Judith Robinson may be the most famous journalist you’ve never heard of.

A household name throughout the 1930s, 40s and 50s and a pioneer of women in journalism, her byline regularly appeared on the front page of some of Canada’s most widely read newspapers.

So influential was her political commentary that one fellow journalist described her as the most feared woman on Parliament Hill. She even started her own popular weekly paper, NEWS, which ran throughout the Second World War.

But her impact extended well beyond journalism.

Throughout the first and second world wars, propaganda became a powerful tool of the state, considered by governments of all nations to be an essential weapon of war, every bit as critical as artillery, guns, or tanks.

Vast amounts of money and effort were spent on domestic and international campaigns designed to stir patriotism, shape public opinion, vilify or demoralize the enemy, or give hope to those living in occupied territories.

McMaster University Library is now providing McMaster faculty, post-doctoral fellows and students with access to the rare books and archival research materials they need.

In the 1850s, southern Ontario looked vastly different from the urban expanse we see today.

Instead of sprawling subdivisions, small villages with names like Sand Hill, Charles Town and Westervelt’s Corners dotted the landscape. Instead of high-rises and big-box stores, churches, one-room schoolhouses, and family businesses, like the Orangeville Tannery and R. Chisholm & Co. Dry Goods, made up the familiar scenery of everyday life.

Explore the Battlefield of the Mind! On November 5, 2020 @12:00 p.m., join Digital Archives Librarian, Bridget Whittle for a free virtual talk on the colourful and cunning world of wartime propaganda featuring materials from McMaster University Library's extensive collection.

From selling war bonds and collecting scrap, to recruitment and anti-espionage campaigns, we’ll see how governments used propaganda on their own people and their enemies in the two largest conflicts of the 20th century.

How can instructors create their own interactive content for online courses? How can using open platforms increase equity and inclusion in teaching? Where can instructors find high-quality, openly licensed educational materials?

Join McMaster University Library and the MacPherson Institute for virtual sessions on these topics and more in celebration of International Open Access Week.