New Treasure in NQHeritage: James Cook University 40th Birthday Commemoration Posters

To celebrate JCU's birthday the JCU Library Special Collections has added a new treasure to NQHeritage.

Our first treasure of 2021 is the James Cook University 40th Birthday Commemoration Posters.

Dr. Olsen with the first students of JCU at the Pimlico campus, 1961. Photograph courtesy of JCU Corporate Records, ©James Cook University.

In 2010 James Cook University celebrated 40 years as a university and 50 years of teaching in north Queensland. As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations a series of 12 posters created by the Special Collections Librarian, Bronwyn McBurnie, were exhibited in April 2010.

Examining maps on the Douglas Campus site, 1964. Photograph courtesy of JCU Corporate Records, ©James Cook University.

Titled Caught on Camera: A photographic history of JCU celebrating 50 years in north Queensland, the exhibition was held at the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library from the 20th of April to the 12th of May in 2010 and showcased a wide range of photographs, memorabilia and alumni memories.

Student prank during the opening of University Hall by Prime Minister Harold Holt, 1966. Photograph courtesy of JCU Corporate Records, ©James Cook University.

The poster series chronicles key moments in the University's founding years, mainly from the early 1960s. From the opening ceremony of the Pimlico campus to Commemoration balls, the establishment of the Douglas campus, to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, signing James Cook University into being in 1970. The information in the poster captions was drawn from Peter Bell's book Our place in the sun: A brief history of James Cook University 1960 – 2010, which was commissioned by the university to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Queen Elizabeth II talks to students in the university library, 1970. Photograph courtesy of JCU Corporate Records, ©James Cook University.

 Drawn from both official and candid photographs housed in the JCU Corporate Archives, the photographs in the posters provide an interesting overview of the early years of James Cook University.