Student Publications in Duke University Archives
The voices of a university’s student body are heard through student-run publications. These publications allow students to gain writing and editorial experience, express their beliefs, and make their experiences known at their university. Duke’s history with student publishing is a long one, beginning in 1887 with the founding of the Trinity Archive, a literary magazine. Since then, students have published on almost every topic imaginable. This exhibit highlights only a sliver of these publications, but showcases the variety of publishing endeavors that students engage in. This variety manifests itself in both format (like zines, newspapers, and journals) and content (such as culture and identity, news and politics, humor, and campus life). The items here present different stories and perspectives on the student experience at Duke.
Several regulatory bodies oversaw these publications, contributing to the politics of student publishing. Beginning in 1924, the Undergraduate Publications Board served as the primary authority for the majority of recognized student publications, though it is no longer active. The Woman’s Student Government Association also exercised publishing influence, as East Campus life often operated separately from West Campus during the era of the Woman’s College (1930-1972). Student organizations publish with distinct motivations, inseparable from the publications themselves. Each publication here was designed with a specific audience in mind, assuming and legitimizing shared beliefs and values. As you investigate these materials, you are invited to think about the content of each publication, who it is written for, and how this informs the tone and framing of the information presented.
If you are interested in having your student group’s materials or publications housed in the University Archives, reach out to AskRL@duke.edu. More information about the student archiving initiative can be found in the link below.
This exhibit was curated by Meredith Mobley, University Archives Intern for Student Engagement. Special thanks to Rebecca Pattillo, Valerie Gillispie, Neal Shipe, Yoon Kim and the exhibits team for their considerate guidance and assistance.
Click here to learn more about the student archiving initiative!
https://guides.library.duke.edu/studentgroups
