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Inside Spencer: The KSRL Blog

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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.

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That’s Distinctive!: Lawrence Journal-World Photographs

Check the blog each Friday for a new “That’s Distinctive!” post. I created this series to provide a lighthearted glimpse into the diverse and unique items at Spencer. “That’s Distinctive!” is meant to show that the library has something for everyone regardless of interest. If you have suggested topics for a future item feature or questions about the collections, you can leave a comment at the bottom of this page. All collections, including those highlighted on the blog, are available for members of the public to explore in the Reading Room during regular hours.

This week on That’s Distinctive! I am sharing items from the Lawrence Journal-World photograph collection. Spencer Research Library holds the newspaper’s physical photograph collection, which contains about 545 boxes of negatives and an additional 113 boxes of prints. The collection spans the 1950s through 2001. Topics in the collection include athletics, anniversary celebrations, weather events, agriculture, organizational meetings, and more. The collection is organized chronologically by date rather than topic, which can make sorting through the photos an adventure for patrons.

The images shared today are from our digital collections, which can be found on the “Find Collections” page of Spencer’s website. The library has many digital collections available online for patrons to view from anywhere they please. Per the website, “KU Libraries Digital Collections provide free, public access to thousands of objects digitized from across Spencer’s holdings, including photographs, documents, and audiovisual materials.”

Black-and-white photograph of an older man standing next to a dark colored old-fashioned car.
Raymond Goff examining a 1914 Milburn Electric car, August 1955. A 1920 model is on display at the Watkins Museum of History. Lawrence Journal-World Photograph Collection. Call Number: RH PH LJW. Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).
Black-and-white photograph of an older man standing next to a telephone switchboard.
Bell Telephone employee Claude Milliken, March 1955. Lawrence Journal-World Photograph Collection. Call Number: RH PH LJW. Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).
Black-and-white photograph of a young boy wearing a cowboy outfit and standing in front of three elephants.
Kevin Heck with Ringing Bros. circus elephants, September-October 1954. Lawrence Journal-World Photograph Collection. Call Number: RH PH LJW. Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).
Black-and-white photograph of a young boy standing next to toys displayed on top and in front of a wooden box. The boy is holding a fishing pole.
Three-year-old Chris Hunsinger looking at prizes during the Douglas County Derby, June 1957. Lawrence Journal-World Photograph Collection. Call Number: RH PH LJW. Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Tiffany McIntosh
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This entry was posted on Friday, September 13th, 2024 at 9:28 am and is filed under Kansas Collection, That's Distinctive. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.