The university has published a new history to coincide with the 125th anniversary. "Johns Hopkins: Knowledge for the World" is a 288-page, coffee-table-sized voyage through the story of the university. It's told in the voices of dozens of teachers, scientists, students, administrators and others, and it's illustrated with hundreds of revealing historic and contemporary photographs, many never before published.

Besides the story, the facts and figures, the book tries to capture the spirit of the place, what makes Johns Hopkins different. In one passage, for instance, Professor Martha Hill of the School of Nursing (who earned her R.N., bachelor's and PhD at Hopkins) says, "Johns Hopkins helps define where the cutting edge is. We're always pushing and stretching. ... No one in government or industry or any other academic institution has yet been able to make me an offer that I would seriously consider, because I can't imagine why I would leave."

"Johns Hopkins: Knowledge for the World" is available in bookstores or can be ordered through Johns Hopkins University Press (1-800-537-5487; www.press.jhu.edu).

A sampling of illustrations is enclosed. Review copies are available for reporters.

The 125 years of Johns Hopkins University history also is on display in a new exhibit at the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at the Homewood campus.

The exhibit, called "From Gilman to Greatness: 125 Years of Hopkins History," includes photographs, commentary and artifacts covering the origins of Johns Hopkins and important events from more recent history. Included are the clamp devised by surgical technician Vivien Thomas for the historic blue baby operations, the key to the home of William Osler (the first Hopkins physician-in-chief), sheet music for the "Lacrosse Two-Step," the proximity fuze (invented at the Applied Physics Laboratory) that helped win World War II and the death mask of physicist Henry Rowland. This exhibit will be on display on the library's M- Level through May 2001.

Students, faculty and staff will celebrate the 125th anniversary at a swing dance on Sunday evening, Feb. 18, in the Newton H. White Jr. Athletic Center at the Homewood campus. Dance music will be provided by Paul Cosentino & the Boilermaker Jazz Band and George Gee's Jump, Jive & Wailers. Johns Hopkins' own Sixth Dimension band will also play and neophytes will get expert swing dance instruction from the Fabulous Grit Grinders during intermissions. The public is welcome. Tickets are $5. Call 410-516-7157 for information.