Guide to the Westminster College Communications Department newspaper clippings and scrapbooks

Table of Contents

Collection Overview

Collection Inventory+/-

Biographical Note/Historical Note

Content Description

Collection Use

Administrative Information

Subjects

Collection Overview +/-

Title: Westminster College Communications Department newspaper clippings and scrapbooks
Dates: 1928-1997 (inclusive)
Collection Number: ACC-081
Summary: This collection consists of microfilmed copies of newspaper clippings collected in 20 scrapbooks compiled between 1928-1997 by the Communications Department and earlier public relations staff of Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. The clippings contain information on events and people associated with the College. After microfilming, the scrapbooks were destroyed.
Repository: Westminster College, Giovale Library
Address:
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
Phone: (801) 832-2250

Collection Inventory +/-

reel 1: 1928 May 20 -- 1956 August 30
reel 2: 1956 August 31 -- 1967 August 31
reel 3: 1966 April 14 -- 1975 July 31
reel 4: 1975 July 1 -- 1997 January 3

Biographical Note/Historical Note +/-

In 1928, Westminster College began collecting newspaper articles about its activities, faculty, and students. The articles were first placed in scrapbooks, then photocopied and placed in binders. The earlier compilations were microfilmed as part of the collection entitled "Westminster College Communications Department newspaper clipping and scrapbooks, 1928-1997" (ACC-081). Since 2004, articles have been posted on the Westminster website.

The overall mission of the Office of Communications is to promote the college and its president and to disseminate information about the college.

Publications: External communications include annual publications consisting of three magazines targeted to alumni, donors, and friends: two Reviews in spring and fall (the alumni magazine) and the President's annual report at the end of each year. In addition, the office promotes all cultural and educational events presented at the college that are open to the public, such as theater productions, concerts, poetry readings, and a wide variety of lectures. The office's goal is to provide constituents and the public access to a variety of college information and resources. Internal communications include electronic newsletters: the Westminster Update, a monthly newsletter and the Westminster Events eNewsletter a weekly newsletter for faculty and staff. Graphic design and production services are available to staff and faculty.

The Westminster College Office of Communications maintains online press releases and Westminster in the news articles, official college graphics and images, a list of media experts by discipline, department, and research interest.

Media relations: The Westminster College Office of Communications is responsible for increasing the visibility of Westminster College nationally, regionally, and locally and for communicating key messages such as the quality of Westminster's faculty and students and the value of a Westminster College education, increasing the visibility of Westminster and enhancing appreciation of the College among alumni, parents, current and prospective students, current and potential contributors, professional colleagues, and the local community.

The Office website includes links to college publications such as:

  • Westminster College review (published bi-annually by the Office of Communications).
  • Westminster Update, an electronic newsletter
  • President's annual report
  • Westminster events eNewsletter (weekly newsletter for faculty and staff)

Content Description +/-

This collection consists of microfilmed copies of newspaper clippings collected in 20 scrapbooks compiled between 1928-1997 by the Communications Department and earlier public relations staff of Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. The clippings contain information on events and people associated with the College. After microfilming, the scrapbooks were destroyed.

The clippings provide evidence of the ongoing effort by Westminster College to maintain a prominent role in the surrounding community. Articles and some advertisements were clipped from newspapers or other publications and then glued into the scrapbooks chronologically, or at times, thematically (for example, sports, advertisements, etc.). Each clipping cites its publication source.

Most of the articles found within the scrapbooks were originally published in the Salt Lake tribune, the Salt Lake telegram, and the Deseret news. However, several smaller publication also figure prominently within the collection materials, including the Sugarhouse bulletin and the Utah labor news. Some regional news items also appear from newspapers such as the Richfield reaper, the Kearns post review, the Bingham bulletin and others.

The news pieces that are included often announce the latest event or person of recognition at the College. One common theme in the articles is information on Westminster gatherings, meetings, or festivals. Society sections of the newspaper include related activities such as: Christmas celebrations, May Festival, fundraising efforts, and cultural celebrations. Dances seem to carry special significance. Several articles throughout the years include pictures of Homecoming and May Fest royalty, as well as pictures and reactions to the traditional Mardi Gras Dance held annually at Westminster College. Other important events that reappear throughout the clippings include the announcement and reviews of plays and musicals performed by students, including "Papa Is All" in November 1945, and "Post Road" from March 1948. A few sensational articles describe the lives of students on campus. One article describes the "Most Embraceable" female and the "Swoon Stuff" male, elected by the student body, as well as the best "spooning couple" at Westminster ("A Spoonish Custom", Salt Lake tribune, March 1934). A large portion of the scrapbooks are devoted to the announcements of award received by Westminster alumni and students, as well as wedding announcements of alumni.

One scrapbook created in the 1970s stands out as it seems to have been created by a person or group not connected to the Communications Department or another campus office. The scrapbook documents the sports and players of the early Parsons teams from the late 1920s and the early 1930s, also called the "W-men" and the "Purps." This scrapbook contains team photographs, articles relating the details of games, and information regarding specific players for football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, and other sports at Westminster College. One article describes the 1947 reunion of veterans from the championship football teams in 1934-1935. The final item in the scrapbook is a newspaper article from 1976 describing another reunion of previous athletes described as "Pioneer Parsons of the 1930s." It is possible that the scrapbook was created at this time in order to provide a sense of history and enjoyment at the reunion.

Despite the emphasis on campus life and activities, articles regarding important information regarding the growth and changes at Westminster College are also included. Announcements of newly hired faculty and the transitions between several presidents of the College are found in the materials. Articles about the growth of enrollment, speeches given at the school by guest speakers or by members of the faculty and staff, honorary degree recipients, the running of the college and its perceived image within the community appear frequently in the collection. These articles along with many others create an all-encompassing picture of the Westminster community, providing examples of the varied spectrum of life found on Westminster's campus.

Collection Use +/-

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Westminster College Communications Department newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, 1928-1997, ACC-081, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Administrative Information +/-

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically on the four rolls of microfilm. Some overlapping of years occurs on the microfilm due the start and finish dates of different scrapbooks.

Processing Note:

Processed by Alana Dela Cruz in August 2004. The materials in this collection were microfilmed from the original scrapbooks in Fall 2003; the scrapbooks were destroyed after microfilming. The beginning of each roll of microfilm contains a list of the contents, including the approximate number of pages devoted to each year, thus providing a relative chronological target.

Creator:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983). Communications Department

Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Communications Department

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

4 microfilm reels

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written August 2004 by Alana Dela Cruz; expanded November 2012 with a biographical/historical note written by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2012 November 8, 2012 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Archives

Related Material:

Related collection in Giovale Library Archives:

Subjects +/-

Corporate Names:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--History--Sources
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983). Office of Communications--Archives
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--History--Sources
Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Office of Communications--Archives
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--History--Sources
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- ). Office of Communications--Archives

Subject Terms:

Press releases--Utah--Salt Lake City

Form or Genre Terms:

Articles
Clippings (information artifacts)
Press releases
Scrapbooks

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources
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