English Department. Collection, 1967-Ongoing.
Scope and Contents
The collection is divided into three series: Newsletters, Literature Reviews & Student Writing, and Department Records.
Series:
Literature Reviews and Student Writings: The Literature Reviews & Student Writings series contains five different publications, and features several types of writing including, poetry, fiction, essays, book reviews and literary analyses. The earliest piece in this series is The Corresponder which had it’s first publication released in 1981. This publication refers to itself as “a fan letter to Minnesota writers” where students review recently published books from local authors. Similarly, Mankato Poetry Review is a poetry anthology comprised of strictly Minnesota poets. This publication was in production from 1984-2004. S.L.A.M (Student Literary Arts Magazine) is comprised of creative writing works from undergraduate students and ran from 2001-2007. Today undergraduate work can be found in River Whale Review which does not yet feature in this collection. Mankato English & Humanities Journal features stand out papers an essays from various English students and was published only a few times in the 1980s. Similarly, the Composition Merit Awards Journal is a collection of the ten best essays submitted in composition I and II. This journal was published yearly from 1992-1999. This series contains five different publications, arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.
Newsletters: The Newsletters series consists of two publications: English Department News (EDN) and Techniques. The earliest edition of EDN was released in October of 1981. The newsletter was released twice per semester until 1994 when they switched to a spring/summer/fall release format which they have used since. The newsletter covers faculty and student news, alumni updates, yearly awards and grants, as well as much more. Techniques is a student-run newsletter featuring articles on technology, cross-culture communication, web design, career advancement, and much more. The newsletter ran from 1990-2006 releasing two issues per semester. The concept has recently been revamped and rereleased under the title Maverick Messenger from 2015-2021 and can also be found digitally on the departments website. https://hss.mnsu.edu/academic-programs/english/student-resources/student-organizations/maverick-messenger/ This series contains two newsletters and is arranged alphabetically then chronologically.
Department Records: The Department Records series consists of many documents that provide snapshots in the history of the department as well as documenting important moments of change. These include but are not limited to: course proposals, program proposals, syllabi, and program outlines and expectations. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Dates
- 1967 - 2024
Biographical / Historical
The English Department has existed at this university since the founding of the Mankato State Normal College in 1868. The department’s courses were included in the institution’s early teacher training programs, and initially focused on preparing students for careers in education. During the early to mid-20th century, the English Department expanded its offerings to reflect the shifting focus of higher education. In the 1920s and 1930s, as the college moved from a teacher-training institution to a broader liberal arts college, the English curriculum grew to include more courses in American and British literature. These changes reflected a growing recognition of English as a scholarly discipline in its own right, rather than merely a means to teach future educators. In the post-World War II period, The English Department expanded further to accommodate a rapidly growing student body, offering a wider range of courses, including rhetoric, literary theory, and world literature. One of the most notable expansions occurred in the late 1960s and 1970s, when the department began to focus more on creative writing. This shift culminated in the founding of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program in the mid-1970s. The MFA program quickly gained a strong reputation, attracting talented writers and faculty from across the country. With its emphasis on producing and critiquing literary work, the program has helped position MSU as a leader in creative writing education in the Midwest. The department’s Master of Arts (MA) in English and PhD in English programs were soon after established to offer advanced study in literature, composition and rhetoric, and creative writing. These programs continued to evolve with more emphasis on interdisciplinary research and theoretical approaches to literature, language, and writing. In the 2000s and 2010s, the department embraced the rise of digital humanities by adding courses on digital media, online writing, and multimodal composition, preparing students to engage with the digital landscape.
English Department Website: https://hss.mnsu.edu/academic-programs/english/
Information for this finding aid was obtained from the English department’s website, Minnesota State University, Mankato 1868-2018: A Sequential History, and notes in the accession folders of the publications.
Extent
2.0 Cubic Feet (2 Full Records Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The English Department collection consists of materials produced and supported by the students and faculty in the Minnesota State University, Mankato English Department and its predecessor institutions, beginning in 1888. The collection contains official student publications and unpublished work, as well as department records, briefings and news updates. The collection is divided into three series: Newsletters, Literature Reviews & Student Writing, and Department Records.
Physical Description
Mostly in very good condition. Some older books have pages and covers separated. Some newer newsletters have been bent and creased.
- Title
- Minnesota State University, Mankato, University Archives English Department Collection, 1967-Ongoing. MSU Archives Collection 118
- Author
- Jacob Gajic created this finding aid in October of 2024.
- Date
- 2024-10
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Minnesota State University, Mankato University Archives Repository
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Memorial Library
PO Box 8419
Mankato MN 56002-8419 US
507-389-1029
archives@mnsu.edu
