Stevie: For March, Laurie and I are going to do a shared review of what’s gone down at the University Archives and Special Collections. First off, let me introduce you to Buzz, the newest member of our back corner team.

 Buzz is also known as “The Stig”, or “Astronaut on a Camp Stool Drinking Space Lemonade”. He was culled a long time ago from a collection in which he wasn’t the best fit (as is sometimes necessary given the realities of three dimensions within which all libraries operate), and rather than letting him be destroyed, I squirreled him away next to my desk. In fact, after being mesmerized by his sunshiny demeanor, and hearing about his ultimate fate of disposal, I may have uttered a prolonged “nooooooooo” and run off with him.

Laurie: For most of us this winter has been long and cruel with an excessive helping of frozen solid.  I didn’t see the exciting rescue of our Buzz but one morning I was greeted by Stevie and her fantastic Stevie grin.  She introduced me to Buzz and instantly our winter was better.  Some days life in the Archives is like being Indiana Jones, discovering treasures – but without the bullwhip and the bad guys.  Personally, Buzz has been fun but he’s also a great example of how the materials in UASC can be unexpected and unforgettable.

Also this month:

• Clowns: Patrick Hayes has been working with a group out of Los Angeles, supplying images of the Harlem Clowns, a group formed by Mr. Al Pullins, one of the first original five Harlem Globetrotters. The Harlem Clowns traveled the globe, playing basketball for charity–including a game against our own U of S Huskies. The people Patrick has spoken with hope to have Al Pullins inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his charitable work, and the foundations he laid within the basketball community. Visit their Facebook page, or sign the petition.
• In the News: Portions of the Diefenbaker Collection were featured on a March 22nd episode of CTV’s W5, titled Seeking the origins of the Maple Leaf flag, finding the soul of our nation. Hundreds of potential Canadian flags were proposed during the years in which the flag debate took place, a variety of which were presented to Mr. Diefenbaker (himself a staunch defender of the Red Ensign). To read more about the W5 report, please visit
  http://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/w5-seeking-the-origins-of-the-maple-leaf-flag-finding-the-soul-of-our-nation-1.1738784#ixzz2wzkQZQjD

  and click here to see  the gallery of proposed flags.

• Trans* Awareness Week spotlight featuring relevant Trans* items from the Neil Richards Collection
• Planes, Trains, Automobiles . . . and Boats: For those of you who haven’t had a chance to visit our ground floor and third floor Murray Library display cases lately, please do! They contain a delightful array of travel-related ephemera ranging from the twenties, to the world wars, to fifties kitsch and beyond.
• Index of Wrestling Photographs posted this month
• Collaboration with a museum in Scotland