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Collection of Student Newspapers at Purdue University

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 99

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

  • 1930 - 2008
  • 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.
  1. Underground and Political Student Newspapers
  2. 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.

Related Materials

MSF 467, Barbara Cook papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries. Items in Series 8, Student Unrest Binders, include specific details about newspaper controversies of the late 1960s.
MSP 152, Purdue University International Students collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries. Includes one issue of the International Reporter from Fall 1964 and one issue from Fall 1965.
MSP 312, The Purdue Student Newspaper (1875 edition), Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSP 245, The Purdue Student Newspaper (1880s edition), Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSP 313, The Purdue Exponent student newspaper collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
MSP 325, Purdue News (1882) collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

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

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

Contact:
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839