Big Blue Sports Archive

In celebration of the University of Kentucky's appearance in the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament, we are uploading the video created to raise awareness for the Big Blue Sports Archive initiative. Celebrate the tradition of Kentucky basketball.

Go Cats!

Did You Know?

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, "Improvements in transportation, communication, and photography made people naturally curious about other places."

Furthermore, "people had readily consumed photographers' images of distant lands, so when the amateurs were able to shoot their own images, they were more than ready.

The smiling faces of family members in front of scenic locations or landmarks became trademarks for the budding amateur. And as these landmarks became well known, more people visited them and they became tourist destinations. The more destinations there were, the more they photographed and included in the family album."

For further reading please see, "The Appraisal of Amateur Photography" by Deirdre A. Scaggs

Civil War Exhibit and Event

Did You Know?

Women's basketball was organized as a sport before men's basketball at the
State College (University of Kentucky).


Women's basketball team, Kentucky State College, 1903
http://name.kdl.kyvl.org/KUKUARP-2001UA025-0157

In 1902 the program was established for women and men's basketball followed in 1903.

Highlights from the Collection

The Mikada (play) "This is the picture of the play I was in - maybe you can get a better idea of what it was like by this." circa 1924
Ida Kenney Risque Harper scrapbook, 1921-1925

The Ida Kenney Risque Harper scrapbook, 1921-1925 includes items related to Harper's student life at the University of Kentucky during the years 1921-1925. It includes dance invitations and dance cards, theatre programs, some correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Many of the items relate to Ida Kenney Risque Harper's involvement in the Lambda Alpha chapter of Chi Omega Women's Fraternity. Of note, there are several citations from the Woman's Self Government Association indicating rules that Harper had broken. The photographs predominantly consist of plays during the 1920s.