Collection of Student Newspapers at Purdue University
Scope and Contents
The Collection of Student Newspapers at Purdue University documents newspapers produced by students at Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette area. It primarily features underground newspapers that reflect the counterculture of the 1960s-1970s. Other newspapers, primarily from the 1990s-2000s, feature varying political perspectives. The collection also includes independent student newspapers that focus on apolitical audiences, such as international students. Some newspaper runs were limited to a single or a few issues, while in some cases specific issues of a newspaper may not be present in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1930 - 2008
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1966 - 1977
Access Information
Collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Material copyrights held by Purdue University or original creator. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.
Historical Information
The earliest known satirical and independent newspapers at Purdue University appeared on campus in the 1930s. In the 1960s-1970s, the Greater Lafayette underground press produced several different newspapers and magazines of varying content. Most of the 1960s-1970s underground newspapers featured content consistent with the counterculture movement of that era, including: opposition to the war in Vietnam, the use of illegal drugs (marijuana in particular), civil rights, women’s liberation, political activism, socialism, sexual liberation, spiritualism, and opposition to police brutality. Some newspapers, such as Tobacco Road, advocated violent revolution. Several of the underground newspapers faced legal challenges and controversy. In the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century, independent newspapers focused on traditional world news and politics.
Extent
1.81 Cubic Feet (Three flat boxes, one half-width letter-size manuscript box, and three flat folders)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The collection is organized into two series.
- Underground and Political Student Newspapers
- Independent Student Newspapers
Acquisition Information
Most materials collected by staff of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Date of acquisition of most items is unknown. Dirty Greek donation by Mr. and Mrs. David Fugit on April 30, 2010. Bauls donation by Joseph B. Kornblum on March 8, 2011. Two issues of Tobacco Road donated by John William Sisson on September 13, 2014.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of materials are available for research use. See Purdue Univeristy Historical Newspapers online.
Processing Information
All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. In July 2021, The Greek and Independent Gazette student newspapers were added to the collection, and the newspaper "Vietnam: Whose Victory? Whose Defeat?" was separated form the file of Hard Times and placed into its own file.
Source
- Fugit, David (Donor, Person)
- Kornblum, Joseph B. (Donor, Person)
- Sisson, John Wm. (Donor, Person)
Subject
- Hovde, Frederick L., 1908-1983 (Person)
- Purdue University (Organization)
- Purdue University--Students (Organization)
- Title
- Collection of Student Newspapers at Purdue University
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Elizabeth Wilkinson, Michael Maune, and Neal Harmeyer
- Date
- 2021-07-08
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- Fifth edition. Collection description first completed 2012-03-21.
Revision Statements
- 2013-11-13: Description updated, by Elizabeth Wilkinson.
- 2014-01-02: Description updated, by Michael Maune.
- 2017-02-22: Collection identifiers OS M 1, OS M 18, OS L 15, and OS S 7 removed. Notes and containers updated, by Neal Harmeyer.
- 2021-07-08: Added The Greek and Independent Gazette newspapers to the collection and updated collection description, by Neal Harmeyer
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu