On Saturday, December 21, 2013 the Libraries celebrated the publication of Assistant University Archivist Barry Cowan's new book, Louisiana State University.

During this special event, Cowan offered a short talk about the book, sharing images and anecdotes. Copies of the book will were on sale, with Cowan signing copies for visitors. A reception followed the talk. "I hope the book will provide not only entertainment, but also the opportunity for people to learn about LSU's long and colorful history in an interesting and accessible way," Cowan said. "The book is certainly meant to educate, but it is also my hope that the photographs herein will bring back fond memories and allow people to reminisce about their times at LSU."

Part of Arcadia Publishing's Campus History Series, Louisiana State University features a foreword by former LSU System President and Chancellor William L. Jenkins. The 128-page, soft-cover book boasts more than two hundred vintage images of the LSU campus throughout its history. For the book, Cowan selected images from the LSU Archives and the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley collections in the LSU Libraries' Special Collections at Hill Memorial Library.

Highlights of the book include displays of rarely seen images, mostly from the collections in the LSU Libraries' Special Collections in Hill Memorial Library; highlights of the four campuses since LSU's inception in 1860; how the university had mandatory ROTC until 1969; and how the baseball team - not the football team - was the first to wear the school's signature purple and gold in 1893.