Rare and Distinctive Collections

George W. Nace (1920-1987) was an innovative developmental biologist at Duke University and the University of Michigan. The son of a missionary, he spent much of his childhood in Japan where he became fluent in Japanese. During WWII, Nace used his

Legendary singer-songwriter Joan Baez is also well-known for her activism. In addition to performing at Woodstock, Baez was highliy visable in anti-war marches and encouraged draft resistance at her concerts.So, it was a considerable

How did you become interested in being an archivist? What was your path to where you are now?   I worked in the Archives while a graduate student in American History at CU. Like many history students and scholars, I had long been fascinated

During World War II, families conscientiously sent updates on where their military loved ones (who were CU alumni, former students, or professors) were assigned and what happened to them. In 1942, and early 1943, you can see photos of smiling faces

WAVES, “Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service,” were officers in the US Navy during World War II and some were accepted into the US Navy Japanese Language School. Of those who were recruited to the school in 1943, some had been born and/or

William Osgood Field was an internationally known Glaciologist, and head of the Department of Exploration and Field Research at American Geophysical Union/American Geographical Society (AGU/AGS) from 1947 until his retirement in 1969. Field

Keith Porter is regarded as one of the founders of the modern science of cell biology. As a young scientist in 1944, Porter teamed up with Albert Claude and Ernest Fullam to produce the first picture of a whole cell taken with an electron microscope

Eben G. Fine was born on a farm near Hamilton, Missouri, in 1865, one of twelve children. His father died shortly after his birth, followed by his mother in 1879, when he was fourteen. For the next three years Fine boarded with various families

Marjorie K. McIntosh, Distinguished Professor of History Emerita at the University of Colorado Boulder, donated decades worth of research and work on the many books she wrote throughout her impressive academic and professional career. McIntosh

Internationally recognized vocal pedagogue Berton Coffin was Professor of Music and Chairman of the Division of Voice at the CU's College of Music for almost 31 years. Among many of his contributions to the College, Dr. Coffin was responsible for