THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1941.
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE THREE
From Early Days
University Life Mirrored By Its Paper
Kansan's History Covers 67 Years
Like any other newspaper, the history of the UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN unfolds the history of its community—the University of Kansas over a period of 67 years. It is probably the most reliable, most accurate, and fullest account of the changes that have taken place in that period of time that exists today in printed form.
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Books have been written about the history of Mount Oread, to be sure; but the gradual growth of a student publication, the tale of the feuds that exist, the stories behind the traditions of the campus—only the KANSAN files hold these interesting and nearly forgotten secrets. First Student Newspaper
Nearly two decades before the Gay Nineties, the members of the Natural History Society of the University helped issue the first student newspaper when they properly named the Observer of Nature.
W. Osburn, editor and proprietor of the Observer of Nature, said in the first edition, "We present a paper which in no way claims to be strictly scientific. It will represent the best interests of the University, and in all its researches of nature will ever seek the truth."
Imagine the publication of the students at the University of Kansas being a "nature" sheet. More peculiar, the first three volumes of this newspaper supported itself without a line of advertising! The stated terms of the paper were, "Twenty-five cents in advance; single five, 6 cents."
Devoted to University Matters
More than two of the 12 columns of the paper were devoted to "University Matters," under which head was given this item: "The Freshman class has lately begun the study of ancient history. The first lesson assigned them was the book of Genesis."
In those days they had athletes, too. They didn't have a sports page, but the members of the Natural History Society devoted a whole column to physical education. Under "Base Ball," the paper read, "The University boys have organized a strong Base Ball Club this spring with F. T. Botsford at its head. Enough persons have already joined the club to make two good nines."
This beginning student publication continued with fair regularity for a few semesters, but the Observer of Nature came to a close at the end of the third volume.
Before this first paper went out of existence, it was connected with
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Alumni secretary—1916
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the second ancestor of the KANSAN, the Kansas Collegiate, during the school year 1875-76. This paper was devoted to general literature and University news. There was little editorial matter, and again no advertising. Volume II of the Collegeate was no longer connected with the Observer which had been discontinued at the end of the previous year.
This second volume of the Kansas Collegiate was more nearly like the newspaper of today. The size of the paper was doubled, and a page was devoted to advertising, chiefly of Lawrence business concerns. Literary articles predominated; but there were more editorials and, also, an exchange column.
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Audited by Student Association The next year, 1877 and 1878, the Collegiate was printed in two columns. Scientific articles, such as "The Radiometer," by George E.
Journalism chairman—1930
Patrick, professor of physics and chemistry, were numerous. The paper was published by an association of students, and the subscription price was raised to 75 cents a year.
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With the May issue of 1878, W. H. Carruth, famous University poet and professor of English, took charge of the paper. A distinct change was marked in the direction of more literary matter and news. The volume closed with No.9, issued in June, and contained the Commencement speeches.
The fall of 1878 saw three papers trying to get the support of the student body. They ran simultaneously throughout most of the year. They were the Collegiate and the Courier, organs of the Oread and Orophilian literary societies respectively, and
Dean of journalism professors—1941
the University Pastime, a private venture of two lower classmen. Vigorous Rival Appears
We'll be waiting for you to call next fall the number's 363.
This Card Means the Best Always
Allison-Armstrong Say: Congratulations Graduates
--went over to the Collegiate, and the paper was published as the Kansas Review.
And to all Undergraduates here's wishing you a very happy vacation.
The Courier was a vigorous rival of the Collegiate, probably because of the mutual jealousy of the two literary societies. But after a short time, although the papers did not actually consolidate, the Courier
From 1879 until 1895, several weekly papers were published, but no dailies were issued. The University News, a weekly, ran from Sept. 15, 1884, until Nov. 4, 1884. The University Times, another weekly publication, started on Oct. 5, 1888, but continued for only one year. The Weekly University Courier did manage to meet expenses for nearly 11 years—from 1884 to 1895.
Start Weekly in 1889
The University Pastime was published semi-monthly for slightly more than a year. The two young editors evidently thought that the University students should play more, for the first issue that came out on Sept. 16, 1878, began its introductory story with, "The University Pastime has been started in order to create a greater interest in the various amusements and recreations which tend to rest the brains and invigorate the bodies of the University students."
The University needed a good newspaper, and it found in Prof. E. M. Hopkins, now a retired professor of English, just the man to get one started. He established the UNIVERSITY KANSAN and ran it as a weekly during 1889 and 1890.
often the idea of having the paper (continued to page five)
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