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A series of images from the UAB Archives

1980s

  • Lining up for UAB's first homecoming parade, 1989

    Inaugural UAB Homecoming Parade, 1989
    February 2024 Image of the Month

    Homecoming was originally celebrated at UAB as part of the basketball season and was first held in January 1979.  Ten years later, on February 4, 1989, the university sponsored the first homecoming parade, which traveled across campus and ended at the new UAB Arena.  Homecoming 1989 had the theme of "Catch the Spirit."  The women's basketball team defeated Virginia Commonwealth after a pep rally and bonfire held on Thursday.  The men's basketball team defeated Old Dominion following the inaugural parade on Saturday afternoon; Blazer sophomore guard Andy Kennedy led the team with 20 points scored.

    Image ID: A2018-06P

     
  • First Miss UAB selected, March 26, 1983

    Phyllis Pope the first Miss UAB, 1983
    March 2023 Image of the Month

    The inaugural Miss UAB pageant was held in the Bell Theatre on March 26, 1983, with twenty-two students competing.  Phyllis Pope, a pre-dentistry major from Illinois, was chosen as the first Miss UAB.  Her talent competition was vocals.  The UAB pageant was established as an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama and Miss America organizations, and today's scholarship competition remains as a preliminary for the two organizations.

    Image ID:Phoenix yearbook 

     
  • Visitor center at UAB welcomes visitors to campus and to Birmingham, 1988

    UAB welcomes visitors to campus and to Birmingham
    July 2022 Image of the Month

    A small brick building on the western edge of the university campus was opened in 1985 as a joint venture between UAB and the Greater Birmingham Visitors and Convention Bureau.  Center staff assisted city and campus visitors, were able to assist with hotel and dining reservations, and were able to distribute UAB material and forms during weekends when most university offices were closed.  The center was located at the corner of University Boulevard and 12th Street South, at the site of today's University Boulevard Office Building.

    In July the university community welcomed the world to UAB and to Birmingham as UAB served as a major partner of the 2022 World Games.  Sporting competitions were held at several university facilities, tug-of-war at the track facility, lacrosse at the soccer field, and racquetball and squash in the Campus Recreation Center.  UAB residence halls served as the World Games Village and housed visiting athletes and coaches.  UAB Medicine was also the official sponsor of medical services for the 2022 World Games.  This was not the first time UAB had hosted national and international athletes, as UAB played host to several soccer teams during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and campus was used as a sporting venue for the 2017 U.S. National Senior Games.

    Image ID: A2007-11P

  • UAB International Festival, 1987

    UAB International Festival, 1987
    April 2022 Image of the Month

    UAB's first International Festival was a multi-day event held in April 1987.  It kicked off with an International Food Festival held in the Mini Park.  Other events during the week included an arts and crafts bazaar, a talent show, and an open house held in the Smolian International House.  UAB had previously hosted an International Food Festival, but in 1987 the festival was expanded to include more activities and events.  UAB's International Student Association sponsored the festival.

    Image ID: A2007-11P

  • Transplant surgeon Robert Karp interviewed by local media, November 1981

    Dr. Robert Karp interviewed by local media
    November 2021 Image of the Month
    On November 24, 1981, Dr. Robert B. Karp headed the UAB team that performed a heart transplant at University Hospital, the first heart transplant performed in the southeastern United States.  Dr. Karp was a member of the faculty of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

    Image ID: P7.2.1, #0211

  • Dean Milly Cowles at her desk, 1980

    Dean Milly Cowles at her desk, 1980
    March 2020 Image of the Month
    On March 15, 1980, Dr. Milly E. Cowles became the second dean of the School of Education, becoming the second female named as a dean at UAB and the first female dean of a non-health science school.  Cowles had joined the UAB faculty in 1973.  When she retired in 1987, Dr. Cowles was named as a Distinguished Service Professor by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.

    Image ID: P23.3

  • Dedication of the Webb Nutrition Sciences Building, October 18, 1983

    Susan Mott Webb Building Dedication
    October 2018 Image of the Month

    The new building was made possible by a donation of Charles B. Webb, Jr., and the Susan Mott Webb Charitable Trust in honor of Webb’s late wife, Susan Mott Webb. At the October 18, 1983, dedication ceremony were (left to right): Dr. Richard Arrington, Jr., Mayor of Birmingham; Dr. Charles E. Butterworth, chair of the Department of Nutrition Sciences; Ruth R. Mott, mother of the late Mrs. Webb; Charles B. Webb, Jr.; and Dr. S. Richardson Hill, Jr., UAB President. The Susan Mott Webb Nutrition Sciences Building housed the nutrition department and provided classrooms and administrative offices for the allied health professions school.

    Image ID: P7.4.1, #2525

  • Intramural Game, circa 1980

    Intramural Game
    September 2018 Image of the Month

    Intramural sports have long been a part of university history, even when the teams had no campus home. In the early years, intramurals were held at George Ward Park, at Fair Park, and at Jordan Park, a city park adjacent to the western edge of UAB that was eventually incorporated into the campus. Intramural fields were later located on campus at the 600 block of South 12th Street and then on the 800 block of South 11th Street. A new Intramural and Club Sports Field Complex was officially opened on August 28, 2018. This new complex is located at 1101 5th Avenue South and is directly across the street from the Football Operations Center.

    Image ID: P7.3.1, #1018

  • UAB Commencement, 1988

    UAB Commencement, 1988
    April 2018 Image of the Month

    The spring graduation for 1988 was held in the new UAB Arena, the first time a commencement ceremony had been held on the university’s campus. The arena opened in May 1988 and graduation was held on June fifth. UAB awarded degrees to 3,260 students.


    ID: P23.3

  • The Poor Little Matchgirl, 1988

    Three young actors on the set of a play
    December 2017 Image of the Month

    The world premiere of The Poor Little Matchgirl was on December 16, 1988, at UAB. The musical by Amos D. Carroll was based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen, and it was produced by UAB Town and Gown Theatre, with James F. Hatcher as producer and director.

    ID: P45.2

  • President Charles A. McCallum, Jr., in his office, circa 1987

    President McCallum, Jr. sits on the side of his desk
    April 2017 Image of the Month

    Dr. McCallum became the third President of UAB in April 1987, and he served until September 1993. He had previously served as Vice President for Health Affairs, as dean of the School of Dentistry, and as chair of the Department of Oral Surgery. Dr. McCallum came to Birmingham in 1951 as an oral surgery intern and, in 1957, received an MD degree from the Birmingham medical school. After he retired from UAB, McCallum served two terms as Mayor of Vestavia Hills.

    Image ID: P7.2.1, #1082

  • Sterne Library Renovation, March 1987

    Shelving being installed in Sterne Library
    March 2017 Image of the Month

    Before a major move of printed material could be accomplished, new shelving had to be installed by library staff, students, and volunteers. Over 200,000 library volumes were then moved onto the shelving in the new addition of the Mervyn H. Sterne Library so that the original portion of the building could be renovated.

    Image ID: P23.3

  • Medical transcription, 1982

    A woman types on a computer
    February 2017 Image of the Month

    Cecelia Williams, transcription supervisor, uses one of six new word processing terminals installed in the medical records office at University Hospital.  UAB was the first hospital in the state to use word processors for transcription.  Departmental staff used the new terminals to complete transcription services for UAB physicians.

    Image ID: P7.4.1, #2229

  • Holiday cheer in the hospital, November 1982

    A man sits inside an elevator decorated for Thanksgiving
    November 2016 Image of the Month

    Roland Sams, an elevator operator in University Hospital, shared some cheer with patients and visitors during the Thanksgiving holiday.

    Image ID: P7.4.1, #2262

  • Blazer basketball seniors, 1982

    Four members of the UAB men's basketball team pose with a trophy
    March 2016 Image of the Month

    With the championship trophy, seniors who helped the UAB Blazers win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 1982 are left to right (front row) Raymond Gause and Scott Simcik and (back row) Lex Drum and Cliff Pruitt. UAB first hosted a conference basketball tournament in Birmingham in February 1982. UAB defeated Virginia Commonwealth to win the tournament and gain UAB’s first basketball championship. The 1982 tournament was the most successful in the history of the conference with a record 29,079 attendees. As conference champions, the Blazers automatically advanced to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Indiana — the defending national champions — and Virginia before falling to Louisville. The team’s final record for the season was 25-6.

    Image ID: Media Guide

    For the second consecutive year, UAB hosted the C-USA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments with games played in Bartow Arena and at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC). The tournament was held March 8-12. Go Blazers!!!

  • ROTC Color Guard, circa 1989

    Members of the ROTC Color Gaurd stand at attention
    September 2015 Image of the Month

    The Army ROTC program at UAB was established in September 1980 with 12 student cadets. In 1983 UAB was granted host institution status and became home to the newest battalion of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. UAB’s Army ROTC program is currently headquartered in the 501 Building on 12th Street South.

    Image ID: P7.2.6, #0021

  • President S. Richardson Hill, Jr., signs the first pledge card for the new UAB Benevolent Fund, 1984

    President S. Richardson Hall, Jr. sits next to Dr. Virginia D. Gauld
    July 2014 Image of the Month

    The fund was established in 1984, and in July Dr. Virginia D. Gauld (right) was selected as first president of the UAB Faculty and Staff Benevolent Fund Council, a new 32-member group to oversee UAB’s charitable giving campaign.

    Image ID: P7.4.1, #2736

  • The Business-Engineering Complex, circa 1985

    Aerial view of the engineering building
    January 2014 Image of the Month

    Opened for classes during the fall of 1983, the Business-Engineering Complex was formally dedicated on January 21, 1984, as a new home for UAB’s Schools of Business and Engineering.

    Photo ID: P29.1, #0042

  • 1917 Clinic, circa 1988

    Exterior of the 1917 Clinic
    January 2013 Image of the Month

    In response to the growing epidemic, an outpatient clinic for AIDS patients was opened at UAB in January 1988. It was founded and first directed by Dr. Michael S. Saag. The clinic name originated from the building’s street address of 1917 5th Avenue South in order to protect the confidentiality of the patients.

    Image ID: P23.3, #1419

    Dr. Michael S. Saag presented the 34th annual Reynolds Historical Lecture, entitled "Thirty Years of AIDS," on February 22, 2013. For additional information see the Special Collections Lectures page.

  • UAB's annual Toys for Tots drive, 1988.

    Several staff members decorate a Christmas tree and play with donated toys
    December 2012 Image of the Month

    UAB staff collect items for the annual toy drive.

    Image ID: P7.4.1, #0917

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Mervyn H. Sterne Library

917 13th St S
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-6364

Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences

1700 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL

(205) 975-4821

Reynolds-Finley Historical Library

1700 University Blvd - 3rd Floor
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-4475

Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences

1700 University Blvd - 3rd Floor
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-4475

Lister Hill Library at University Hospital

615 18th Street S - P235 West Pavilion
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-2275

801 Building

801 5th Ave South
Room 1111
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-5432

J. Ellis Sparks Medical Library

301 Governors Drive SE - 3rd Floor
Huntsville, AL 35801

(256) 551-4405

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