Guide to "The Parson" and "The Forum"

This collection consists of two newspapers, The Parson and The Forum, published by students at Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Parson was published from September 25, 1953 until March, 1982. The student newspaper continued publication in September 1982 under the new title, The Forum. The collection consists of the printed issues (1953-2012), and microfilm of issues up to 1998 (on 5 reels).

New issues of The Forum are now published online.

The first issue (Sept. 25, 1953) in the collection describes the "death" of The Campus Crier, the apparent son of the publication Purple and Gold. The end of the paper was reported as resulting from a "chronic ailment of long suffering immaturity." Publication of The Parson continued relatively uninterrupted for many years and was especially consistent between the years 1970 and 1975. The last issue of The Parson (April 2, 1982) coincides with the end of spring semester. The following September the newspaper continued where it left off under the name of The Forum. The new format and name was "changed due to the difference between church affiliation and the communicative purpose of the paper." No longer associated with the Presbyterian Church the staff felt better about a more secular name. The new version also encouraged "more letters to the editor, classified section, varsity team coverage, and 'Know Your Trustees' profile section." The Forum continues to be published by the journalism students of the Westminster Campus.

During the publication of The Parson there were many changes in its format and frequency. The first issues show that the newspaper being published monthly in a large newsprint format. Afterward, for example, in January 1971 the format was changed and a new logo introduced the title The New Parson Journal -– the paper also changed to a semi-weekly publishing schedule. The shifting formats and irregular intervals between publications are a theme throughout the continuance of The Parson and The Forum, both before and after 1982. Its instability is a reflection of the student-run nature of the program that had to adjust to the turnover of students entering and exiting the publication process.

These student newspapers cover the happenings of the campus including everything from club activities to school plays to the involvement of individual students on campus and in the community. Often a letter from the College President will address a challenge or a change in policies intended for the students. The frequency of presidential statements changed over the years as more newsletters were developed, enabling a more focused audience for the Presidents (see The Update, Collection ACC-051.) Other special columns appeared and then disappeared over the lifetime of the publications, usually corresponding with changes in editors and staff. Special interest sections include advice columns, "Guess This Student," and word games, among many other features. Overall, the newspapers have portrayed both the news and serious side of campus life along with the more humorous aspects of the college experience.

These two student newspapers, The Parson and The Forum, as well as the other newspapers published on campus were microfilmed in the spring of 2002 in cooperation with The Forum newspaper office. However, large gaps remain a problem in achieving a truly complete collection. Newspapers were microfilmed according to the calendar year in which they were published, not according to volume or issue number.

Gaps in the collection. Many issues of The Parson and The Forum are missing. An effort has been made to recover them but with very little success. Below is list of the known issues of The Parson and The Forum which are wanting in the collection.

Gaps in the The Parson holdings:

• 1953 September, November (vol. 6, no. 2 and 5)
• 1954 August/September (no. 1)
• 1955 (vol. 2, no. 6 and 7)
• 1956 no records after vol. 3, no. 4, no spring semester
• 1963 Oct (Vol. 10 No. 2)
• 1964/1965 Dec-Jan (vol. 11, nos. 6, 8-10)
• 1965 Sep (nos. 2 and 3)
• 1966 March, April (vol. 12, no. 14 and 16)
• 1966 October 11 (vol. 13, no. 4)
• 1966 October 19 (vol. 14, no. 6)
• 1967 November-January (vol. 14, nos. 10-14) *confused issue numbers
• 1968 January (vol. 14, no. 15)
• 1968 March-April (vol. 14, nos. 22 and 23)
• 1968 November (vol. 15, nos. 3 and 4)
• 1969 January-March (Nos. 9, 11, 12, 15, 16)
• 1969 September (vol. 16, no. 4)
• 1976 March 5 (vol. 2, no. 18)
• 1977 February/March (vol. 2, nos. 3 and 4)
• 1977 October 7 (vol. 1, no. 5)
• 1978 March 3 (vol. 2, no. 4)
• 1978 November 24 (vol. 1, no. 11)
• 1979 March 23 (vol. 2, no. 6)
• 1980 September 31 (vol. 27, no. 3)
• 1981 January/February (vol. 28, nos. 15 and 16)
• 1981 March 31 (vol. 28, no. 22)
• 1981 October 2 (vol. 29, no. 3)
• 1981 December/January (vol. 29, no. 12 and 13)
• 1982 March (vol. 29, no. 17)

Gaps in the The Forum holdings:

• 1983 February (vol. 30, no. 15)
• 1985 March 7 (vol. 31, no. 1
• 1986 October (vol. 34 no. 3)
• 1989 February 14 (vol. 36, no. 16)
• 1989 September (vol. 37, no. 1)
• 1989 November 7 (vol. 37, no. 8)
• 1989 December (vol. 37, no. 12)
• 1990 March (vol. 37, no. 20)
• 1991 November (vol. 34 no. 8)
• 1992 October 20 (vol. 35 no. 6)
• 1993 January (vol. 35, no. 15)
• 1993 February (vol. 35, nos. 17 and 19)
• 1993 April (vol. 35, nos. 23-25)
• 1993 October (vol. 36, no. 6)
• 1993 November (vol. 36, no. 10)
• 1994 September(vol. 37, no. 1)
• 1995 February (vol. 37, no. 14)
• 1995 September/October (vol. 38, nos. 1, 3 and 4)
• 1995 November 15 (vol. 38, no. 8)
• 1995 December (vol. 38, no. 10)
• 1996 January/February (vol. 38, nos. 13-14)
• 1996 March (vol. 38, nos. 17, 19 and 20)
• 1997 October (vol. 30, no. 5)
• 1998 September (vol. 31, no. 1)
• 1998 September 29 (vol. 31, no. 4)
• 1998 November 3 (vol. 31, no. 8)
• 1999 January 19 (vol. 31, no. 13)
• 1999 March 2 (vol. 31, no. 16)
• 1999 March (vol. 31, no. 19 and 20)
• 1999 November 2 (vol. 32, no. 9)
• 1999 November 25 (vol. 32, no. 1)
• 2000 April 4 (vol. 32, no. 22)
• 2000 October 10 (vol. 33, no. 6)
• 2000 October 24 (vol. 33, no. 7)
• 2000 November 14 (vol. 33, no. 10)
• 2001 January 30 (vol. 33, no. 14)
• 2001 February 13 (vol. 33, no. 16)
• 2001 March 20 (vol. 33, no. 19)
• 2001 April 10, 17 (vol. 33, nos. 22 and 23)
• 2001 Sepember 25 (vol. 34, no. 3)
• 2001 October 13 (vol. 34, no. 6)
• 2001 November 13 (vol. 34, no. 10)
• 2002 January (vol. 34, no. 13)
• 2002 February (vol. 34, no. 15)
• 2002 March (vol. 34, no. 18)
• 2002 September/October (vol. 35, no. 4)
• 2003 September 24 (vol. 36, no. 3)
• 2004 Januaray 21 (vol. 36, no. 13)
• 2005 January 26 (vol. 37, No. 15)

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:

The Parson and The Forum, 1953-2012, ACC-082, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

The Parson and The Forum issues are arranged chronologically in 2 series by title and publication date.

Processing Note:

Processed by Alana Dela Cruz in February 2005. The Forum issue published on April 24, 2001 (Volume 33, No. 24) is the last one recorded on microfilm.

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

1.5 linear feet; 5 microfilm reels

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written February 2005 by Alana DelaCruz; expanded January 2013 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2013 January 13 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections in Giovale Library Archives:

• The Blurb, December 6, 1946 (ACC-083A)
• The Campus crier, 1946-1955 (ACC-083B)

Corporate Names:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Students
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--History--Sources
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Students
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--History--Sources
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Students
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--History--Sources

Subject Terms:

College student newspapers and periodicals--Utah--Salt Lake City

Form or Genre Terms:

Microfilms
Newspapers

Geographical Names:

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