In doing research related to the opening of Ransdell Hall we’ve come across several Founders Day speeches. These are primarily from the 1960’s, but there is an especially interesting one that highlights the earliest years of WKU. A.L. Crabb’s Founders Day Address “It Sounds So Lovely What Our Fathers Did,” reprinted in April 1943 was delivered the previous November 16th. In it he relates his earliest memories as a student in the Southern Normal School in 1904. He introduces the listeners to a host of early faculty including J.S. Dickey, the Cherry Brothers, J.M. Guilliams, J.H. Clagett, M.A. Leiper and Laura Frazee to name a few. It is a great eyewitness account of the early years of WKU.
This and additonal records are available for researchers through our online catalog, KenCat and in the Harrison-Baird Reading Room of the Kentucky Library & Museum Monday – Saturday, 9 – 4. Selected digitized records can be found on TopScholar as well.
Goldia McKeel Dunn Curd attended WKU between 1920 and 1924. During her time in Bowling Green, she lived at the Fisher boarding house and kept a photograph album. The album has been digitized and is now available online at: 
When it is the program for Gilbert & Sullivan operatta Iolanthe performed at WKU March 29, 1927. This program is chock full of ads for Bowling Green businesses. Some ads tell us where the business was located, especially in the downtown area. It is also a record of how much support the citizens of Bowling Green have given to WKU throughout the years.
Elizabeth Curd Tucker was born February 9, 1863 near Glasgow, Kentucky. She attended Glasgow Normal School graduating in 1880 when she delivered the valedictory speech at commencement. The Glasgow Normal School was the first incarnation of what has become Western Kentucky University. In 1975 her daughters donated Mrs. Tucker’s scrapbook to University Archives.
