From the Publisher

Abstract

From the Publisher Larry J. Wagenaar My association with The Michigan Historical Review (MHR) goes back thirty years, to when I first joined the Board of Trustees of the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM). Back then, leaders of the organization were struggling to keep the nonprofit state historical society afloat, and there was discussion about whether the Society could afford to continue distributing the MHR to its members. The issue came up again when I was president of the Board from 1996 to 1998. Despite the fiscal concerns—which were very real at the time—we never wavered from supporting Michigan history scholarship at the academic level where the MHR lives. When I became executive director of HSM in 2001, it remained a priority to support the MHR as we worked in the succeeding years to rebuild our organization. Former Clarke Historical Library director Frank Boles was also very helpful during those times, allowing HSM some additional time when the semiannual printing invoices arrived. Those difficult days are long behind us now, as HSM publishes two history magazines—Michigan History and Chronicle—alongside the MHR, operates educational programming of all types, servicing students to senior citizens, is the mothership for hundreds of local historical organizations, hosts three major history conferences annually, and operates several award programs. And we remain committed to the MHR now, as its publisher. If you are contributor or reader of MHR, I would encourage you to consider writing for our other publications that are aimed at an educated lay audience. Michigan History, for example, is read by more than 100,000 people per issue. Many of the topics that are shared for academics in the MHR can be recrafted for a public audience and will ensure that the stories of our state are shared as broadly as possible. For more information on our writing guidelines for HSM Publications visit www.hsmichigan.org/submission-guidelines. [End Page v] Larry J. Wagenaar Executive Director and CEO, Historical Society of Michigan Publisher, HSM Publications Copyright © 2023 Historical Society of Michigan