Recent Scholarship Online

After careful consideration, the JAH has determined to cease production of Recent Scholarship Online (RSO). This is not a decision that we have taken lightly. For many years, RSO has catalogued a broad selection of titles in colonial American and U.S. history. We know that users of RSO value the bibliography and will regret the loss of it.

As you can imagine, though, the creation of a bibliography as vast as RSO is a time- and labor-intensive undertaking. Our editorial assistants and database managers have devoted long hours to the collection and publication of RSO. Yet, only a small percentage of OAH members actually use it. Less than 7 percent of members subscribe to RSO; less than 1 percent have utilized the database to construct custom bibliographies. Unfortunately, the JAH cannot continue to allocate finite resources to a product that benefits so few of our members.

Happily, though, in recent years, the OAH has expanded its portfolio of publications. In addition to the Journal, the OAH now publishes Process: a blog for American history, The American Historian, the JAH Podcast, and Teaching the JAH. These publications appeal broadly to readers and listeners. Collectively, they cater to the interests of researchers, authors, teachers, students, librarians, archivists, curators, guides, interpreters, digital scholars, and a host of other historical professionals. Increasingly, our public-facing platforms—especially Process and the JAH Podcast—attempt to engage popular audiences in the study and appreciation of history.

In coming years, we at the JAH aim to enhance these publications for the benefit of OAH members and of the general public. Of course, we will also continue to publish the exceptional scholarship by which the JAH has earned its reputation as the journal of record in our field. We value your participation in the OAH and will strive to serve you to the best of our abilities.

Benjamin H. Irvin
Executive Editor
Journal of American History