UMN Archives Presents MN Daily Exhibit
In the debut issue of Ariel - the first student newspaper at the University of Minnesota - the editors declared their mission:
"It will be our endeavor to make it the independent outspoken exponent of the interests of our University. These interests, which, in our long connection with the institution, have become very dear to us, we shall manfully support; and if we should see them neglected or abused, by those whose duty it is to protect them, no personal considerations shall prevent us from protesting modestly, but firmly, against such neglect or abuse. The interests of the Faculty, Regents and Students are identical but there are sometimes honest differences of opinion as to what these interests are, and in all such cases it will be our bounden duty to espouse the cause of those we think are in the right and to do justice to all."
- Editorial, Ariel, December 1, 1877
What started as a monthly literary publication in 1877, expanded to a weekly in 1891, and ultimately evolved into a daily newspaper, The Minnesota Daily, in 1900.
For the past 125 years, The Minnesota Daily has endeavored to preserve the spirit of the University of Minnesota on the pages of the newspaper and beyond. To promote and protect the best interests of the institution, the Daily has served as an organ for the dissemination of information and an amplifier of the needs and concerns of the campus community.
The content on its pages advocates for change, defends the rights of students, and upholds the values of self-governance and academic freedom. Beyond the page, the Daily serves as a medium that inspires action, connection, and reflection.
The longevity of the organization is due in essence to two primary qualities: resilience in addressing and overcoming challenges - financial, logistical, legal, and ethical; and relevance in adapting to the evolving needs and interests of its readership.
Evidence of the prevalence of the student newspaper in documenting University life is found within the collections of the University of Minnesota Archives. The records of student organizations contain scrapbooks, the pages of which are filled with article clippings carefully cut and pasted by its members. Faculty personal papers and records of the administration contain handwritten and typed correspondence exchanged between professors and University Presidents, Deans, and community members extending compliments or raising criticism in response to an editorial or article.
Today, University of Minnesota Archives strives to preserve the enduring tradition of the independent student press to ensure that the University spirit remains alive and accessible to all.
This exhibit demonstrates ways in which viewers may engage with an essential source of University history, in hopes of inspiring curiosity, evoking memory, and encouraging reflection upon the University experience past, present, and future.
Note From The Curators
This exhibit is not a comprehensive history of The Minnesota Daily. It is an introduction and appreciation of the organization as observed by the archivists charged with preserving the records that document its history. It is also an invitation to students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the community to join us in the ongoing preservation of the spirit of the University of Minnesota.
