As the United Nations approaches its 80th anniversary, we delve deeper into the history of the Journal of the United Nations.
The story of this staple UN publication, like that of the UN itself, began in 1945. When the Preparatory Commission met to set the stage for the first General Assembly, Security, and Economic and Social Council sessions from November to December 1945, a Journal of the Preparatory Commission?was published daily.
Even though those journals are almost 80 years old, they are instantly recognizable as the same publication found on the Journal website today: they include programs of meetings, their agendas, summaries of previous meetings and daily lists of documents.
However, unlike today, the content in 1945 was given in long, full sentences with a wide range of additional information included alongside meeting details. At times, that information was practical and gave instructions about accessing Church House in London, United Kingdom, where the Preparatory Commission’s meetings were held, for example.
At other times, it suggested ways delegates might spend their free time in London, whether it be by going to the theater, sending UN-themed Christmas cards, or watching the Oxford vs. Cambridge Varsity Match at Twickenham.
On 22 December 1945, the Journal was even used to try and locate a delegate who had been given shortchange by the Church House Post Office: "The Post Office is extremely anxious that he should claim his correct change as soon as possible."
Interestingly, when the General Assembly, the Security Council,?and the Economic and Social Council?convened their first sessions in January 1946, separate journals were published for each of these organs.
Like those of the Preparatory Commission, these early journals were wordy and dense with information. The first Journal of the General Assembly,?for example, gave precise timings for the General Assembly’s first meeting: "It is the present intention that the meeting shall be formally called to order at 4 p.m. and that the proceedings shall actually start at 4.03 p.m. precisely, so as to allow radio commentators three minutes in which to introduce the theme and 'build up'?their stories."
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About the Author:
Meena Sur is the Project Manager for the Journal of the United Nations. She wrote this article with the Journal team.
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