Western Historical Photograph Collection

A collection of over a thousand historic photographs, from 1910-2005, that cover a cross-section of campus activities, events, people, and architecture here at Western.


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Western pom-pom squad, circa mid-1970s.
[Decade 1970s] cw, Western pom-pom squad, circa mid-1970s.
Western professor Dr. John C. Johnson
WSC biology professor Dr. John C. Johnson as a coach/referee at Colorado State Normal School (Western State Colorado University) ca. 1920.
Western students at Death Valley, 1995.
[1995] cw, Western students enjoy shallow water in one of the Death Valley lakes, 1995.
Western students enjoy a Gunnison autumn under the cottonwoods west of Taylor Hall, circa early 1970s.
Western students enjoy a Gunnison autumn under the cottonwoods west of Taylor Hall, ca. early 1970s. The original library entrance is in the background., [Early 1970s] cw
Western students enjoy the Ping Pong tables in the Student Union, late 1950s.
[ca. late 1950s], WSC students in saddle shoes and argyle socks in action at the Ping Pong tables in the Student Union, late 1950s.
Western students from Connecticut pose in front of their 1941 Plymouth, circa 1954.
Western students from Connecticut pose in front of their 1941 Plymouth, circa 1954. [Prior to World War II, Western's appeal had been largely confined to students from the Western Slope. One of the first groups to arrive from the East Coast were these young men from Connecticut, who managed the trip in their 1941 Plymouth. With their brushed-straight-back, Brylcreem-ed hair ("a little dab'll do ya...") and laid-back confident, early 50s smiles, they look like they've found home.] -- M. Hatcher notes
Western students in bathing suits on the shore of Lake Irwin, 1940.
A group of nine Western students in bathing suits apply suntan lotion to themselves on the shore of Lake Irwin in a publicity photograph, 1940. [In 1940, an enterprising public relations director for the college, eager to increase enrollment and scotch rumors concerning Gunnison's harsh climate, arranged for a Denver photographer to take photographs of Western students at Lake Irwin--rafting and fishing, applying suntan lotion, and making snowballs--in early July. We'll never know whether the device would have helped with enrollment, because World War II began the next year.] -- M. Hatcher notes
Western students in their bathing suits pose for a promotional photograph at Lake Irwin, 1940.
Western students in their bathing suits pose for a promotional photograph on the snowy shores of Lake Irwin, 1940.
Western students line up at a picnic along the Gunnison River, circa early 1950s.
Western students line up for food and beverages at a picnic along the Gunnison River, circa early 1950s.
Western" Music Camp "B" Orchestra
The 1937 WSC Music Camp "B" Orchestra was made up of young and older players. The group and three leaders pose for a photograph on the west steps of Taylor Hall. Note the instructors and a few of the students wear a ribbon on their shirts, possibly to note their participation.

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