Hunter Living Histories

University Student Posters 1970s-1990s
The Archaeology of Social Media

View The University Student Posters here:
https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/116898
(Under Construction)

and

https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/albums/72177720322227718/

What is It?

A Collection of University Posters created by students and others, and dating from the 1970s to the 1990s documenting student life at the University of Newcastle (Australia).

 

What Does It Represent?

This collection represents the handmade “social media” of the time prior to the arrival and rise of the tech giants in the early 2000s that have turned our physical social media into digital.

Where Did These Student Posters Come From?

Provenance. These posters appear to have been placed on the Auchmuty and Huxley Library notice boards. These were boards that people could pin notes and posters on to reach other students. They were usually up for a number of weeks. When the requests or events concluded, the Librarians had the posters transferred to the University Archives for safekeeping.

What Was Their Purpose?

The Scope. The collection reflects the history of student life during the period, and provides a glimpse in how social activities were organised and attended.

The posters feature original artwork, some are silk screened, or printed originals depending upon budget of the creators and reflect what students were involved with at the time of political upheaval.

They range from the amateur pen on paper, to the more elaborate and professional.

They are a testament to the enduring spirit of student protest during social change and political movements as well as the more mundane activities.

The collection covers themes like anti nuclear protests, defence, militarization, sexism, student rights, clubs and societies, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ equality and much much more.

Acknowledgments

Posters digitised on Contex Plan Scanner by Gionni Di Gravio in August 2024.

Thanks to Kim Dempsey and Dr Ann Hardy who uploaded the digital scans of the posters to the Living Histories Data Platform. Kim in her reflection says:

“To me, this collection demonstrates that prior to the introduction of digital social media platforms, the humble poster has had a long history of communicating important information to communities. This collection consists of a diverse range of posters that capture the social and political concerns of the time period, whilst also serving as a primary source about how social movements and political events influenced the lives of students and staff – from the labour movement to feminism, environmentalism, student and LGBGQIA+ rights, as well as promoting the concerns of international students.

The posters are also a primary source of information about the history of linkages that can be made between campus organisations such as student clubs and societies, and broader community organisations in the Newcastle and Hunter region. For example, during my research I found that David Berthold, a university alumni who directed a Department of Drama performance of Romeo and Juliet, went on to direct at a variety of theatre companies before becoming the current Director in Residence of NIDA.

I also love the variety in the techniques that have been employed to create the posters – from the handwritten posters promoting the Newcastle University Mountaineering Club, to hand drawn posters promoting University events such as a dance held by the Hong Kong Student Association, followed by the professionally printed posters that promoted community rallies for such causes as student fees, staff rights and walks for Peace.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work on this collection. I hope that others in the community enjoy perusing it as much as I have.”

All the best, Kim”

View The University Student Posters here:
https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/116898

and

https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/albums/72177720322227718/

 

Gionni Di Gravio OAM
University Archivist & Chair, Hunter Living Histories