The Administration Building Cloisters, plus My Keystone Kops Routine

Usually when people ask me what my job is like I tell them that its always interesting because there’s no such thing as a typical day for me. That’s true as far as it goes, but it occurred to me just now as I was racing back to campus in a cold sweat, fearful that I had lost one of my flash drives right before leaving town, that while every day is different, they all share a sort of magical Keystone Kops quality. I get going so fast and in so many directions at once that something is always out of alignment somewhere.  At about 4:00 this afternoon it dawned on me that I didn’t have my current favorite flash drive. I staved off panic long enough to conceive an idea–I had given a talk late Friday afternoon at Duncan College and I might have left it in the computer there.  I tore back over there and  headed straight for the office of Vicki Woods, the Duncan College Coordinator. This was, by the way, the second time I’d presented myself in her office.  Both times I was a mess and needed her help.  And both times she helped fix my problems. (She’s a real gem, kind-hearted and good natured.) So now there will be pictures to look at while I’m away from the Woodson.

Let’s start with this one. One of the things I mentioned over at Duncan on Friday afternoon that seemed to surprise people was that the cloisters in front of the Administration Building were once a main gathering place for students, where business got done, elections were held and general laying about took place. This photo was taken in the cloisters at the Garden Party, an annual commencement event, in 1940. There are several things I really like about it–Lovett’s straw boater and his big smile especially–but notice over his shoulder the display board hanging on the wall. This was where notices, etc. got posted so everyone would see them. I hadn’t really thought much about this before, but I think I have more good photos of cloister behavior that I’ll post later.

Bonus: A week or so ago I was up in the Anthropology Department. I could not have been more surprised to see this in their library area. Still works. It has to be the last one on campus.

I could tell some tales, but I won't.

I’m totally confident that I’ll get it together tomorrow.