The reference desk of what was to be the future University Archives and Special Collections.

Bio/Historical Note: Though the first recorded withdrawal from the University Library occurred in October 1909, nearly five decades passed before the Library had its own building. The early collection was housed either on the second floor of the College Building (later known as the Administration Building) or was scattered among a number of small departmental libraries. Plans for a new library building in the late 1920s were ended by the start of the Great Depression; but a dramatically reduced acquisitions budget was offset by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation in 1933. In 1943 the University hired its first professional Librarian. A combination of provincial grants and University fundraising financed the construction of the Murray Memorial Library. The library was named after the University’s first President, Walter C. Murray. Designed by noted Regina architect Kioshi Izumi working under H.K. Black, Architect, it marked a change in campus architecture away from the more angular and elaborate Collegiate Gothic style to that of the less expensive cube. Building materials included granite at the entrance and Tyndall stone as a wall cladding and window trim. In addition to the library, the building housed the College of Law, an office of the Provincial Archives and a 105-seat lecture theatre equipped with the latest in audiovisual teaching aids. The most dramatic transformation took place between 1970 and 1976 when a six floor south wing was added along with an extensive renovation of the 1956 structure. Designed by BLM, Regina, the south wing was unlike any other building on campus. Clad in Tyndall stone panels made to look like concrete (through a "bush hammered" finish), the grey almost windowless building is industrial and utilitarian in appearance. The University's master plan required buildings in the core of campus to be clad in stone. However, the "bush hammered" finish was used since the Library addition was built during a period that saw the flowering of "Brutalist" Architecture, so called because of the wide use of exposed concrete. The new (south) wing, originally called the Main Library, was officially opened on 17 May 1974, and also became the home of the Department of Art and Art History, the College of Graduate Studies and the University Archives.

Dr. Denys H. Wilkinson, honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient, speaks during Convocation ceremony held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: Sir Denys Haigh Wilkinson (1922-2016) was a British nuclear physicist.

A husky dog with the University crest attached to its collar.

Bio/Historical Note: Green and white were established as the official colors of U of S sports teams in 1909-1910, but the Huskies name did not appear at that time. Teams were generally referred to as “varsity” or “the green and white” when they played or appeared in media. The name “Huskies” began appearing in the 1930s, first in a September 1932 article in the StarPhoenix. Media caught onto the name and continued to use it; the name appeared in the 1932-1933 edition of The Greystone - the U of S yearbook at the time - along with a photo of the men’s hockey team in uniform with “Huskies” across the front. The origin of the Huskie name is unclear, but women’s teams were generally referred to as the “Huskiettes,” while men were the Huskies. On 15 Feb. 1946, The Sheaf printed a photo of an unidentified man holding a husky canine on campus, thought to be the first mascot. The husky appeared at various sports functions to lead the players onto the field and watch from the sidelines — on a leash. The late 1970s and early 1980s were the first time that the mascot appeared as a human dressed in costume. The women’s hockey team co-coach and trainer in the 1970s, Murray Gordon, began wearing a dog outfit and appearing at hockey games as “Hymie the Huskie.” Gordon also dressed up for football games and other campus events. The Huskie was generally accepted as the official mascot by this point, and appeared in 1980 on the men’s hockey team sweaters as a side profile of a dog’s head and neck. By the 1990s however, an outward-facing head of a dog appeared on all teams’ uniforms. The first official mascot costumes were created in the 1980s as well. A woman named Elva Finlay created a Huskies mascot costume in 1985 and restored a 1980 version of the costume that same year. The two new mascot costumes were worn by two university students, Lori Winter and Chris Mirwald, who attended U of S events and Huskie games. Today, the Huskies mascot is known as “Howler” and there are multiple people employed to dress in the Howler costume as the U of S mascot.

Two technicians at work in the control room.

Bio/Historical Note: The building of the Linear Accelerator (Linac) was not a random event but rather the result of a series of developments on campus. The Department of Physics had over the previous decades built a reputation for experimentation and innovation. The post-war period saw the University of Saskatchewan in the forefront of nuclear physics in Canada. In 1948, Canada’s first betatron (and the world’s first used in the treatment of cancer) was installed on campus. It was used for research programs in nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, cancer therapy and radiation biology. Next the world’s first non-commercial cobalt-60 therapy unit for the treatment of cancer was officially opened in 1951. With this unit research was undertaken in the areas of radiological physics, radiation chemistry and the effects of high energy radiation on plants and animals. When the construction of the Linear Accelerator was announced in the fall of 1961, it was portrayed as the next logical step on the University’s research path. Varian Associates, Palo Alto, California, designed and built the accelerator with Poole Construction of Saskatoon employed as the general contractor. The 80 foot electron accelerator tube was to create energy six times that of the betatron. The cost of the $1,750,000 facility was split between the National Research Council and the University of Saskatchewan with the NRC meeting the cost of the equipment and the University assuming the costs of the building. The official opening in early November of 1964 was more than just a few speeches and the cutting of a ribbon. It was a physics-fest, with 75 visiting scientist from around the world in attendance presenting papers and giving lectures over the period of several days. Three eminent physicists were granted honorary degrees at the fall convocation and hundreds of people showed up for the public open house. For three decades the Linac has served the campus research community and will continue to do so as it has become incorporated into the Canadian Light Source synchrotron.

A technician stands beside the Linear Accelerator.

Bio/Historical Note: The building of the Linear Accelerator (Linac) was not a random event but rather the result of a series of developments on campus. The Department of Physics had over the previous decades built a reputation for experimentation and innovation. The post-war period saw the University of Saskatchewan in the forefront of nuclear physics in Canada. In 1948, Canada’s first betatron (and the world’s first used in the treatment of cancer) was installed on campus. It was used for research programs in nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, cancer therapy and radiation biology. Next the world’s first non-commercial cobalt-60 therapy unit for the treatment of cancer was officially opened in 1951. With this unit research was undertaken in the areas of radiological physics, radiation chemistry and the effects of high energy radiation on plants and animals. When the construction of the Linear Accelerator was announced in the fall of 1961, it was portrayed as the next logical step on the University’s research path. Varian Associates, Palo Alto, California, designed and built the accelerator with Poole Construction of Saskatoon employed as the general contractor. The 80 foot electron accelerator tube was to create energy six times that of the betatron. The cost of the $1,750,000 facility was split between the National Research Council and the University of Saskatchewan with the NRC meeting the cost of the equipment and the University assuming the costs of the building. The official opening in early November of 1964 was more than just a few speeches and the cutting of a ribbon. It was a physics-fest, with 75 visiting scientist from around the world in attendance presenting papers and giving lectures over the period of several days. Three eminent physicists were granted honorary degrees at the fall convocation and hundreds of people showed up for the public open house. For three decades the Linac has served the campus research community and will continue to do so as it has become incorporated into the Canadian Light Source synchrotron.

Surgical team at work.

Students seated at several rows of tables writing exams in a gym.

Huskies football team on offence in a game at Griffiths Stadium. Fans in bleachers in background.

Head and shoulders of the Saskatchewan Premier Walter Scott.

Dr. Bruce Schnell, Vice President, University of Saskatchewan, speaks to the crowd gathered for the Kenderdine Campus open house.

Blaine Holmlund, acting President, University of Saskatchewan, speaks to the crowd gathered for the Kenderdine Campus open house.

Bio/Historical Note: Artist workshops have been held at Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, since 1935. Augustus F. (Gus) Kenderdine, an artist trained at the Academie Julian in Paris and an instructor in the fledgling Department of Art at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, established a summer art camp on an eleven-acre boreal forest peninsula on the shores of Emma Lake. He convinced Dr. Walter Murray, first president of the University of Saskatchewan, that the art camp could perform a vital role in the offerings of the department, and in 1936 the Murray Point Art School at Emma Lake was officially incorporated as a summer school program. Participants were teachers and artists who came from all over the province to learn how to teach art in Saskatchewan schools. After Kenderdine's death in 1947, a new generation of Saskatchewan artists came of age or moved into the province, including Kenneth Lochhead, Arthur McKay, Ronald Bloore, Ted Godwin, and Douglas Morton— popularly referred to as the Regina Five.

Dr. Denys H. Wilkinson, honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient, speaks during Convocation ceremony held in Physical Education gymnasium. Dignitaries seated on dais in background.

Bio/Historical Note: Sir Denys Haigh Wilkinson (1922-2016) was a British nuclear physicist.

The University sheep flock grazing cultivated grass near the Chemistry Building. College Building at right. The swamp fever research barn for horses (background left) visible in its original location north of the Engineering Building. The barn was later relocated just north of the new Agriculture Building.

Bio/Historical Note: The swamp fever research barn served as the factory for manufacturing and bottling the vaccine. Dr. J.S Fulton directed the research. When Dr. Fulton obtained a new laboratory largely funded by vaccine revenue, the old barn was used for post-mortem work on dead animals submitted by farmers for diagnosis. By 1950 the eastern half of the barn would become quarters for the Animal Husbandry Department.