You never know what you will find

This photograph is further proof that you never know what you are going to find at University Archives and Records Program. Pictured here is Mrs. C.H. Ray of Elizabethtown, KY. She is posing with her winning entry in the national "Fowl Fashion" competition. The competition, sponsored by the Poultry & Egg National Board, was one "in which the feathered folk strut their stuff in costumes their ingenious owners had created for them from poultry feed bag material," according to Jane Watson former publicity director of the Poultry & Egg National Board. Although the date of the photo is unknown there is something about a "fowl fashion" competition that is perhaps timeless.

How the times can change

We at Special Collections were a little concerned when we came across this photograph while processing an agriculture collection. It depicts "war-famed DDT bug bomb for civilians." Published in 1962 Silent Spring, by American biologist Rachel Carson, warned of the environmental and human health concerns associated with the indiscriminate spraying DDT. The book suggested that DDT and other pesticides potentially caused cancer and were detrimental to wildlife. The particular canister in this photograph "is said to contain enough insecticide to debug several average-size homes." Perhaps a case of overkill?

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Happy Birthday Elvis

So, perhaps this is a stretch - even for me. Nonetheless, Happy Birthday Elvis! In honor of the Elvis Sandwich (fried bread, peanut butter, BANANAS, and some say bacon) we post this photo of women buying bananas from Phil "the fruit man" Pearling's banana cart. This cart was an early campus vending operation, circa 1880s.

Nunn Center wins CASE award for WUKY radio programs

The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History won the Grand Award from CASE-Kentucky (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) in the audiovisual category. The award was for the WUKY radio collaboration between Nunn Center director Doug Boyd and WUKY news director Alan Lytle which regularly features oral histories on a variety of topics. The award winning programs can be heard at WUKY, or from the Nunn Center website.

Happy Holidays

Christmas Party, 1956, UK Radio photographs, 79pa104_0425

Christmas Party, 1954, UK Radio photographs, 79pa104_0282

In the midst of finals, office parties, and holiday shopping, here's a visit from the ghost of holidays past. As my time as a student nears its end, I can't think of a better "last post" than to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

-- JC

Family and friends, undated, James Edwin (Ed) Weddle photographs, 1997AV27_4117

Let it snow!

Barker Hall, Louis Edward Nollau F Series photographic prints, 1998ua001:273_0006

Mahmoud running in the snow, James Edwin "Ed" Weddle photographs, undated, 1997AV27:1530

Snow is not exactly rare in central Kentucky, but it is rare to have enough snow for sledding or a good snowball fight. Snowmen tend to be muddy and full of dry leaves around here. When we do get a good snowfall, it is often accompanied by a sense of playfulness, some images of which have been passed down through the years.



Campus views, Collection on Lafayette Studios, 1940, 96PA101:4407f

Students lying in the snow, UK general photographic prints, 1960, 2001ua025:2440