| Description | Minutes of a committee initially appointed by Senate in June 1964 following a proposal by members of the Faculty of Arts that a periodical should be established for the interchange of ideas in the expanding university, and to promote inter-faculty cultural life. The proposal suggested that the periodical should be edited from within the Faculty of Arts and should 'publish scholarly, critical and imaginative works by members of staff from all Faculties to provide a common basis for interchange of ideas of as wide a range as the arts and sciences studied within the University'
Senate appointed a committee with members consisting of the Deputy Principal (chair) and representatives from each of the Faculties, mostly professorial staff, to consider what support the periodical would have throughout the University; the financing of the project; and whether the periodical should be issued free or whether a charge should be made. The first meeting was held on 9 October 1964. The committee reported that it considered the proposal to establish a periodical worth supporting, and recommended the appointment of an editor and editorial board with representation from each Faculty, and other members of staff to be invited to serve. It intended that the periodical should be published for at least two years and should be sold, with the financial backing of the University. It would function as an alternative to official publications and discussions of University policy which were covered by the Gazette and Bulletin, and to the student publications of the Guild of Students. It was thought that some contributions could made via the Inter-Faculty Studies programme
Senate appointed a Periodical Interim Editorial Board in December 1964 on the recommendation of the Committee of Principals and Deans, to explore the range of subject and the circulation of a University periodical, and to make an assessment of costs. This committee also prepared a sample issue.
The Interim Board reported to the Committee of Principals and Deans on 30 November 1965 and recommended that a University Periodical Editorial Board should be established. The intention of the periodical was to 'give expression to the thought and work of the University as a whole and should bring to bear on society outside the University the special characteristics of academic experience and thought. It was hoped that it would make possible a better understanding within the University itself and between the University and the outside world, of the problems tackled by individuals and departments and of the significance of this University to its society'. The periodical was initially given the title 'The Birmingham Review' but had become 'Alta' by the time of the first issue, published in autumn 1966.
Minutes contain discussion about circulation; editorial policy; title, cover design, and illustrations in the periodical; advertising; printing costs; the character of the periodical; and the appointment of editorial and administrative. staff. Minutes of the meeting of the Interim Editorial Board held on 13 July 1965 include a list of contributions for the sample issue, and details of the contents of future issues. Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 1965 includes a copy of the sample issue of the periodical'. Copies of annual reports of the Editorial Board to the Committee of Principals and Deans or to Senate are included with minutes of meetings held in October each year from 1965, with publishing accounts also included from 1967 onwards
Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 1966 include a paper setting out the provisional content of the first three issues. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 1967 discuss publicity and reception of the first issue of the periodical, called 'Alta', and include information about circulation figures. Minutes of meetings held after this date regularly include references to readers comments and general editorial policy, as well as to subscription and sales figures.
Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 1969 include a copy of the annual report of the Editorial Board, the publishing accounts, and a statement concerning the financial position of 'Alta'. The annual report refers to efforts to broaden the appeal of the periodical without losing the support of regular subscribers, and mentions that issue 8 focused on Birmingham and included a large number of reproductions of photographs and other pictorial content, with the intention of attracting Birmingham residents, but acknowledges that there was not enough interest to effect a breakthrough in sales figures. The lack of effective advertising and business management is also recorded. The report set out plans for 1970 to focus on aspects of the University which were previously thought to be too parochial but which 'events have since suggested are of wider interest', presumably referring to the student protest at the end of 1968 about the lack of representation in the governance of the University which was followed by the launch of a review of the governance and constitution of the institution. The report recognises that if changes to the character of the periodical did not attract more readers and if the Editorial Board were still unable to obtain effective help in advertising and selling the publication, the future of 'Alta' was in doubt.
Minutes of meetings held in early 1970 record efforts to increase circulation among members of the University, and refer to the proposed change in the outlook of the periodical, with more content focused on University affairs. The last meeting of the Editorial Board was held on 3 June 1970, and minutes record that Senate had decided not to continue publication and that issue 11 of 'Alta' was the last one, published in autumn 1970. The minutes mention that Board members had expressed their unease with the decision but did not make formal comment. The final report of the University Periodical Editorial Board is included with the minutes, which gives an overview of the history and development of the publication, and comments on sales figures from the first issue to the last |