Cant provide code example just yet. Just trying to provide proof-of-concept, yes/no, doable/not-possible feedback for client. I'll create test page examples if the following explanation doesnt describe

GOAL
Id like an HREF anchor on a page to carry with it instructions regarding what to hide/show on the destination page when it loads. These special HREF anchors would be on multiple pages, each carrying unique instructions regarding which ID's on that page to SHOW/HIDE.

MENU PAGE

• List of anchors at top
• Each anchor has jQuery .click function to SHOW corresponding DIV with list of links, and HIDE all other link list DIVs
• When user clicks a link within one of those lists, they go to new page, say: Article page.

ARTICLE PAGE

• On the Article page, a BACK link would return to MENU page with same DIV shown or hidden
• A straight -1 history call will load MENU page in default state.
• I need it to load with specific IDs shown/hidden (via jQuery).

SO BASICALLY
I'm wondering how that BACK link would need to be appended with instructions to the MENU page, to tell it which DIV lists to show or hide

AGAIN
Each Article page will need to have unique instructions. That is: "on load, hide all link links but the one i came from"

CRUDE EXAMPLE
a page containing "Articles from List A" would have a BACK link with special instructions to
<a href="menu.html" (show #list_a) (hide #list_b) (hide #list_c)>Back to List A</a>

Apologies for the nebulous descriptions. Hope there's enough detail to garner a solution.

I like the concept...
I can't think of any way to do what you're asking except with frames.

use a querystring

<a href="menu.html?show=#list_a">

First hide all divs, then show only the one that you want to show.

You can try using this plugin for getting the querystring values (I haven't used it)
http://plugins.jquery.com/project/query-object

<a href="javascript:history.go(-1);">Back to previous page</a>

@chrishirst

perhaps i could have been clearer with this point:
A straight -1 history call will load MENU page in default state.

What I meant was that a -1 history call wont do because i loads the MENU page in its default state: with all lists hidden. I need the MENU page to load with specific DIV ID's shown or hidden.

@stbuchok
Thanks for the tip; Looking into Query Strings.

history.go(-1) will take the user back to the last page they viewed in exactly the same state as they left it, as it will be loaded from the browser cache.

RESOLVED

javascript.go(-1) totally *does* do what i need it to.

Thanks once again @chrishirst. I think thats 3 pints i owe you.