Press

The first issue of the New York History journal has been published under a new collaboration between the New York State Museum and Cornell University Press. Published twice a year, the scholarly journal presents articles regarding New York State history as well as reviews of books, exhibitions, and media projects with a New York focus.

Now published by Cornell University Press working in coordination with an editorial team at the New York State Museum, New York History journal seeks to unify the diverse field of New York State history and meet the needs of a growing historical community that includes scholars, public historians, museum professionals, local government historians, and those seeking an in-depth look at the Empire State’s history.

“New York State has a rich and diverse history that is shared by cultural institutions, historians, and educators across the state,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. “New York History journal will serve as an important resource to learn about our state’s past to help us make better decisions about our future.”

“The State Museum has a long history of sharing the state’s past with the people of New York and the New York History journal will add to those efforts,” said Interim State Education Commissioner Beth Berlin. “We’re proud to collaborate with Cornell University Press and publish this journal with the best content the field of New York State history has to offer.”

Co-editors of the journal include New York State Museum Chief Curator of History Dr. Jennifer Lemak, New York State Historian Devin Lander, New York State Museum Senior Historian Aaron Noble, and Senior Lecturer in the History Department at University of Maryland Dr. Robert Chiles. The Editorial Board actively solicits articles, essays, reports from the field and case studies to be featured in the journal. Submission guidelines are available on the State Museum website.

“New York History journal provides a great opportunity to bring together the diverse New York State history community,” said co-editors Dr. Jennifer Lemak and Devin Lander. “The State Museum is honored to lead the journal’s Editorial Board and work with Cornell University Press and historians across the state.”

“The New York State Museum-led Editorial Board has done a wonderful job continuing the excellent editorial work of Professors Thomas Beale, Susan Goodier, and Danny Noorlander of SUNY Oneonta,” said Michael J. McGandy, Senior Editor at Cornell University Press. “As the journal embraces the perspectives of public historians and museum curators, they have struck the right balance between scholarship and outreach.”

The summer 2019 issue features articles by historians across the state including:

• “The Sing Sing Revolt: The Incarceration Crisis and Criminal Justice Liberalism in the 1980s” by Lee Bernstein, professor of history at SUNY New Paltz
• “The Power of Women: Matilda Joslyn Gage and the New York Women’s Vote of 1880” by Sue Boland, local historian for the Matilda Joslyn gage Center for Social Justice Dialogue
• “Suffrage’s Second Act: Women in the NYS Legislature, 1919-1930” by Laurie Kozakiewicz, lecturer in history at the University at Albany
• “The Lost Poems of Jacob Steendam” by D.L. Noorlander, assistant professor of history at SUNY Oneonta
• “A Model Tenement in “The City of Homes”: George Eastman and the Challenge of Housing Reform in Rochester, New York” by Nancy J. Rosenbloom, professor of history at Canisius College
• “Consumption in the Adirondacks: Print Culture and the Curative Climate” by Mark Sturges, assistant professor of English at St. Lawrence University

Recurring feature articles in the journal include:

• Artifact NY – a feature about an object or document important to New York State history.
• Teach NY – a feature intended for history teachers at either the middle or high school level or university professors. Content includes lessons plans, utilizing primary source materials in a classroom setting, or using multimedia or new technology to teach history.
• Community NY – a feature that highlights state history at the local, community and project-based levels.

Individual and institution print subscriptions to New York History are available as well as individual electronic subscriptions. Subscriptions can be ordered online or by contacting Cornell University Press at nyhjournal@cornell.edu.

New York History, founded in 1919 as The Quarterly Journal of the New York State Historical Association, is the foremost scholarly journal addressing the state’s past. The New York State Historical Association, now known as Fenimore Art Museum, created and supported the journal. Since 2012 the journal has been published as a digital-only publication. In 2018 it was announced that Cornell University Press would manage and publish the journal in print and digital format working alongside an editorial team at the New York State Museum.

The New York State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the Museum website.