Note: The Lawrence Times is offering some space for area organizations and organizers to express their views, provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission. This post is contributed content (i.e., not produced by the Times staff) and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Times staff. See more in our Community Voices section, or see how to submit your own piece.
He’ll be the first to remind you that he’s never called himself “Mr. KU,” but there’s no doubt that Curtis Marsh has earned that popular nickname. Over the course of his 30-plus years of service to the University of Kansas, Marsh has amassed a wealth of knowledge about Jayhawk stats, history and traditions.
Shortly after leaving his post as director of KU Info, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsh realized that “the information we gathered — the stories we offered — might be lost if not documented.” Thus began the project that became his book, KU-phoria: A Collection of Stories about KU Traditions, KU Info and KU basketball.
Marsh approached the project with the question: “Which stories would most interest my readers?” The result is a book packed with dozens of vignettes sure to fascinate any KU fan, ranging from a discussion of the brief time when a bulldog was the school’s mascot, to a recounting of “The 1987-88 season of glory,” when the men’s basketball team won the NCAA title despite a record number of losses — and Marsh and some other undergraduates got up to mischief connected with the Uncle Jimmy Green statue.
Interspersed with these personal and historical stories are examples of real questions that KU Info answered over the years, such as “How did Lawrence get its name?” KU-phoria was one of the Raven Book Store’s top 10 bestselling books of 2023.
Now, as KU’s 160th anniversary approaches, Marsh will team up with the Watkins Museum of History to hold a special event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 5.
The author will share stories of KU history and traditions and offer copies of his book for sale and signing. The program will be held in person at the Watkins, 1047 Massachusetts St., and also livestreamed on the museum’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
This event will be a slam dunk for KU alumni, KU fans, and lovers of local history.
— Will Haynes is deputy director for engagement and learning for the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence.
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