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: Sorority Recruitment Edition

August 20th, 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 6,000 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

It’s Recruitment Week for KU’s sororities and fraternities, so today’s post features helpful and humorous information for freshmen girls deciding on which chapter to join. It’s from the 1916 Jayhawker yearbook, which covered the 1915-1916 academic year.

Image of the Chart for Freshmen, Jayhawker, 1916

“Chart for Freshmen” in the Jayhawker, 1916. From left to right,
the sororities listed are Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta,
Kappa Kappa Gamma, Chi Omega, Achoth, Alpha Delta Pi,
Sigma Kappa, Alpha Chi Omega, Gamma Phi Beta,
and Alpha Xi Delta. University Archives.
Call Number: LD 2697 .J3 1916. Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

Throwback Thursday: Women’s Soccer Edition

August 13th, 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 6,000 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Congratulations to the KU women’s soccer team! The Jayhawks had a big win last night in their first preseason exhibition game. Good luck for a great season!

Photograph of the KU women's soccer team, 1995

KU women’s soccer team, 1995. This was the program’s first year at the
varsity level; it had previously been a club sport. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 66/20/20 1995 Team Prints:
Athletic Department: Women’s Soccer (Photos). Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

Throwback Thursday: Family Vacation Edition

August 6th, 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 5,700 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

The fall semester may be right around the corner, but it’s not too late for a fun family vacation!

Photograph of Francis Huntington Snow and family, undated.

Chancellor Francis Huntington Snow and family on a summer specimen-collecting expedition
in Estes Park, Colorado, circa 1876 to 1900. Also a professor of natural science at KU,
Snow led twenty-six such expeditions, accompanied frequently by his students and
sometimes his family. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 2/6/6 Prints:
Chancellors: Snow (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: Dog Days of Summer Edition

July 30th, 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 5,700 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

These kids from Hilltop Day Care (Hilltop Child Development Center) had the right idea for surviving sweltering summer days: grab a swimsuit and find the nearest sprinkler or pool.

Photograph of children and adults from Hilltop Day Care walking down Mount Oread, undated

Children and adults from Hilltop Day Care walking down
Mount Oread behind Stauffer-Flint Hall, undated (after 1972).
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/42 N.D. Prints:
University General: Hilltop Day Care (Photos). Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

Throwback Thursday: Dance Edition

July 23rd, 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 5,700 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Follow the lead of these KU students and put on your dancing shoes; this Saturday is National Dance Day!

Photograph of the Homecoming dance in Kansas Union Ballroom, 1956

Homecoming dance in the Kansas Union Ballroom, 1956. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 71/1 1956: Student Activities: Homecoming (Photos).
Click on image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Popular pianist and bandleader Frankie Carle provided the music at the dance. Watch him perform with his orchestra in 1947, via footage available through YouTube.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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