Records of Glasgow University Magazine and Ygorra, 1889-, student publications, University of Glasgow, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Glasgow University Magazine (GUM) 1889-2003;
  • Glasgow Students' Charities Week Magazine Ygorra 1922-1973.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Glasgow University Magazine, known as GUM, was founded in 1889  and was published by the Glasgow University Students' Representatives Council of the University of Glasgow , Scotland. The editorial board was comprised of two representatives from each faculty of the University. It was the oldest students' publication in Scotland and its aim was of being a medium of communication for students. It soon established a reputation for the quality of both its articles and cartoons and in the late 20th century it won a variety of national awards including Best Student Journalist of the Year and Best Arts and Entertainment Writer. Famous contributors have included amongst many others: Osborne Mavor , better known as author James Bridie ( 1888-1951  ), whose cartoons and writings were particularly enjoyed by readers of the early 20th century and John Buchan ( 1875-1940  ) whose 1890s GUM articles were amongst his earliest published works before his great success in 1915  with The Thirty-Nine Steps . The Editors are students appointed by members of the Students' Representative Council Executive Committee and the General Manager and can only hold the post for one year. The Editor is then free to select an editorial team. The frequency of publication has varied over the years with twice monthly magazines in the 1920s  to monthly editions in the 1960s and one per term in the 1990s  . It was still published in 2003.

The Glasgow Students' Charities Appeal Committee began publishing an annual magazine Ygorra in 1922 that was sold in conjunction with the Charities Week Appeal. Glasgow University Students' Unemployment Day 1922 was a forerunner to the Glasgow Students' Charities Week and ran as an annual event until the late 1980s. The proceeds of the early charity campaigns were donated to the Lord Provost's Fund for the Unemployed and Glasgow's Infirmaries. The word "Ygorra" originates from the phrase "you've got to" in the Glasgow vernacular, and was used in the witty slogan which accompanied each year's appeal.

Arrangement

The material has been arranged into series as shown in the scope and content. Within series items are generally arranged chronologically.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Deposit : Glasgow University Magazine editor : 2000 : ACCN 1242 Deposit : Private individual : 1993 : ACCN 1993

Other Finding Aids

Digital file level list available in searchroom. See source list on University clubs and societies available via the Glasgow University Archive Services homepage .

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Early copies of GUM are very fragile.

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Held by Glasgow University Magazine and private individuals

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 0248 DC 157 Records of Glasgow University Student Representatives Council Associated material.

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Compiled by Virginia Russell, Archives Assistant, 08 November 2000

Revised by Emma Yan, Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), 04 January 2008

Geographical Names