The University of Oklahoma Western History Collections & University Archives have surveyed institutional records documenting student activism on the Norman Campus, focusing on the period 1948-1992. A records survey conducted in summer 2019 revealed OU Media Services, the OU Daily (the student newspaper), and the papers of past OU presidents as starting points for identifying moments of activism that were reported or otherwise came to the attention of these offices. The survey identified gaps in OU’s documentation of student groups in general, including those engaged in activism,outside of the administrative reaction to the activities of these groups. The survey also identified a collection of student “alternative” newspapers from this era. We have contributed these four collections to Project STAND as starting points in identifying activist moments, organizations, leadership, and institutional response sat the University of Oklahoma. In fall 2019 a peer student archivist internship will build structural and relational approaches to documenting current activism on campus.
Primary contact: Bridget Burke (bio)