Dear Mr. Vejnar,
To the matter of a "bias" in the VMHB---nothing could be further from
the truth. We the editors have absolutely no preference for articles
focusing on "eastern Virginia, the University of Virginia, and the Civil
War." We are constrained by what is submitted to us and by the
scholarly quality of those submissions. We receive far more manuscripts
on Central Virginia and the Tidewater than on other parts of the state.
That is something over which we have no control. (Ironically, there are
many who criticize us for not publishing enough on the Civil War.)
That said, I take issue with your assertion that "In the last 9 years I
have counted only ONE article in the VMHB dealing with the area
southwest of Roanoke." By my count, there have, in that time span, been
two articles focusing on that region (see vol. 108, no. 4, pp. 393-434
and vol. 110, no. 1, pp. 5-34) as well as an entire issue (vol. 107, no.
4) devoted to the Kanawha salt industry. Would we like to publish more
on Southwestern Virginia? Absolutely. We would also like to publish
more articles on Northern Virginia, which has probably been less well
represented in VMHB pages than has Southwestern Virginia.
Interestingly, in the past year or so we have accepted two articles on
Southwestern Virginia for which we await final drafts from the authors.
Neither of them, I venture, would perceive the bias about which you
speak.
I would encourage anyone on this list who has a manuscript on a
Southwestern Virginia topic to submit it to the VMHB. It will be treated
fairly.
Finally, As a matter of policy, we do not publicly discuss manuscripts
we have rejected, that would be a breach of ethics.
Sincerely,
Paul Levengood
---------------
Paul A. Levengood, Ph.D.
Managing Editor
Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
Program Coordinator
Reynolds Business History Center
Phone: 804.342.9673
Fax: 804.342.9697
U.S. Mail Address:
P.O. Box 7311
Richmond, VA 23221
FedEx, UPS Address:
428 North Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Vejnar
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 2:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bias in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
I'm wondering if any of the Virginia History Listserv subscribers are
noticing a bias in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
towards publishing articles dealing only with eastern Virginia, the
University of Virginia, and the Civil War? I received the lastest issue
of the VMHB in today's mail and disovered yet ANOTHER article on Mr.
Jefferson's University - this time dealing with the admission of women.
This is in addition to the article entitled "Flag- Waving Wahoos:
Confederate Symbols at the University of Virginia, 1941-51"
(vol. 110, #4) published in 2002. I find this frustrating, as a
colleague of mine recently submitted an article regarding the naming
controversy surrounding a southwest Virginia college to the VMHB for
consideration, but was told that it was "far too narrow" for
publication. What gives here? Does the VMHB publish articles only on
UVA? In the last 9 years I have counted only ONE article in the VMHB
dealing with the area southwest of Roanoke. Surely Southwest Virginia
has contributed something of historical worth to the commonwealth of
Virginia, yes?
I look forward to anything you may have to say.
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