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: Beat Oklahoma Edition, Part II

February 15th, 2018

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!

We love KU basketball! This week’s photograph is pumping us up for the last few weeks of the season, specifically KU’s game against Oklahoma on Monday. Rock Chalk!

Photograph of KU residence hall lights, 1976

KU’s Daisy Hill residence halls the night before the Homecoming game against Oklahoma, 1976.
The building at the bottom of the photo appears to be Wescoe Hall. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 71/1 1976 Prints: Student Activities: Homecoming (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Throwback Thursday: Wescoe Boardwalk Edition

May 25th, 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!

It’s another busy summer at KU, with lots of campus construction projects underway. This week’s photograph features a pedestrian walkway that was built along Jayhawk Boulevard during the construction of Wescoe Hall, which began in May 1971.

Photograph of Wecsoe Boardwalk, 1972

Wescoe Boardwalk, September 1972. Kansas Alumni photo by Hank Young.
Note the KU logo in the upper left corner of the sign. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Wescoe Boardwalk 1972 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: Wescoe Beach Edition

April 28th, 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!

So far it’s been a cloudy, rainy week in Lawrence, but hopefully we’ll soon see the return of sunny, warm weather that’s perfect for studying outside.

Photograph of a student reading in the grass in front of Wescoe Hall, 1981

Student reading in the grass in front of Wescoe Hall, 1981. University Archives Photos.
Call Number: RG 0/24/1 Wescoe Beach 1981 Prints: Campus: Areas and Objects (Photos).
Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

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