A Note from the New Editors

We are confident that we speak for the entire readership of French Historical Studies in thanking the previous editors, James Farr and John Contreni, for maintaining a high standard of editorial leadership for the journal. In addition to the numerous articles that they have selected for publication since they began their term of service with the fall 1991 issue, they have sponsored many stimulating forums, review essays, and special issues. The journal’s enviable reputation among French historians for innovative scholarship owes much to their editorial guidance.

Editors Farr and Contreni have also continued the journal’s tradition of providing valuable services to the profession, which we intend to carry on. These services range from announcements of fellowships, prizes, and conferences of interest to French historians to the publication of biennial lists of books and dissertations in print, compiled by Thomas Schaeper, and biannual lists of recently published articles, compiled by Jean-Pierre H�rubel. We thank Schaeper and H�rubel for agreeing to continue this important work for the journal.

As the first husband-and-wife team of editors for French Historical Studies, we are pleased to begin our duties at a time when French historians, especially in the English-speaking world, have made great strides toward achieving gender equality. Our own areas of expertise overlap to a considerable extent in the field of modern French history, but we will continue to encourage submissions of manuscripts in medieval and early modern French history. From an analytical perspective, our editorial partnership derives inspiration from studies of gender as well as of class and community. We aim to foster a diversity of intellectual styles and a variety of substantive contributions to French history.

A major task of French historians today is to consider ways of linking France to issues and problems beyond the Hexagon. At a time when world history is replacing the history of Western civilization in many college curricula and when enrollments in European history courses are often declining, French history may appear parochial to many North Americans. In this issue, Professor Jan Goldstein explores some of the implications of this situation for our profession. As editors, we would like to encourage submissions of articles and suggestions [End Page iii for forums and special issues that expand the geographical boundaries and conceptual framework of French history. Examples might include studies of Francophone cultures; essays that compare France with other societies; essays on innovative pedagogies, including the use of Web sites, film, and music; and new topics in the field of French history, such as the visual arts, consumer cultures, mass media, tourism, and the environment. Of course, topics of long-standing interest to our profession will continue to be published frequently in the journal.

Among our tasks as editors none is more important than insuring fair and informed peer evaluation of submitted manuscripts. The previous editors have kindly provided us with a computerized database of active scholars who have published work in French history. This file includes everyone who has reviewed manuscripts for the journal in recent years and many other scholars whom we expect to call on for assistance. We will be continually updating this information. Our goal will be to match as closely as possible the expertise of reviewers with the specific subject matter of manuscripts under review. We are also fortunate in being able to call on a distinguished editorial board for assistance in the process of peer review. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the six new board members: Alice Conklin, Norman Ingram, Colin Jones, Peter McPhee, Charles Rearick, and Cynthia Truant.

The transition to the new editorial team and to the University of California at Davis has been a smooth one, thanks in large measure to James Farr and to his managing assistant, Jennifer Redden, who have provided indispensable advice for us and for our managing assistant, Eteica Spencer.

Jo Burr Margadant and Ted W. Margadant, Editors

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