Did you know that you can access almost every issue of The Trail online? Although a full physical collection lives in the Archives & Special Collections, this digital collection is a great resource for students who have trouble finding a time to access the materials in person, or for anyone who just wants to browse through university history in their spare time.
UPS’s student newspaper, now The Trail, was originally published as Ye Recorde. That name lasted from 1895 to 1903, when the name changed to The Maroon. The name The Maroon was also short-lived; in 1910, the newspaper was renamed The Trail, and has used that title ever since. Although almost every issue is available online, some issues are only available in person in the Archives & Special Collections because they are too delicate to scan. There are no access restrictions for research involving The Trail, meaning that you can come in and take a look without setting up an appointment.
The Trail is a rich resource for understanding student life at UPS. Reading it is a great way to get a sense of how students on our campus reacted to important events. The Trail’s coverage ranges from events of national importance, like the Vietnam War and 9/11, to events that matter mainly to our campus community, like the selection of President Crawford and UPS’s decision to leave NAIA and join the NCAA. It also gives us an idea of what students prioritized at that point in time, what issues the student body cared about, and what they liked to do for fun.
The Archives & Special Collections is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment.
By Julia Masur