George Mason University student publications

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the George Mason University student publications must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

George Mason University student publications, R0154, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
19 linear ft. 34 containers
Abstract:
The George Mason University student publications consist of serial publications attributed to George Mason University students and student groups. These materials were created between 1960 and the present.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

George Mason University student publications, R0154, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The George Mason University student publications consist of serial publications, both short and long-running as well as single-issue publications attributed to George Mason University students and student groups. The types of publications include newsletters, newspapers, literary journals, and magazines created and disseminated from 1960 to date. The collection contains 2 series.

Series 1: Student publications, 1960-2020, which contain the following titles:

Apathy, Asterisk, Brandy Seal, Broadside Guides, The Bull Sheet, Courtside Seats [Vol. 1], Dissenter, The Docket [Vol. 30, No. 3], Energia [Vol. 1, Issue 1], The Ex-Patriot, The Expulsion, Faculty Course Evaluations, The Forge [Vols. 1 and 2], Forth Estate, Freshman Focus, Freshman Register, Hispanic Culture Review, Insight, The Mason Republic [Vol. 1, No. 1], The N.C. Gazette, The Newspaper, Outlier Magazine [Vol. 1], The Patriot, The Paupers Press, Perspective [issues 1 - 4], Phoebe, Plum Duff, Second Thoughts [Vol. 1, No. 3], So to Speak, Student Disorientation Handbook, Student Government News [Vol. 1, No. 3, 5, 6], Student Survival Handbook, The Sunspot [Vol. 2, Issue 1], Tablet [Vol. 1, Issue 1], The Try, The Vacancy, Volition [Vol. 1, 2] VoxPop

Series 2: Student publications, 2021-Present:

The Forge [Vol. 3 -], The George Mason Review [Vol. 31 -], Hispanic Culture Review [Vol. 29], Phoebe [Vol.50 -], So to Speak [Vol. 31 -], Storyline, Volition [Vol. 31 -]

Biographical / historical:

George Mason University began operation under the name "University College of the University of Virginia" in the fall of 1957 in an 8-room former elementary school in Bailey's Crossroads. The original student body consisted of 17 young men and women from local high schools. The college was renamed "George Mason College" in late 1959 and moved to its first permanent campus at Fairfax during the fall of 1964. During this early period (1957-1964) enrollment never exceeded 250 students. Once at Fairfax, George Mason College's student body, while still small at 356, began to grow in terms of school spirit and student involvement. Students formed increasingly more and varied clubs,vigorously promoted and participated in Student Government elections, created leagues of intramural sports, and participated in many of the rites of college life, including publishing of newsletters, newspapers, yearbooks, and later, journals.

While no expamples of student publications prior to 1960 can be found in this collection, there were, most-likely, some mimeographed newsletters or other handouts created by students to inform, entertain, or educate their peers in the tiny college community. Student publications at George Mason during the 1960s included numerous small, short-run serial newsletters, the student newspaper The Gunston Ledger (renamed Broadside in 1969) [link to https://aspace.gmu.edu/resources/r0128], and the yearbook, Advocate [link to https://aspace.gmu.edu/resources/r0132]. By the 1970s and later a number of student published literary and culture-based journals appeared at Mason, including Phoebe and So to Speak. Today nearly all of the student publications are published and distributed by the umbrella group Student Media, which is part of Mason's Division of University Life.

Acquisition information:
These materials were and are actively being acquired by George Mason University Special Collections Research Center through the Office of Student Media.
Processing information:

Materials which make up this collection were initially processed by SCRC Archivist and Records Manager, Barbara Haase and SCRC staff beginning in the mid-1980s as individual record units. In 2023 undergraduate student assistant, Colin McDonald compiled a preliminary inventory and arrangement for the collection. In 2024 graduate research assistant, Maegan Jankowski completed final inventory, arrangement, and description. University Archivist Robert Vay assisted with Finding Aid Collection Overview description and publishing.

Arrangement:

The collection contains 2 series:

Series 1: Student publications, 1960-2020 is divided into four sub-series, each of which contains an alphabetic range of titles. Each title is then arranged in ascending chronological order. Series 2: Student publications, 2021-Present contains one sub-series arranged alphabetically by publication title.

Physical location:
R93, C4, S2 - C8, S3
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard