Magazines and Journals Reflect and Promote Change

Norberto Angeletti and Alberto Oliva argue this in their Magazines that Make History: Their Origins, Development, and Influence (University of Florida Press, 2004) Lockwood Book Collection PN4832.A54 2004. This lavishly illustrated and remarkably intelligent book covers Time, Der Spiegel, Life, Paris Match, National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, iHola!, and People. The unique contributions of each title – its place in history and its history -- are noted, along with its distinguishing typographical and aesthetic style. The power of chance, the opportunity of the market, and the personalities of editors are explored. Who was on the cover of Time in 1938? And what was the controversy? How many times did Marilyn Monroe’s unforgettable face and form grace the cover of Life? And what things – style, format, and attitude -- have made Reader’s Digest so popular across the years? The answers are in this book, which is definitely not designed for the coffee table, although it might do well there.

What these authors do for popular titles library historian Margaret F. Stieg does for historical journals in her 1986 The Origin and Development of Scholarly Historical Journals (University of Alabama Press) Lockwood Book Collection D13.S835 1986. Among the titles discussed are the Mississippi Valley Historical Review (now the Journal of American History) and the Journal of Southern History. Separate chapters discuss the spread of scholarly journals, geographical specialization, topical specialization, interdisciplinary historical periodicals. and political influences. Much attention is devoted to European journals. If you’re interested in the history of scholarly communication, you’ll find this title interesting.

For a history of American periodicals see Frank Mott’s A History of American Magazines, 1741-1930 (Harvard University Press, 1938-1968), Lockwood Reference Collection PN4877.M63. This title is so critical that it is also available in digital form, consult the catalog. For an amazing and suggestive taste of our periodical past (to 1900) visit the American Periodicals Series Online, http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/aps.html.

For a quick scan of the diversity of current journals (as well as magazines) see the annotated Magazines for Libraries: For the General Reader and School, Junior College, College, University and Public Libraries, 10th edition (Bowker, 2000) Lockwood Reference Collection Z6941.K2 2000. To identify the historical journals we hold in paper format do the subject search history—periodicals. To identify the history journals we have in electronic form go to Electronic Journal Holdings -- http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ft.html- and select Browse by Subject Headings, then select Humanities and Reference, and proceed appropriately. To scan a wider universe of currently published titles, not restricted by what we own, go to Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory -- http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ulrichs.html -- select Browse, then Subject, and then History (note there are many subject headings for History). Unfortunately, none of these apporaches is 100% irreproachable.

Wondering how to identify serials (which include magazines, journals, and newpapers) no longer published? We'll consider this in another post. If you've ever spent a sigificant period of time working with serials I'm sure you'll agree that they and the work can sometimes become a little surreal. Ask a serials cataloger for comment.

If you need an article in a journal we do not own, do not despair, there are options. One of the most common is interlibrary loan. It’s fast and free and you can submit a request electronically and receive the requested item electronically as well. Go to http://ulilliad.lib.buffalo.edu/illiad/.