The Editor's Farewell

After being editorially connected to American Imago for fifteen years, I decided it was time to pass along the honor and the labor. It has indeed been a privilege to be the fourth Editor in Chief of American Imago, following Hanns Sachs, George Wilbur and Harry Slochower.

There are many people to thank-the journal is very much a collective enterprise, the work of a community of generous practitioners and scholars. I have been exceptionally fortunate that over the fifteen years of my involvement with the journal, there has been a basic core of people who have helped me produce issue after issue, specifically co-editors and assistant editors.

First, Louise J. Kaplan and Donald Moss have been the co-editors of the journal almost from the beginning of my work as editor in chief. Both are exceptional people in their own work as psychoanalysts and writers; both are passionate about ideas, needless to say articulate, and unafraid of discussion or hard work. In addition to reading and commenting on hundreds of articles over the years, both Louise and Donald produced special issues, brought others into doing the same, and discovered new talents to write for the journal. Our monthly meetings to discuss papers were sometimes hotter than the tea Louise offered, nonetheless the work got done, decisions were made, and lasting friendships were forged.

On the front lines I have been equally fortunate in my choices for editorial associates: Katherine Birckmayer has worked for the journal almost from the beginning of my tenure, and Diane Rizzo began about half way through. When I first took the over the work of the journal, when Harry Slochower's health no longer permitted him to, I did everything in each of the dozen steps of the process from logging in submissions and writing acknowledgments to final proofreading of page proofs. So, when I was able to get help, I appreciated it all the more (and of course admired Harry all the more). The quality of the help from Katherine and Diane has been uniformly terrific. The technical work that goes into bringing an essay into production is labor intensive and painstaking; and the interpersonal work can sometimes be taxing as well-authors are not always easy to work with. The press has acknowledged to me that the editorial work of Katherine and Diane has been excellent; when their work arrives at the press, it is ready to go.

Naturally, I would like to thank Rutgers University for its consistent financial assistance over the years, and particularly the people who have helped secure and maintain it-Richard McCormack, Paul Leath, Barbara Callahan and Richard Foley. And, of course, I want to thank and heap praise on Johns Hopkins University Press, Journals Division, headed by Marie Hansen. I would also particularly like to thank Judy Lerner and Mary Muhler for their excellent support in the production department. It has been a wonderful press to work with, courteous and excellent in all ways. In all the years of working with Johns Hopkins, they always delivered the goods and often did the impossible.

One person who deserves special mention here is Maynard Solomon whom I have thought of as a one person Board of Trustees for the journal. Maynard was able to persuade Louise to take time from her busy professional life to become a co-editor of the journal. Maynard was instrumental in organizing the formal relationship with Johns Hopkins. And, Maynard has always made himself available to consult with me over any of the many issues that arose over the time of my tenure-not only to consult, but to offer excellent advice. He is a true friend of the journal and it has been a rare privilege to know and work with him.

When Donald Moss decided a few years ago to leave the intense work of being a co-editor, I asked Peter Rudnytsky to help out, as indeed he has. Peter has a long history with the journal and a proven track record of editorial work, so when I decided to step down, I thought of him as a logical choice...