Photo gallery: KU 150: Historical photos

Kansas University is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout the 2015-2016 school year. This gallery features images from the university’s earliest years, all from KU’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library.

photo by: University Archives, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

North College, Kansas University's first building, was constructed in 1866 near 11th and Louisiana streets, where GSP and Corbin residence halls stand today. This 1867 image of Old North College is the oldest photograph the university has of its campus, according to University Archivist Becky Schulte.

photo by: University Archives, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Kansas University's first chancellor, Robert W. Oliver.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

An advertisement for Kansas University in the Junction City Union, Sept. 1, 1866.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

The first faculty, Catalogue of The University of Kansas, 1866.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

The Kansas University campus pictured in the 1870s, after the construction of University Hall, KU's second building. University Hall, which opened publicly in 1872 even though it wasn't quite finished, according to KUhistory.com, is better known now as Old Fraser.

photo by: University Archives, Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Flora Richardson, valedictorian of Kansas University's first graduating class. The first commencement took place in 1873, and four students — Richardson plus three men — earned degrees.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Bachelor of Arts diploma for Flora Richardson, signed by President John Fraser and Secretary Francis Ingalls, dated June 1873. KU's first graduating class was 1873. Richardson, the class valedictorian, was KU's first female graduate. The other three students in that first class were men.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Student Room, about 1891.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Girls gym class in the basement of Old Snow Hall, 1893. The only known photograph of the basement of Old Snow Hall, where basketball was first played on campus.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Old Blake Hall, then the physics building, opened on the Kansas University campus in 1895 at the same place the new Blake Hall is located.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

The Kansas University campus, from Oread Avenue looking north, 1896.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Portrait of Sherman Harvey, who was among black students attending KU in its early years. Harvey graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1889 and went on to earn a law degree from KU, according to a biography with the Harvey Family Papers in Kenneth Spencer Research Library's Kansas Collection. Harvey had two brothers who also graduated from KU, Frederick Harvey in 1891 and Edward Harvey in 1894.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Kansas University students gathered for the annual May Day Scrap class flag battle in the 1890s.

photo by: University Archives, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Celebrating May Day was an early Kansas University tradition, and students held an event called the May Day Scrap for a number of years until it was outlawed because of roughness. This photo shows people gathered for the very first May Day Fete in 1908. Old Blake Hall is in the center of the photo, and Old Fraser Hall at right.