Fifty Years of the Historical Journal

The half-centenary of the Historical Journal is here used as an opportunity not for celebration but for historical analysis. How well does the journal's claim to publish ‘on all aspects of history’ stand up to scrutiny? Do its contents and contributors reflect the state of the profession, or are they skewed? These questions are explored both conceptually and quantitatively. The notion of a ‘general’ historical journal is examined, as also the distinction between a journal's research and pedagogic functions. Some implications of the HJ 's origins in the period of high modernism are suggested. Finally, current dilemmas are examined, especially in the new era of electronic access.