The first student literary works at Ottawa University were published in 1901 in The Boxer and in 1902 in The Mahsinegin, Ottawa University’s student Yearbooks. Following this trend each year the OU Yearbooks published student literary pieces which included student poetry and stories every year until 1928. The Ottawan is digitally searchable without a login from 1901-1928 on the Ottawa University Archives and Collections Page.
After 1928, the OU Yearbook articles included no literary work, and Yearbooks following that date focused on the practice Yearbook layouts following journalism practices. This change also coincided with the strengthening of the Literary Societies that were forming on the Ottawa University Campus (the earliest The Euphemian Society forming in 1869-1871), and The Philalathean, Athenean and Olympian Literary Societies which was prevalent into the 1930’s. The Literary Societies at Ottawa University had “a principle purpose” of fostering “interest in art, expression and public speaking” among its student members. The OU Literary Societies’ student members engaged in “forms of literary endeavor such as” writing and presenting “papers, readings, book reports” and writing and performing plays, speeches and non-fiction pieces and performing oral debates and at the time, these Literary Societies held “a unique place in college life” at the university (January 1, 1917).
Students did not start creating a formal Literary Journal at Ottawa University until 1963, when the Ottawa University Literary Supplement was published as a supplement of the Ottawa Campus Newspaper. That publication ceased in 1966. Its editorial team consisted of an Editor, Assistant Editor, Advisor, two faculty Judges and a cover designer. The Ottawa University Art & Literary Magazine was published from 1967-1969. Literary journals from 1963-1966 can be accessed on the Ottawa University portal without the need of a login at: https://myottawa.ottawa.edu/ICS/Resources/Myers_Library_Online/Archives_and_Collections/Ottawa_University_Literary_Magazines.jnz
Additional literary magazines were also created at Ottawa University during the 1960’s: The University PasQuil in 1966 and The Dove published in 1968.
Following the explosion of literary exploits in the 1960’s, Literary Journal publication at Ottawa University were rather sparse; with the publication of Expressions and Impressions published in 1977 and The Mighty Pen in 1999.
In Spring of 2007 and Spring of 2008, the Ottawa University English Department sponsored the publication of Ottawa University’s Literary Journal 55890: A Collection of Art and Literary Works by Students, Faculty & Staff. The journal editorial staff consisted of an editorial board, a cover artist, a production staff which included a mix of faculty and students.