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: Gale Sayers Edition

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!

This week we’re remembering and celebrating legendary KU football player Gale Sayers, who passed away earlier this week.

Portrait of Gale Sayers as a KU student, circa 1962-1965
Portrait of Gale Sayers as a KU student, circa 1962-1965. Photograph by Duke D’Ambra. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.
Photograph of a fair housing protest in front of the KU Sigma Nu house, March 21, 1964
KU football players Gale Sayers (third from right) and Michael Shinn (fifth from right) participating in a fair housing protest in front of KU’s Sigma Nu house, March 21, 1964. Photograph by Duke D’Ambra. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 71/18 1964-03-21: Student Activities: Student Protests (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).
Photograph of Gale Sayers training, circa 1962-1965
Gale Sayers training, circa 1962-1965. Photograph by Duke D’Ambra. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.
Photograph of Gale Sayers (No. 48) preparing to throw the ball during a KU football game, 1965
Gale Sayers (No. 48) prepares to throw the ball during a KU football game, 1965. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.
Photograph of Gale Sayers signing autographs for three fans, November 1974
Gale Sayers signs autographs for Eric Pence and brothers Wayne and John Walker, November 30, 1974. Lawrence Journal-World Photo Collection, University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG LJW 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.
Gale Sayers – with Athletic Director Bob Frederick (left) and Chancellor Gene Budig (right) – holds up his jersey as his number is retired during a halftime ceremony during the KU-Oklahoma football game, September 30, 1989. Photograph by Gary Mook. University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.
Photograph of Gale Sayers signing a fan's football card, October 1990
Gale Sayers signs Patrick Golden’s football card during a card show at the Topeka Holidome, October 1990. Photograph by Staton Breidenthal. Lawrence Journal-World Photo Collection, University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG LJW 66/14 Gale Sayers: Athletic Department: Football: Players (Photos). Click image to enlarge.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,