THE TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED 1849 OFFICERS President, JOHN H. DEWITT. Vice-Presidents, E. T. SANFORD, J. P. YOUNG, MRS. B. D. BELL. Recording Secretary and Treasurer, J. TYREE FAIN. Assistant Recording Secretary, HALLUM W. GOODLOE. Corresponding Secretary W. A. PROVINE. FORM OF LEGACY "I give and bequeath to The Tennessee Historical Society In presenting the first number of this magazine to the public March, 1915, the able editor, Dr. St. George L. Sioussat, announced in a foreword the ideals of the Tennessee Historical Society in its venture of publishing a quarterly magazine. After making mention of the excellent publication formerly issued by Messrs. Garrett and Goodpasture-the American Historical Magazine—the aspiration and plan of its successor was set forth as follows: The purpose of the magazine will be that common to its predecessor in Tennessee and to the many similar journals of other states. It is designed, first, to transfer to permanent form as much as possible of that manuscript material, so liable to destruction, upon which the historian must ever place his first dependence; secondly, to afford a means of publication of papers and articles of an historic nature, and, thirdly, to be a medium for the publication of news as to all the historical activities of individuals or associations in the state. How successfully the discerning judgment of the editor carried out these ideals is abundantly shown in the three volumes of the magazine that were issued in 1915, 1916 and 1917. At that date it is known that the society lost, as a local member, the talented editor by his removal to the chair of American History in Brown University, and in addition the absorbing. problem of the world war was upon us, adding to everyone additional and immediate responsibilities. Under the circumstances, in keeping with the policy adopted by many other similar journals, the magazine was issued occasionally as the local committee had opportunity to give attention to its publication. Thus as to date of issue we have been some months behind in the calendar, the December number for 1918 having been issued at the beginning of the summer of 1919. As to the future of the magazine, the action of the society at its May meeting, 1919, will explain: "The following were elected as a publishing committee of the TENNESSEE HISTORICAL MAGAZINE: Dr. W. A. Provine, Editor; Hon. J. H. DeWitt, Manager; J. Tyree Fain, Assistant." It is unnecessary to say that the newly appointed editor is in thorough sympathy with the original ideals for the magazine along which lines it has been issued during these four years, and it will be his endeavor to so continue it, with such added features as may be deemed appropriate. It is very much desired that the cordial co-operation vouchsafed in the past will be continued and that the cause of State, and Southern history in general, will be promoted by succeeding volumes. We announced with satisfaction that many valuable contributions are either on hand, or promised, for future numbers, and it is hoped that promptness shall characterize their issuance. In this connection it may be said that it has been decided to change the dates of issuance to correspond with those commonly observed by similar quarterly journals, viz: To January, April, July and October, this number being denominated Vol. V, No. 1, April, 1919. EDITOR. |