KU Archives contributes to Chamberlain documentary

CBS Sports presented a new documentary on legendary basketball star Wilt Chamberlain April 4. The documentary featured dozens of historic photos and hours of old films from the KU Archives as well as new video footage from 20 interviews conducted last year in the Lawrence area.

The program, “Wilt Chamberlain: Larger than Life,” aired during CBS’ coverage of the NCAA national men’s basketball championships.

Chamberlain came to KU in 1955 to play basketball for the legendary Phog Allen. He led KU to a Big Seven championship and to the 1957 NCAA national championship. Chamberlain left KU in 1958, returning 40 years later when his jersey was retired in Allen Fieldhouse. He died in 1999. A $650,000 gift from his estate funds scholarships, men’s and women’s athletics, and a Special Olympics clinic at KU.

KU’s University Archives in the Spencer Research Library provided 180 photos and about 25 hours of footage for the documentary filmmakers, Black Canyon Productions. The Office of University Relations also helped the filmmakers identify on-campus locations for filming and other preproduction needs.