Collection of Southern Methodist University student newspapers

A Guide to the Collection

Historical Note

Student publications appeared on the SMU campus as early as 1915. In those early years, the student body owned, controlled, published, and distributed the campus newspaper, yearbook, and student directories. Humor magazines and papers appeared periodically as well.

The Southern Methodist University Students’ Publishing Company, incorporated in 1930, established a free press responsible for producing the newspaper, the yearbook, and student directories. The company, now called the Student Media Company, Inc., is a non-profit Texas corporation that operates independently from SMU. It publishes The Daily Campus and Rotunda yearbook, both of which are edited by students. KPNI Radio (formerly KSMU) was supported and owned by the Student Media Company from 1964 – 1989 and from 1995 – 2003. It also publishes the Directory of Students, Staff, and Faculty.

Over the years, frequency varied from once or twice a week to daily. The SMU newspaper has also changed names many times throughout its publication:

SMU Times - Volume 1, numbers 1-14 (September 11 – December 18, 1915)

Campus - Volume 1, number 15 – Volume 8, number 12 (January 14, 1916 – December 8, 1922)

Semi-Weekly Campus - Volume 8, number 13 – Volume 22 (January 10, 1923 – May 1937)

Campus - Volume 23 (September 1937 – May 1938)

Semi-Weekly Campus - Volumes 24 - 25 (September 1938 – May 1940)

Campus - Volume 26 (September 1940 – May 1941)

Semi-Weekly Campus - Volumes 27 – 28 (September 1941 – May 1943)

Campus - Volumes 29 – 30 (July 1943 – June 1945)

SMU Campus - Volume 31 (September 1945 – August 1946

Campus - Volume 32, numbers 1 – 15 (September 27 – November 16, 1946)

SMU Campus - Volume 32, number 16 (November 20, 1946 – 1969)

The Daily Campus - 1969 - Present

The Student Media Company Inc. and its board, unlike many college newspapers, have enjoyed a unique independence from faculty review. While the editors recognize their responsibilities to the students and to the administration, the SMU Students' Publishing Company has been controversial at times. The administration often disliked what was printed, and on a few occasions, the student body protested the newspaper’s negative publicity concerning the athletic program.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

This collection contains various editions of the student-published SMU newspaper from 1915 to 1992. Some decades, the 1920s, 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, are well represented, but editions in the remaining decades are sparse. Special editions include The Dinkey (April Fools “humor” issue), weekend editions, and student media and orientation editions.

The early newspapers from around the 1920s to the 1950s were in a regular newspaper format or horizontal. The newspapers changed into a tabloid format during the years from 1966 to 1970. Nearly all the newspapers have yellowed, and extreme care should be used as the older editions are often torn and deteriorated.

The content of the student-led newspaper changed from year to year. During the 1920s and the 1930s, the newspaper’s main focus was on enrollment, breaking ground for new buildings, fashion, and sororities and fraternities on campus. Advertisements for cigarettes and clothing boutiques dominated.

In the 1950s, the newspaper focused on issues as serious as Communism, segregation, and American isolationism to the length of a co-ed’s skirt. The ads in the newspapers during this time were mainly cigarette advertisements, clothing, and recruitment advertisements from engineering firms.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the newspaper content dramatically changed. The newspaper focused on social issues and world events in addition to SMU news. Issues included the draft, lowering the voting age, university student protests, African American rights, and the Vietnam War. The newspaper ads featured movies, restaurants, and job advertisements.

The 1980s and 1990s are not well represented. The few editions in these decades focus on the football controversy and related issues.

The collection is arranged in chronological order in two series. Series #1 contains unbound newspapers and series #2 contains bound newspapers. Some issues are described with representative headlines from the issues as highlights.

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Restrictions

Access to Collection:

Collection is open for research use.

Publication Rights:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Director of the DeGolyer Library.

Copyright Statement:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright authorization.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Collection of Southern Methodist University student newspapers, Southern Methodist University Archives, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University.

Acquisition Information

Gift, Mike Hazel, Gerry York, Mary Kitchens, Edward L. Sinnott, and others.

Processing Information

Various gifts were gathered, organized chronologically, and re-foldered.

Finding aid written by Pamalla Anderson and Morgan Honeycutt, 2007.

Encoded by

Lara Corazalla, 2007.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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