Kansas Public Radio unveils new series about KU history

LAWRENCE -- Kansas Public Radio will kick off a new series of commentaries this week about the history of the University of Kansas. The three- to four-minute essays will be delivered by Henry Fortunato, project director and editor-in-chief of "This Week in KU History," an online resource about the history of the state's largest school. The KU History project is at www.kuhistory.com.

About once a month, Fortunato will discuss a particular aspect of KU history. The debut commentary, which will air at 6:35 and 8:35 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, focuses on Lucien Blake, a KU researcher and early pioneer of wireless communication. KU's Blake Hall is named for him.

"We thought the KU History Web site was so interesting that we wanted to find a way to get some of the information on our airwaves," said J. Schafer, KPR news director. "So we approached Henry and asked him to produce a series of commentaries for us that would highlight some of the school's fascinating people and historical events. In many ways, the history of KU is also the history of the state -- the world, for that matter. The commentaries will complement the information available on the project Web site, so our listeners can always go there to learn more."

The site provides a vast resource to Internet browsers interested in KU history, traditions or people. Visitors find an ever-changing mix of 123 articles, 600 images, 700 internal links and 500 links to related Web pages.

A companion project, the KU History Galleries, will provide museum-quality panels about KU history in the Kansas Union. These permanent exhibits will be installed upon completion of the union's renovation. Initially, 10 panels will display historical information about such subjects as athletics, protest and dissent, and lost traditions. Organizers hope eventually to have 50 panels throughout the building.

The KU History project is sponsored by KU Memorial Unions.

Kansas Public Radio, the public radio station licensed to KU, operates three transmitters and one translator in northeast Kansas: KANU FM-91.5 in Lawrence, KANH FM-89.7 in Emporia, KANV 91.3-FM in Olsburg-Junction City and K210CR 89.9-FM in Atchison.