Jay Trask
@rjtrask1.bsky.social
Archivist at UNCo. Husband of a librarian. Keeper of Bishop and ghostly Maisie and Kivrin. Interested in archival silence and archives/power. Nerd. I love comics, LOTR, Discworld, old ghost stories, and dogs. Currently learning Middle Egyptian. He/Him.
Looking through the old Colorado State College yearbooks for the first evidence of superheroes, I found a photograph from a 1941 dance. It looks like one of the students is wearing a costume combing elements from the costumes of both Superman and Shazam.
November 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Looking through the old Colorado State College yearbooks for the first evidence of superheroes, I found a photograph from a 1941 dance. It looks like one of the students is wearing a costume combing elements from the costumes of both Superman and Shazam.
Looks like drinking with skeletons went poorly. Not sure what was said to start the fight, but it looks intense.
From the 1908 Colorado State Normal School Cache la Poudre yearbook.
From the 1908 Colorado State Normal School Cache la Poudre yearbook.
October 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Looks like drinking with skeletons went poorly. Not sure what was said to start the fight, but it looks intense.
From the 1908 Colorado State Normal School Cache la Poudre yearbook.
From the 1908 Colorado State Normal School Cache la Poudre yearbook.
My dog Bishop could be Bagel's long list cousin!
August 1, 2025 at 8:01 PM
My dog Bishop could be Bagel's long list cousin!
Mysterious circle of young girls waving corn. I imagine it was a secret ceremony on the campus of the Colorado Normal School.
March 28, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Mysterious circle of young girls waving corn. I imagine it was a secret ceremony on the campus of the Colorado Normal School.
They seemed to miss the most important aspect of this picture. I would label it "Tiny ghost at Upper Portal No.3. Tiny ghost seems chill."
March 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
They seemed to miss the most important aspect of this picture. I would label it "Tiny ghost at Upper Portal No.3. Tiny ghost seems chill."
A fancy boy in a bandana enjoying a snack.
March 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
A fancy boy in a bandana enjoying a snack.
Biology Professor Arthur Beardsley of the Colorado Normal School moments before he is devoured by a terrifying skinless monstrosity. Or maybe he is just sitting near an anatomical mannequin. I am not sure.
February 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Biology Professor Arthur Beardsley of the Colorado Normal School moments before he is devoured by a terrifying skinless monstrosity. Or maybe he is just sitting near an anatomical mannequin. I am not sure.
We visited Petsmart today and Bishop decided he was too tired to carry on. He decided to get comfy on the bags of food.
(My Bluesky account is quickly becoming focused on Bishop's shenanigans.)
(My Bluesky account is quickly becoming focused on Bishop's shenanigans.)
February 23, 2025 at 6:25 PM
We visited Petsmart today and Bishop decided he was too tired to carry on. He decided to get comfy on the bags of food.
(My Bluesky account is quickly becoming focused on Bishop's shenanigans.)
(My Bluesky account is quickly becoming focused on Bishop's shenanigans.)
Bishop: The Saddenning Continues. Bishop is snuggling with Val the squirrel to battle his continued existential crisis (and hurting ear.)
February 22, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Bishop: The Saddenning Continues. Bishop is snuggling with Val the squirrel to battle his continued existential crisis (and hurting ear.)
The saddest boy in the world wrapped up in blankets and a heat pad. His ear hurts, so everything is terrible.
February 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The saddest boy in the world wrapped up in blankets and a heat pad. His ear hurts, so everything is terrible.
Very unfortunate headline from a Catholic newspaper from March 15, 1942.
February 14, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Very unfortunate headline from a Catholic newspaper from March 15, 1942.
Bishop had a hard day at the vet yesterday getting his vaccines. He was so tired he fell asleep on his friend, Gertie the Valentine Cow.
February 10, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Bishop had a hard day at the vet yesterday getting his vaccines. He was so tired he fell asleep on his friend, Gertie the Valentine Cow.
Here is the cover from the November 14, 1969 Colorado State College student newspaper, The Mirror. The issue was entirely dedicated to the black experience, but it is noted "Many articles planned for this issue of the Mirror have been deleted due to pressure from the establishment."
February 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Here is the cover from the November 14, 1969 Colorado State College student newspaper, The Mirror. The issue was entirely dedicated to the black experience, but it is noted "Many articles planned for this issue of the Mirror have been deleted due to pressure from the establishment."
A really dramatic headline from our 1972 student magazine.
January 31, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A really dramatic headline from our 1972 student magazine.
Mysterious threatening letter sent to the University of Northern Colorado president's office in 1970.
January 29, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Mysterious threatening letter sent to the University of Northern Colorado president's office in 1970.
Visited the conservation labs at the Denver Art Museum yesterday. It was really cool to see their work! We also got to visit the Maurice Sendak exhibit!
January 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Visited the conservation labs at the Denver Art Museum yesterday. It was really cool to see their work! We also got to visit the Maurice Sendak exhibit!
I really suffer from horror vacui! I can't handle blank space in my office.
January 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I really suffer from horror vacui! I can't handle blank space in my office.
They hang proudly in my office as well!
January 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
They hang proudly in my office as well!
Do other archivists get unsolicited boxes of random things? We have a person who periodically sends us all sorts of strange items, like today's fare of craisins, a Czech dictionary, some washcloths, and packaged combs.
I have sent letters asking for the gifts to stop, but to no avail.
I have sent letters asking for the gifts to stop, but to no avail.
January 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Do other archivists get unsolicited boxes of random things? We have a person who periodically sends us all sorts of strange items, like today's fare of craisins, a Czech dictionary, some washcloths, and packaged combs.
I have sent letters asking for the gifts to stop, but to no avail.
I have sent letters asking for the gifts to stop, but to no avail.
A group of ethereal students from the Colorado Normal School in Greeley, CO. They were dancers and singers for the Arbor Day celebrations on campus. (Arbor Day was a big thing for some reason.)
January 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A group of ethereal students from the Colorado Normal School in Greeley, CO. They were dancers and singers for the Arbor Day celebrations on campus. (Arbor Day was a big thing for some reason.)
A mysterious inspection by Zachariah Xenophon Snyder on the CO Teacher's College campus. He was a major eugenics thinker and represented the "old guard" in the National Educational Association. He lost his bid to be NEA president to Ella Flagg Young. Women were accused of "guerrilla tactics" in win
January 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A mysterious inspection by Zachariah Xenophon Snyder on the CO Teacher's College campus. He was a major eugenics thinker and represented the "old guard" in the National Educational Association. He lost his bid to be NEA president to Ella Flagg Young. Women were accused of "guerrilla tactics" in win
Carter Hall was the second library on campus. It was completely remodeled during the 1930s transforming from neoclassical into Art Moderne. Here it is look gorgeous under snow during the early 1920s.
January 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Carter Hall was the second library on campus. It was completely remodeled during the 1930s transforming from neoclassical into Art Moderne. Here it is look gorgeous under snow during the early 1920s.
A lovely quiet snowy day on campus. It is that time before students return, most of the faculty are still gone, and only us library and other service folks are around.
January 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A lovely quiet snowy day on campus. It is that time before students return, most of the faculty are still gone, and only us library and other service folks are around.
I also broke it down by publisher. I've read 8,365 DC comics, 3,184 Marvel comics, and 1,149 Dark Horse books.
January 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I also broke it down by publisher. I've read 8,365 DC comics, 3,184 Marvel comics, and 1,149 Dark Horse books.