Fonds F-17 - Peak Publications Society fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Peak Publications Society fonds

General material designation

  • Photographic materials
  • Textual records

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Title notes

  • Source of title proper: The title is based on the name of the creating body.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

F-17

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1965 - 2016 (Creation)
    Creator
    Peak Publications Society

Physical description area

Physical description

92 cm of textual records
1.13 m of photographic material
152 bound volumes
36 microfilm reels

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1973 -)

Administrative history

The Peak, Simon Fraser University's student newspaper, began from a merger of two earlier student publications: The Tartan, which appeared on September 17, 1965, and The SF View, first published on October 4 of that year. The editorial teams from both newspapers produced an October 13 edition with the headline "Name Your Student Newspaper." One week later, the first issue of The Peak appeared.

The Peak had several notable achievements early in its history. When it joined Canadian University Press at its 28th conference in December 1965, The Peak became the first student newspaper to be accepted to CUP as a full member after such a short existence. One year later, on December 15, 1966, the Peak Publications Society became incorporated under the Societies Act of British Columbia. The Peak thereby became the first student newspaper in Canada to be incorporated.

From its inception, the Peak Publications Society has been governed by a Board of Directors. As of 1999, the Board includes three at-large representatives elected in a general election, one alumni representative appointed by the Alumni Association, two representatives from the Peak collective, and one representative from the Peak employees. The Board sets financial policy.

In the early years of The Peak, a group of editors and writers, carried out the production of the newspaper. For a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s individually named editors and staff were replaced by an anonymous collective. The Peak is currently produced by a Collective, which makes editorial decision through consensus and elects editors and area coordinators. The Collective is made up of all of The Peak's permanent employees and any student who has participated in two of the last five issues of the paper.

The Peak newspaper has always been the main product of the Peak Publications Society although the Society has issued other publications such as the Terminal City Express, the Peak Student Handbook and, most recently, The Tartan magazine. The magazine, which bears the name of the former student newspaper, published its first issue in the fall of 2015.

Housed for many years in portable trailers The Peak received new office space in the Maggie Benston Student Services Centre in 1994. The Peak Publications Society was also long dependent on the Simon Fraser Student Society for funding. The University collected money from students and disbursed the funds to the SFSS, which then forwarded the money to the Peak under contractual agreement. The Peak gained a greater measure of freedom and financial autonomy following a student referendum on March 24, 1995. As a result of the voting, all students automatically became members of the Peak Publications Society rather than just those students who signed the Society Membership Register. The referendum guaranteed that the University would collect a subscription fee paid by the students and pass it to The Peak directly. Peak Office space was also guaranteed in the referendum.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Fonds consists of records created or received by the Peak Publications Society primarily in the course of publishing The Peak, the student newspaper of Simon Fraser University. Activities and topics documented include the establishment and organization of the Peak Publications Society; developing sources of funding; the production of the newspaper, including the taking of photographs required to illustrate stories published; the hiring and duties of Peak staff members; and other publishing ventures of the Peak Publications Society. Includes a complete run of The Peak newspaper from 1965 and other published material such as the Terminal City Express, The Dic (student course guide), and The Peak Handbook. Also includes certification of incorporation, constitution, agendas, minutes, financial records, correspondence, and other documents, as well as contact sheets, prints, negatives, and microfilm reels.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The majority of the records were transferred to the Archives from the Society. Some material was added by the archivist.

Arrangement

The material was arranged by the Archivist. In January 2006 an item level arrangement was completed for the photographic contact sheets and microfilm reels.

Language of material

Script of material

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Some files may contain personal or confidential information. Access to these files may be restricted as stipulated by Archives policy or the donor. Files marked 'pending review' must be reviewed by an archivist prior to release, and as a result of the review access restrictions may apply. Please see the file lists and consult the archivist for more details.

Copyright restrictions apply and are administered by the Peak Publications Society. Some files are restricted because they contain student numbers.

Because of the fragile nature of the early bound editions of The Peak, researchers wishing to access issues of The Peak older than ten years must use the microfilm copy. The latest years of The Peak are also available on The Peak's web site: http//www.peak.sfu.ca.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Records include materials that are protected by copyright, and copyright belongs to third parties (not SFU). Researchers may request copies or download copies (when available online) for purposes of private study, research, or other use permitted under fair dealing as set out in the Canada Copyright Act. Use of copies for any other purpose requires the copyright owner's permission.

Item-level descriptions may provide more detail. Consult the Reference Archivist for more information relating to determination of copyright ownership, term of protection, and how to contact copyright owners for permissions.

Finding aids

Series, file and item lists are available. A photographic index exists for pre-1987 materials and was prepared by the Archives Department, however please note that the index was not prepared using subject or name authorities so the indexing terms are not consistent. The index is available with other Finding Aids.

A name and subject card index is also available and can be used as a reference for publications between 1965 and 1969. This card index is located in the Archives Reading Room.

Generated finding aid

Associated materials

Consult the inventory of the Simon Fraser Student Society (F-74), and see also the Evelyn Woods Peak scrapbook (F-71).

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

Alternative identifier(s)

Wikidata identifier

Q106068335

Wikidata URL

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106068335

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Description record identifier

Institution identifier

Rules or conventions

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

June 1999: finding aid prepared (Ian Forsyth, Frances Fournier, Enid Britt, Amanda Watson, Judith Thiessen).
January 2006: revised (Lisa Beitel).
November 2012: series 6 broken into sub-series, item-level listings eliminated.
January 2016: new sub-series 6-5 added; date, scope & content, and physical description fields at fonds and series 6 levels revised to reflect addition (Rita Mogyorosi).

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