About the Collection
Beginning a tradition that has thrived for more than a century, SMU students published a campus newspaper the first month the university opened. The "S.M.U. Times" premiere issue debuted September 11, 1915 — 11 days before school started. Articles in that first issue included "Four Hundred Business Men Helping Dallas Raise $200,000 for Student’s Dormitory at S. M.U.," "Faculty Reception Attended by 2,000 of Dallas Citizens," "Many Stars to be on Football Squad," and more.
SMU Archives has digitized all historic issues of the student publication, previously only in print or on microfilm. Digital files of the newspapers created by the Student Media Company 2010 through 2018 were donated to SMU Archives when the Student Media Company became defunct, and are also available in this collection.
About the Papers
Student newspapers are available on microfilm in Fondren Library for 1915-May 2009. In 1998, the "Daily Campus" became produced digitally and in print, and is archived online from 2010-2018. The newspaper indexes from Fall 1915-2002 are available in Fondren Library. The Campus ceased print publication in May 2018, and continues online only as "The Daily Campus," a website run by the Journalism department. After 2002, the "Daily Campus" was no longer indexed since it was stored online and easily searchable. In addition, SMU Archives has a small collection of unbound newspapers. A finding aid that describes these issues is available.
Over the years, the frequency of the newspaper has varied from once or twice a week to daily. The way the paper has been produced has changed, too, as technology evolved. In 1939, this silent movie explains how the "Semi-Weekly Campus" went to press.
The SMU newspaper has also changed names many times throughout its publication:
- SMU Times: Volume 1, Numbers 1-14 (September 11-December 18, 1915)
- The Campus: Volume 1, Number 15-Volume 8, Number 12 (January 14, 1916-December 8, 1922)
- The Semi-Weekly Campus: Volume 8, Number 13-Volume 22 (January 10, 1923-May 1937)
- The Campus: Volume 23 (September 1937-May 1938)
- The Semi-Weekly Campus: Volumes 24-5 (September 1938-May 1940)
- The 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)
- The SMU Campus: Volume 31 (September 1945-August 1946); Volume 32, Number 16 (November 20, 1946-1969)
- The Campus: Volume 32, Numbers 1-15 (September 27-November 16, 1946)
- The Daily Campus: Volume 55-100 (August 1969-May 2015)
- SMU Campus Weekly: Volume 101- (July 2015-May 2018)
Weekend issues of The Daily Campus were published with the title "The Daily Campus Weekender" from 1976 to 1979. Summer issues of "The Daily Campus" were published with the title "The Summer Campus" from 1970 to 1983.
Although the name of the campus newspaper has changed several times, its mission has remained steadfast: "To operate superior, responsive student media in a learning environment dedicated to excellence, student freedom of expression and sound business practices appropriate to a university."
