The Vosper Collection at KU

The University Archives located in Spencer Research Library includes more than 50 photographs relating to Robert Vosper’s tenure as Director of Libraries; a biographical file of clippings, press releases, and his 28 page vita; audio cassette tapes of speeches; folders of articles, pamphlets and speeches written by Vosper; correspondence with Chancellor Murphy located in the Chancellor’s records; and, 17 cubic feet of records comprised of personal correspondence and subject files covering such topics as the Farmington Plan, staffing , collection development, branch library reports, annual reports, exhibits, etc.

Robert Vosper founded and edited the first nine years of Books and Libraries at the University of Kansas.  The first issue, published in December 1952, began with an article entitled, "A Special Word of Greeting to the Faculty," in which he introduces himself to the University faculty and expresses the desire to “become acquainted with as many of you as possible and try to learn how the Libraries and Library Staff can most effectively support and extend your individual teaching and research programs and hopes” and “make the Libraries … friendly and inviting and bookish places, genuine centers for reading and learning”.

These resources plus the KU Libraries’ staff newsletters, Jayhawk Biblo-Tracks and The Gamut to which Robert Vosper contributed to on a regular basis and the unpublished history of the Libraries compiled by the University’s first Archivist, John Nugent, all provide insight into the mind and mode of operation of a truly great library director, scholar and person.

Rebecca Schulte
University Archivist
University of Kansas Libraries