Cycling through history

From the Archivist: Occasional posts related to University history

November 19, 2015

By Erik Moore

Earlier this month, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the University of Minnesota with a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University award.

The popularity of bicycles at the University of Minnesota is of no surprise to visitors on campus, today or in the past. Check out these historical photos of students and bicycles on campus at the University of Minnesota.

Students with bicycles, 1894. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/80771

Article from the student newspaper Ariel regarding the Minneapolis Cycle Path Association, October 9, 1897. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/2027/umn.31951002482985d

Bicyclists in front of Drill Hall, Dairy Hall in background, 1897. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/71623 — Bicyclists in front of Drill Hall, Dairy Hall in background, St Paul campus, 1897. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/71623

An outdoor student enthusiast club, the Minnesota Rovers, take their bikes to Minnehaha Falls in the 1955 Gopher Yearbook. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/134860 — An outdoor student enthusiast club, the Minnesota Rovers, takes their bikes to Minnehaha Falls pictured in the 1955 Gopher Yearbook. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/134860

Members of Pi Beta Phi sorority in the 1963 Gopher Yearbook. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/134868 — Members of Pi Beta Phi sorority pictured in the 1963 Gopher Yearbook. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/134868

Student at bike rack near Northrop Auditorium with Morrill Hall in the background, 1968. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/80607

Students on campus, 1970. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/80754

Chained bikes on the West Bank, 1970. Available at http://purl.umn.edu/204096

—Erik Moore is the University Archivist and Co-Director of the University Digital Conservancy. To learn more about the University of Minnesota Archives, please visit www.lib.umn.edu/uarchives.