are jayhawks a real bird

Few university mascots are as unique, colorful and beloved as the Kansas Jayhawk. Where the use of the term “Jayhawk” began no one knows for sure. Dr. F.W. Blackmar, the first Dean of the Graduate School from 1889-1929, attempted to address this mystery in 1926.

But what does a Jayhawk look like?

Over time, the Jayhawk mascot of the University of Kansas has changed.

Henry Maloy, a cartoonist for the student newspaper The University Daily Kansan, is credited with drawing the first Jayhawk officially recognized by the university in 1912. The friendly illustration features a blue body, a large yellow beak, long stilt-like legs and most notably shoes (KU Athletics says that they are for kicking opponents).

Since its creation, the Jayhawk has gone through seven iterations, each of which was influenced by the particular era it symbolized:

• With its somber appearance, the 1920 Jayhawk is perched atop a KU monogram.
• The Jayhawk’s beak was made longer in 1923 by Jimmy O’Bryon and George Hollingbery, giving it a duck-like appearance.
• Forrest O. Sharp talons were added to the Jayhawk’s shoes in Calvin’s 1929 drawing.
• Gene “Yogi” Williams created the 1941 Jayhawk, also referred to as the “War Hawk,” which had opened eyes and a beak to give the bird a more threatening appearance.

However, it is the Harold D. Jayhawk’s smiling 1946 Jayhawk. Sandy that we know today.

What is a Jayhawk?

Although it’s unclear where the term “Jayhawk” originated, F W. In a 1926 university radio program, Blackmar, the first dean of the University of Kansas Graduate School, made an attempt to clarify the mascot’s origins:

“The ‘Jayhawk’ is a myth. It has no historical use. It is neither beast, fish nor fowl,” he wrote.

The name is a combination of two actual birds: the sparrow hawk, a cunning hunter, and the blue jay, a noisy bird that is known to raid nests.

One of the earliest accounts of people being referred to as “jayhawkers” comes from the 1840s and describes a group of pioneers traveling across the Great Plains west to California to join the gold rush. Blackmar’s address notes that around the same time “jayhawking” became a general term referring to “marauding or plundering.”

A few years later, the Kansas Territory was the center of conflict over the state’s future status as a slave or free state. No settlement on either side of the Kansas–Missouri border was willing to make concessions, which sparked years of bloody guerilla warfare between the pro–slavery and abolitionist factions, now known as “Bleeding Kansas.” ”.

A few years later in 1886, the Jayhawk made its first official appearance in association with KU in the university’s Rock Chalk Chant. And when the Kansas football team first took the field in 1890, “it seemed only natural to call them Jayhawkers,” according to KU Athletics.

To find out what exactly qualifies as a Jayhawk, we revisit Blackmar’s speech:

The myth of the “Jayhawk” has evolved into a symbol of strength and advancement. The robber bird spirit and the lawless, disorderly spirit of the stressful, stormy period have vanished. All that’s left are the bravery and camaraderie in defending and establishing Kansas’ independence. The goal of the modern Jayhawk is to uphold the great, powerful, and noble qualities of Kansas via good deeds. ”.

Now, it’s a spirit all Kansans can get behind.

It’s unclear how the term ended up being used to refer to every Kansan. Maybe because Jayhawk became a household name and Kansas was perceived as the epicenter of unrest on a national scale It is likely that Jennison’s group of rebels and fighters, as well as Jennison’s “Jayhawk regiment” during the Civil War, contributed to the name sticking with Kansas. However, Kansans welcome the totemic moniker with grace, and every devoted Kansan takes pride in belonging to the Clan-Kansas, which today stands for more admirable things than “jayhawking.” The “Jayhawk” legend has evolved into a symbol of strength and advancement. The robber bird spirit and the lawless, disorderly spirit of the stressful, stormy period have vanished. All that’s left are the bravery and camaraderie in defending and establishing Kansas’ independence. The goal of the modern Jayhawk is to uphold the great, powerful, and noble qualities of Kansas via good deeds. It is a benevolent spirit. The word was adopted by Kansas University as a shibboleth, and the K was displayed after it was painted on the ground using “rock chalk.” U. yell, the greatest lung developer of all times. It is the voice of the clan. It is a call to bravery and the will to fight; but it is also a call to righteousness, truth, friendship, and education. The mythical bird has been portrayed by the artists through witty totemic designs that range from a dejected crow to a fierce-looking fighting bird and even a “dicky-bird” with a huge bill and boots. While a clan totem can serve as a symbol of solidarity and allegiance, the Jayhawk spirit is resistant to being captured on camera. But regardless of the origins of this legendary creature, its hazy past, or its early usage by individuals whose morality was occasionally questioned, “Jayhawk” now represents the University of Kansas spirit of unity, loyalty, honesty, and moral living. Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk K. U.

There aren’t many university mascots as distinctive, lively, and well-liked as the Kansas Jayhawk. Nobody is certain when the term “Jayhawk” first appeared in use. Dr. F. W. In 1926, Blackmar, the first Graduate School Dean (1889–1929), made an effort to unravel this mystery.

The “Jayhawk” is a myth. It has no historical use. It is neither beast, fish nor fowl. The myth originated from the personalities of two common birds in the Missouri Valley: the sparrow hawk, a quiet killer of birds, rats, mice, and rabbits, and when needed, a fearless and cautious fighter; and the blue jay, a cacophonous, squabbling robber who enjoys jumping on small birds and robbing their nests of eggs and young birds. Nobody is certain of the exact moment, location, or person who combined the names of the two birds to form “Jayhawk” and applied it to people. Nonetheless, it is known that the word “jayhawk” first appeared in these birds’ native range, which is located between Texas and Nebraska. It is known that an overland gold-seeking company traveling from Nebraska to California used it. It was used against the Missouri guerrilla groups of border ruffians, Jennison’s group of freebooters, Montgomery’s rangers, and, in the end, broadly against the free-soilers of Kansas. When bands were formed in the early days of erratic government, life, and property, and these qualities required courage, boldness, and reckless daring, they were always contenders for the name, either by choice or by the scorn and hatred of enemies. It’s also noteworthy that the term “jayhawking” has spread to refer to robbery or raiding.

FAQ

Were Jayhawkers against slavery?

Why are Kansas called Jayhawkers?

What’s the difference between a blue jay and a Jayhawk?

Are Jayhawks extinct?