Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Digital Challenge

I was finishing up on the last day of a VISAWUS conference I organized in Austin in 2003 when Bill Scheuerle and Richard Fulton encouraged me to apply for the editorship at VPR. I was then co-editing a slick biannual titled The Journal of Texas Music History at Texas State University. I knew how much work went into producing that publication. I thought a quarterly would be twice the work but twice the fun because I could keep up on the latest research in my field of Victorian periodicals. Eventually I received a very supportive acceptance letter from Laurel Brake, and I used my frequent flyer miles to meet with Bill in Florida so I could make a smooth transition. He supplied me with about two years of essays, a timely publication schedule with the University of Toronto Press, and an efficient editing system kept in tune by his assistant, Robin Rogers.

My first visible presence as editor was evident in 38:1 (Spring 2005) with a change to vanilla parchment paper stock and matching page color. In my editor's comments I explained: "Parchment reminds me of the elegant look displayed in early Victorian literary annuals, and our trademark framing design replicates decorative features often found in periodicals of a later artistic period." I suggested this stylistic union as a reminder of our mission to "better understand the fascinating diversity of Victorian periodicals." I also began to feature the Table of Contents on the back cover, as suggested by Laurel Brake (fig. 1). I revised my Editorial Board, vowing to make full use of this group, and I am grateful for their hard work and energetic support. Book Review Editor Shirley Sackman soon retired from Clark College and from her position with VPR. After a brief search, we chose Solveig Robinson to replace Shirley, and Solveig has efficiently and professionally provided a steady supply of excellent reviews since 38:2 (Summer 2005). Alexis Easley then took Solveig's place as Bibliographer.

Figure 1.

Back cover of VPR 38:1 (Spring 2005)

My biggest, most embarrassing mistake as the new editor was a misidentification in the biographies section of longtime RSVP member Joel Wiener as Rice University historian Martin Joel Wiener. I had recently met the latter at the VISAWUS conference I organized in Austin, and his name would not budge from my memory until dislodged by Patrick Leary who politely corrected me. I could whine about not having an assistant and being too busy and easily neglectful of such details, but reading over the accounts from my predecessors in this issue I am shamed by any attempts at lame excuses. At least I have E-mail and a fast computer. Previous editors remind me what it was like without these electronic tools. (During my undergraduate days in the 1970s an English professor suggested that if I really wanted to be prepared for the future I would learn how to use a computer. I thought he was crazy. I was an English major. Why would I need a computer? They were for math majors, and I couldn't imagine what anyone could do on a computer except balance a checkbook. Things change.) Like Walter Houghton, I am no Luddite, but I do still prefer to receive hard copies by post, and I still prefer writing letters of acceptance or refusal on letterhead most of the time.

During my tenure as editor, I inherited from Bill one special issue guest edited by Andrea Broomfield in honor of Sally Mitchell, published in 38:2 (Summer 2005). Another special issue edited by Teresa Mangum on "Periodical Pedagogy" was very popular and also expensive because it exceeded our usual page limit by 50 pages. I did not anticipate the space that would be taken by variations in format within sample syllabi provided by individual authors. However, I thought it was an excellent issue and well worth the expenditure.

One of the most important events during these few years has been new opportunities provided by financial gifts to our organization. RSVP...