Description: One many leftover buildings on the UCSC campus from the days of the Cowell Ranch. This photograph was one of the winning entries from the Chancellor's 2007 holiday photo contest.

Photographer: Dave Morrison.

Description: A few UCSC students enjoy the view from the Porter Wave. This photograph was one of the winning entries from the Chancellor's 2007 holiday photo contest.

Photographer: Chakrit Yau.

Description: This photograph shows elk on Cowell Ranch around the turn of the century. At one point Henry Cowell had imported a herd of elk. The herd grew to quite a substantial size until it was hunted to extinction.

Photographer: Unknown.

Description: Life on the Cowell Ranch wasn't all hard work as evidenced by this image. Here a woman and her companions demonstrate a delightful dog trick. The Cowell Ranch Carriage House and other ranch buildings can be seen in the background. This photograph comes from the University Archives.

Photographer: Unknown.

Description: This image shows two workers during the construction of Cowell College. The photograph comes from the University Archives. ca 1966.
Inscription on reverse of photo reads:
"Bob Robertson [L]
removes sliver from finger of
Bob Carter [R]
working on Cowell -
Branagh Inc. contractor"

Photographher: Unknown.

Description: This image shows some of the early Cowell Ranch workers in the days when the land the University now occupies was owned by the Cowell family. The Cowell family owned and operated a successful ranch here with a lime kiln and cooperage. You may recognize the building on the right edge of image which is the elevated barn just up the hill from the Barn Theater and Cook House at the base of campus.

Photographher: Unknown.

Description: This image was taken from a collection of late 19th - early 20th century glass plate negatives, which are part of the Lick Observatory Archives. The University of California Observatories (UCO) is headquartered on the UC Santa Cruz campus and operates telescope and support facilities at the Lick Observatory on Mt Hamilton, just southeast of San Jose, CA.

This glass plate negative collection showcases both the observatory and the often rustic quality of life on Mount Hamilton in the early days of the observatory. During this time a sizable community thrived on the mountain as commuting to the valley below was inefficient and at times impossible.

The Lick Observatory Archives is just one of the many special archives housed in UCSC's Special Collections.

Photographer: unknown.