In this image from a 1975 campus publication, Santa Claus donned a special UAB suit to wish everyone on campus a happy holiday season.

Image ID:Bulletin, 1975

This image from 2017 highlights one of the collections held in UAB Archives, the records of the UAB Town and Gown Theatre (Record Group 45).  The university's official archival repository was formally established by President Charles A. McCallum, Jr., in November 1992.  University Archives, which is one of the three units of the special collections department of the UAB Libraries, is located in the Lister Hill Library Building.  It is open for research by appointment to all university associates and to members of the community.

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The Gurney Derby has been part of the UAB Homecoming Week festivities since 1994.  Four-member teams decorate and then race a hospital gurney down 13th Street South from the Mervyn H. Sterne Library to the UAB Mini Park and back.  In addition to the award for the team with the best race time, an award is presented to the team with the worst race time (the Dead Last Award).

Image ID: A2018-06P

In the September 28, 1992, issue of U.S. News & World Report, UAB was selected in the magazine's annual best colleges issue as the No. 1 Up and Coming University in the nation.  To celebrate, UAB staff placed a banner on the 13th Street pedestrian bridge over University Boulevard so that all traveling through campus would learn of this honor.

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The office of Student Affairs has long hosted an annual event each fall term to welcome new incoming students to the UAB campus.  These events provide information on the various student groups and campus organizations, offer live entertainment, and often feature free food for attendees.  Formerly held in the UAB Mini Park, more recent fall events have been held on the UAB Campus Green.  The 2022 event, Connect Fest, was held on the Green on Sunday, August 21.

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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

As an urban university housed in the middle of the city of Birmingham, UAB construction projects and special events often necessitate the closure of portions of streets or of entire streets, for short or extended durations depending on the specific project.  This is a common occurrence today, with numerous ongoing construction projects on the campus.  But street closure is nothing new to UAB.  As is clearly visible in this photograph from circa 1974, Eighth Avenue South, one of the city's main thoroughfares, was closed to traffic to allow work on the streetscape and for continued construction of the optometry building (center background).  Eighth Avenue South would be renamed in 1981 as University Boulevard.

Image ID: P7.3.1, #0233

The Health Sciences Research Building, which spans Seventh Avenue South, was dedicated on December 9, 1960.  In 1966 an addition was completed on the southern edge of the building, and on November 6, 1966, the newly expanded building was rededicated as the Lyons-Harrison Research Building.  It was named in honor of Dr. Champ Lyons (former chair of the Department of Surgery) and Dr. Tinsley R. Harrison (former chair of the Department of Medicine).  On April 11, 2022, UAB held a groundbreaking for a project that will result in a complete renovation of the building and its renaming as the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building.  The $78 million project is planned for completion in 2024.

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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

The UAB License Plate debuted in April 1991 as part of the state’s collegiate license plate program.  The program supported the UAB National Alumni Society and raised funds for student scholarships.  The new tag, which was introduced in 1996, was the second tag layout and featured UAB’s new mascot, Blaze the Dragon.  Dr. J. Claude Bennett served as the fourth president of UAB from 1993 until 1996.  Prior to being named as president, Bennett had been the chair of the university’s Department of Microbiology and chair of the Department of Medicine.

Image ID: A2001-17P

Image ID: A2004-03P

Image ID: P7.3.13