos cortos ni en tratamientos largos el tadalafilo provoca adicción.
Si se toma para tratar la disfunción eréctil con actividad sexual frecuente (2–3 veces por semana), se recomienda 5 mg una vez al día, siempre a la misma hora.
Si la actividad sexual es poco frecuente (menos de 2 veces por semana), se recomienda 20 mg unos 15 minutos antes del acto sexual.
No se debe tomar más de 20 mg, y la edad no influye —incluso después de los 65 años no se requiere ajustar la dosis.
Duración del tratamiento
La duración del tratamiento debe determinarla el médico. Puede ser de un mes o de varios años.
Interacciones con otros medicamentos
Con antibióticos (Claritromicina, Eritromicina), el tadalafilo no presenta conflicto, incluso aumenta la concentración del fármaco.
Con antiácidos (Rennie, Almagel, Maalox), la absorción es más lenta, y el efecto aparece más tarde (hasta una hora).
¡Con nitratos (Nitroglicerina y otros) está estrictamente prohibido! La combinación puede provocar una caída crítica de la presión arterial.
Con anticoagulantes (Warfarina, Xarelto, Aspirina) —se puede.
Con medicamentos para la próstata: con Tamsulosina —se puede; con Doxazosina —no (causa una caída brusca de la presión).
Conclusiones
¿Vale la pena tomar tadalafilo?
Sí, es un medicamento eficaz, que no provoca dependencia ni siquiera en tratamientos prolongados.
No afecta a la espermatogénesis y tiene un mínimo de efectos secundarios.
En mujeres no tiene utilidad: no potencia el orgasmo femenino, a pesar de los mitos publicitarios.
En hombres, el efecto aparece a los 15 minutos y dura hasta 40 horas.
Los especialistas recomiendan el tadalafilo en casos de prostatitis crónica: mejora la microcirculación y elimina la congestión de la próstata.
La principal ventaja es su acción prolongada, que permite mantener la espontaneidad y el romanticismo en las relaciones sexuales.
This is the latest installment in a series of posts introducing readers to student employees who make important contributions to the work of Spencer Research Library. Today’s profile features Ceres Botkin, a Public Services student assistant.
Please provide some brief biographical information about yourself.
My name is Ceres Botkin (they/them) and I’ve been working in Public Services at Spencer since the spring of my freshman year in 2022. I am currently completing the fifth and final year of my undergraduate program, and I will graduate with degrees in mathematics, physics, and computer science. I hope after graduation to either go to graduate school in physics or library science.
What does your job at Spencer entail?
I work in the Public Services department, which entails helping library patrons find and access library materials germane to their research interests. This involves being familiar with the collections and the several strengths of our library. I’ve also worked with several curators on numerous projects from sorting and cataloging donations to helping with research for temporary exhibits.
In addition, I have also helped out in other departments as needed. For example, I have worked in Conservation Services with construction of glass plate housings along with making Mylar book jackets. I have also helped in the cataloging department by aiding the process of integrating newly cataloged material into the wider library collection.
Why did you want to work at Spencer Research Library?
My previous on-campus job involved staffing the front desk of a residence hall between the hours of 3am and 7am. I wanted a job that felt more fulfilling and had better hours. In addition, I had a friend who worked at Spencer who enjoyed the work.
When my friend recommended the position to me, I was reminded of my previous desire when I was a teenager to work at my local public library. The library held a special place in my heart, as I would frequent it over the summers as a third place to go that was separate from my home and school. I would meet up with friends and do research for upcoming debate tournaments there. I always thought it would be nice to give back to my community by also working at a library and supporting one of the few remaining institutions in the U.S. that provides free resources, education, and entertainment.
What has been most interesting to you about your work?
I would definitely say that sorting and cataloging donations is the most interesting part of my job. My first project working at the library, in fact, was sorting 20th-century Star Trek zines. Zine culture is very interesting, and it was wonderful to peek into another world. In addition, it was really cool to see all of the various pieces of art and read the stories that were contained inside.
The front cover of the third issue of Likely Impossibilities: A Star Trek Zine, August 1987. Call Number: ASF FANZINE 31. Click image to enlarge.
The last page and inside back cover of the tenth issue of the Stark Trek fanzine Alnitah, March 1979. Call Number: ASF FANZINE 132. Click image to enlarge.
In addition, I love exploring the different collections and talking with the curators about how we started some of them. For instance, the Literary Ephemera collection in Special Collections is always fascinating to browse because it is mostly comprised of outsider art and poetry. They’re not only interesting to read in a vacuum, but they also provide interesting commentaries on the times they were created in.
What are you studying, and what do you hope to do in your future career? Has your work at Spencer changed how you look at your studies or your future career plans in any way?
As mentioned previously, I am currently studying mathematics, physics, and computer science. Originally I planned on going into graduate school in order to pursue a Ph.D. in physics, but working at the library has made me consider going into library work as well. It would be interesting to get a master’s degree in library science and work at a library after graduation. In addition, I have also considered using my computer science degree and going into the field of digital archives – archiving material which is only digital. For example, I was considering working at the Internet Archive, which houses numerous websites, books, recordings, videos, and software.
What piece of advice would you offer other students thinking about working at Spencer Research Library?
Never assume that any resources available to you will always be available to you. First get familiar with what resources are provided by your local community, government, and university. Second, never stop fighting for those resources. In the context of the library, never stop fighting for the open access of information, funding, and a place to study and relax without having to pay first. Also please donate to your local library if you are in a position to do so.
This is the latest installment in a recurring series of posts introducing readers to the staff of Kenneth Spencer Research Library. Today’s profile features Grace Brazell, who joined Spencer Research Library in January 2025 as an Administrative Associate in the Public Services unit.
Administrative Associate Grace Brazell. Click image to enlarge.
Where are you from?
I was born in Roswell, New Mexico, during the 50th anniversary of the alleged alien crash, but we moved to Lawrence when I was just turning two. I’ve lived in and just outside of town for most of my life, aside from the years I spent in Chicago doing my undergraduate degree.
How did you come to work at Spencer Research Library?
I applied to library school in a fit of pique after a particularly frustrating week at the bakery I worked in while finishing my bachelor’s degree. I have always loved rare materials, but didn’t think I’d have an opportunity to work with or near them. I loved the public library and my team there, but when I spotted the job at the Spencer it checked several boxes for me. I’m excited to learn the collection and see what sparks my interest moving forward, and I love getting to talk with our different curators about the parts of the collection they find particularly special.
What does your job at Spencer entail?
I primarily work with our team of student employees to support our Public Services department. Our students are responsible for paging, shelving, and general maintenance around the building, and I work with them to make sure our patrons and reference staff have the support and materials they need to do their jobs. I also assist Operations Manager Meredith Phares with some building management tasks like facilities requests and room organization.
What part of your job do you like best?
In every job I’ve worked, I’ve loved the tasks themselves to a certain degree. I love being able to solve a problem or find the right tool for the job. My favorite thing in the world is being able to eliminate a small point of friction. That being said, my favorite thing about my job is and has always been the people I get to work with. I love getting to see someone’s eyes light up when you ask about their favorite part of the collection, and I’m always interested to hear what captures someone’s attention.
What is one of the most interesting items you’ve come across in Spencer’s collections?
I have a strange fascination with the modernists, and in particular I find Ezra Pound to be one of the most interesting. He’s such an influential figure in the creation of some of the most iconic modernist works, it seemed like he had a hand in pretty much everything produced during that time. Copies of some letters to Pound from James Joyce (Call Number: MS 134) are here at the Spencer as well as a copies of the BLAST! manifesto (Call Number: D138) and a scattering of The Cantos (Call Numbers: C6331, C6332, and C6341). BLAST! is probably my favorite, if I’m being honest.
What are some of your favorite pastimes outside of work?
I spend a lot of time working on my yard and house, both of which are true fixer uppers and require a lot of labor as well as, shall we say, creative problem solving. I run and play in a few Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, which are a source of never-ending entertainment. When not dealing with the baffling construction choices of my home’s previous owner or wrangling adults through a sea of kobolds, I spend a lot of time over-engineering costumes for my kindergartener and waffling over patterns in the Symington fashion collection.
