Lawrence Archives

The current "Lawrence history through the Archives" article looks at Memorial Union in the 1950s and 1960s, including Union Grill, the absence of a Viking Room, and the visit of presidential candidate John F. Kennedy to Riverview Lounge in 1960. The link to the article is provided below.

http://media.www.lawrentian.com/media/storage/paper409/news/2009/05/08/Features/Lawrence.History.Through.The.Archives-3737465.shtml

If you've ever visited the Archives, you've probably noticed the safe. The origin of the safe, when it was brought to the Archives, and what is inside it are all unknown. People have tried to open it, but none have succeeded. One person has now come forward with a mission of opening the safe. Professor of history Jake Frederick will try to open the safe. News of his progress will be provided on this blog as well as the Archives Facebook page. If you would like to be contacted to witness the opening of the safe, let me know.

A biweekly column on aspects of Lawrence's history is featured in the Lawrentian beginning with the current issue. This first article looks at the creation of Memorial Union, a building that took six years to complete. The link for this article is provided below.

http://media.www.lawrentian.com/media/storage/paper409/news/2009/04/24/Features/Lawrence.History.Through.The.Archives-3720954.shtml

Future articles will look at the Union of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as Downer. If you have suggestions or would like to see a certain aspect of Lawrence's history covered in an article, let me know.

The Buildings of the Past digital collection has been updated and includes photographs, correspondence, and programs of nine buildings that are no longer part of the Lawrence campus. Take a look at the link below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/buildingspast.shtml

Unusual Archives Treasures

The exhibit, done in honor of April Fool's Day, provides a sampling of the many unusual items in the University Archives that rarely see the light of day. Photographs of unusual dorm rooms, student traditions, the actual Junior spade and spoon, and the ever popular death mask are on display through the month of April in the cases on the first floor of the library.

The physical collection of materials of Hamar Union and Memorial Union have been processed and a finding aid has been completed. A link to the online finding aid is provided below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/fa_unions.shtml

The digital collections for both Hamar Union and Memorial Union can be viewed at the link below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/contentdm/archives/about.html

Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC), 1968-2009

This exhibit includes pictures, newspaper articles, and other materials mainly from LUCC's first year, 1968-1969. LUCC is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an exhibit in the Mudd Gallery that will open February 20, and with a party being held February 27 in the Union.

A list of past LUCC member is provided at the following link.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/LUCCmembers.shtml

An ongoing project in the Archives is the processing of materials on all 70+ Lawrence buildings, creating finding aids for the processed collections, and creating a digital collection for each building. The Alexander Gymnasiums I and II collection has been processed, and its finding aid is located at the following link.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/fa_alexgyms.shtml

A digital collection has also been done of both gymnasiums, and the collection is located at the following page.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/contentdm/archives/about.html

As other building collections are completed, updates will be added to the blog. The next building collection to be processed will be that of Hamar Union and Memorial Union.

The Midwest Trivia Contest

The exhibit contains materials from past Trivia Contests, including letters, newspaper articles, and photographs. The Trivia Contest, known by some as the "World's Longest-Running Trivia Contest," began in 1966. Sample questions from past contests are included in the exhibit, such as...

"What did Michel Lotito, Mr. Eat Everything, consume to gain his world record for the largest meal ever eaten?"

For the answer, visit the exhibit on the first floor of the library. The exhibit was created by Rebecca Hayes, Archives student worker.

The Artist Series at Lawrence, 1908-2008: A Look at 100 Years of History

This exhibit features programs, season announcements, and photographs documenting the past 100 years of the Artist Series program. The program was created by William Harper, Dean of the Conservatory of Music, to bring outside performers to Lawrence. The exhibit is located in the display cases on the first floor of the library and will be up through December.

A digital collection on the Artist Series is at the link below.

http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/artistseries.shtml