Two GI Joe action figures, a WWII Pacific Marine™ and GI Joe Pearl Harbor Hickam Field Defender™ action figures recently “enlisted” in the KYLM Toy Collection. One of the iconic toys of the 20th century, GI Joe made his first appearance at the 1964 International Toy Fair in New York where he was presented as an action figure rather than a doll. Made with 21 moving parts, action figures representing all four branches of the service were introduced during the first year.
The two figures in the KYLM collection resulted from the generosity of a WKU alumnus who participated in a talk on the Kentucky Library & Museum Toy Collection during the 2009 Alumni College.
Learn more about the KYLM Toy Collection which includes more than 1,200 toys, dolls, and games.
A unique combination fire alarm/indicator that most likely was used prior to 1907 in the fire house on State Street is now on display at the Bowling Green Fire Department Headquarters Building. Manufactured by Gaynor Electric Company of Louisville, KY, this alarm indicator was wired to call boxes throughout the city. Whenever someone used a box to call in a fire, this central alarm or indicator would ring in the Fire House and register the number of the box giving the firemen a location to respond to.
The Kentucky Library & Museum hosted the first annual WKU Student Organizations Holiday Ornament Competition. Each organization was given a bag of basic ornament making supplies and a tree to decorate. A tree decorating reception was held November 17th with celebrity judge Romanza Johnson and everyone’s favorite Hilltopper, Big Red. Trees will be on display in the Kentucky Room through January 4, 2010.
Clara Ramsey DeWilde was a pretty typical WKU student in 1945. Born in Russellville, Kentucky in 1926, she was 19 when she came to Bowling Green. She lived in West Hall and created a scrapbook of photographs of her time on the Hill. These include friends on campus, Halloween in the dorm, a trip to Mammoth Cave and family.
Thanks to a generous donation from WKU History Professor 
Summer campers who participated in the Fine Art Camp built upon their basic drawing, painting, and design skills. By the time this camp ended, they had experimented with using pen & ink, charcoal, watercolor, pastels, and acrylic paint.