Kenneth Spencer Research Library

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 28,000 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Hanging out in the Chi Omega Fountain, 1970s. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Chi Omega Fountain 1970s Prints:
Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos). Click on image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

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 24,800 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

A group of KU students, spring 1874. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 71/0 1870s Prints: Student Activities (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

The back of the image is stamped “A. G. DaLee, Photographer, Lawrence, Kansas – a fine assortment of frames constantly on hand.” The 1875-1876 city directory for Lawrence places DaLee’s business on the west side of Tennessee Street south of Adams (now Fourteenth).

The back of the photo also lists the names of the students shown. Additional information about them – their class, course of study, and residence – has been pulled from the 1873-1874 KU Annual Catalogue.

Back row, left to right
Grace E. M. Scoullar: Freshman, Classical course, Chicago, Illinois
Ed H. Bancroft: Junior, Classical course, Emporia

Middle row, left to right
William Osburn: Freshman, Classical course, Wilmington, Illinois
H. S. Tremper: Sophomore, Classical course, Galesburg, Illinois
Martha R. “Dolly” Campbell: Junior, Modern Literature course, Lawrence

Front row, left to right
May Harris: Freshman, Modern Literature course, Bowling Green, Missouri
Nelson J. “Ned” Stephens: Sophomore, Classical course, Wakarusa
Kate Stephens: Junior, Classical course, Wakarusa

When this photograph was taken, KU had graduated its first class of four students only the year before, seven years after its establishment. According to the Annual Catalogue, the university had eleven faculty members during the 1873-1874 academic year. In the collegiate department, there were three seniors, five juniors, nine sophomores, twenty-five freshman, and sixteen students in a select course (fifty-eight students total). The preparatory department (i.e. high school) had 117 students.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

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 24,800 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Members of the Marching Jayhawks at the beach in Miami, Florida, 1948.
The band was accompanying the football team at the Orange Bowl,
held on January 1st. KU lost to Georgia Tech, 20-14.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 22/1/m 1948 Prints:
Fine Arts: University Bands: Marching Band (Photos). Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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

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 24,800 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

KU campus scene, 1914-1915. Spooner Hall – then the university’s library – is seen on the right.
Old Green (now Lippincott) Hall is on the left, with Dyche Hall visible behind it.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 71/0 1914/1915 Negatives: Student Activities (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

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 27,700 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Last year we shared a fun aerial view of the KU campus from 1942. This week we’re sharing two more – slightly later – aerial photographs that show the site on which Spencer Research Library was built.

Aerial view of campus looking southwest from Marvin Grove, 1952.
Note the area along the top of the photograph; Naismith Drive stops at
15th Street and is undeveloped to the west.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/24/A 1952 Prints:
University General: Campus: Campus Aerials (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

The structures just north of Strong Hall – where Spencer Research Library now stands – were four of the thirteen temporary buildings constructed just after World War II. According to a December 1946 article in the Graduate Magazine (shown below), the buildings were funded by the federal government. They were used as “extra service units needed for the flood of students,” i.e. returning veterans who had enrolled at KU.

Buildings 5, 6, 7, and 8 shown on this map are the ones shown in the photograph above.
Note the description of Building 5 in the article. Graduate Magazine, December 1946.
University Archives. Call Number: LH 1 .K3 G73 1946-1947. Click image to enlarge.

The site of Spencer Research Library flanked by Strong Hall and the Campanile, 1966.
Construction of the library lasted almost two years and began soon after this photo was taken.
The library was dedicated in November 1968. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/A 1966 Prints: University General: Campus: Campus Aerials (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