Dr. W.S. (Wendy Sue) Universe is an anthropomorphic cat who answers science-based questions in a Washington State University produced column, aimed at school-age youth and adults alike. She provides not just answers but also often provides insights into the importance of the question, how the answers were determined, and what greater implications those answers might have.
Dr. Universe was created in 1996 by Tim Steury, then research news coordinator and editor of WSU’s research magazine, Universe. Bob Smith, Dean of the Graduate School, came up with the name. Sonia Oei Gerard was recruited to provide artwork. The syndicated column appeared bi-weekly in northwest newspapers, as well as online. It has gone through several iterations, occasionally appearing solely as text, occasionally with an accompanying cartoon or photograph (often of Dr. Universe and one of the scientists involved in answering the questions), and was briefly planned, but never published, as a Sunday-strip style comic. The strip ended in August 2001, when Universe magazine ceased publication, but was resurrected in 2014 as Rachel Webber of WSU Communications took over the reins of Dr. Universe in print and online. In 2018, a series of animated Dr. Universe minute-long episodes for web and television were created in partnership with Northwest Public Broadcasting.
The collection consists primarily of art, both original and reproductions, created for the Ask Dr. Universe columns. It includes original comic strips, photographs, administrative materials, clippings, and promotional materials for the column.
The materials are separated into two boxes, solely based on the size of the materials. Within each box, materials are broken into subject-based folders.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item Description]
Washington State University, University Communications Ask Dr. Universe Files, 1998-2015
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The materials were transferred to Washington State University Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collection on June 7, 2019 by Larry Clark, editor of Washington State Magazine. They were retained as UA2019-02.
This collection was processed in June, 2019 by University Archivist Mark O’English. All digital files were copied into archival storage during processing.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.