Last fall, an archival project to digitize and preserve the student-run newspapers, The Setonian, The Diplomatic Envoy, and The Stillman Exchange was selected for funding under the Idea Hall initiative.
The Monsignor Noe Field Archives and Special Collections Center has held copies of these student-run newspapers for many years. However, certain years and issues are incomplete or missing, and they require more stabilization and support to ensure their longevity for years to come. With this project the necessary supplies can be ordered to finally rehouse the rest of the Setonians along with the Diplomatic Envoy, and the Stillman Exchange.
Jacquelyn Deppe says “it will be nice to see the newspapers receive the proper support and housing they need. They are currently in a state which is not ideal, so receiving funding for this project is great! Having worked here and with these newspapers themselves over the years, I’m happy that I’ll be able to see these newspapers receive the care they need and deserve.”
But it is not only these student-run newspapers that will be rehoused but others as well. There are other examples of newspapers that ran simultaneously with the Setonian during the 1950s-1970s and captured student life and activities at Seton Hall’s Urban Campus’s in Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson. These campuses are where the first women attended courses under the Seton Hall name and engaged in student life and activities, like writing for the newspaper and even being editors of those papers.
This project also includes completing the digitization project of the Setonian. From August 1999 to about January 2019, copies of the Setonian exist only as physical newspapers. Due to the acidic material content of newspapers, they are inherently fragile and susceptible to quick deterioration. Digitizing the Setonians allows the Archives and Special Collections Center to create access copies that can be retrieved and used by anyone.
At the conclusion of this project, a display will be created and placed on the 2nd floor of the Walsh Library for viewing. The display will highlight the collection of student-run newspapers that have been preserved and are ready to use in research.
Thanks to the vision of
- Jacquelyn Deppe, Technical Services Archivist, University Libraries
- Quinn Christie, Public Services Archivist, University Libraries
- Sarah Ponichtera, Assistant Dean of Special Collections and the Gallery, University Libraries
- Matthew Pressman, Faculty Advisor to The Setonian
- Courtney Smith, Faculty Advisor to The Diplomatic Envoy
the voice of the students and the history of student life and activities at Seton Hall will be documented and preserved for years to come.