Campus Connection

Art historian, UW-La Crosse professor emeritus Les Crocker honored

  A longtime art historian and retired university professor will receive an award from UWL's Murphy Library. The Eugene W. Murphy Library Special Recognition Award for 2018 will be presented to UWL Professor Emeritus Les Crocker during a program and reception at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in the Special Collections and Area Research Center, 155 Murphy Library. The event is free and open to all. Crocker, who taught art history at UWL from 1969-2002, has been an active advocate for the library, donating many culturally significant items from his own collections, as well as encouraging others to contribute historical items to Murphy Library Special Collections. In his art history classes, Crocker led students to an appreciation of primary sources and local history through the use of resources within Special Collections. Crocker is the author of two books on La Crosse history, “Places and Spaces: A Century of Public Buildings, Bridges and Parks in La Crosse, Wisconsin” and “We’ve Hung the Lantern: A Visual History of the First 50 years of UW-La Crosse,” with more books planned. His involvement with Special Collections for these and other endeavors have made him an appreciated contributor and welcome presence in Murphy Library Special Collections. The Murphy Award, established in 1986 in cooperation with the UWL Foundation, recognizes notable contributions to the library’s mission and program. See more about the Murphy Library Award.   If you go— What: The 2018 Eugene W. Murphy Library award ceremony Where: Special Collections and Area Research Center, 156 Murphy Library, UWL When: 5 p.m.Thursday, April 19 Admission: Free.