Publication Focuses on Critical Thinking on the Culture of all the State’s People
The Alliance for Texas History recently released the inaugural issue of the Journal of Texas History. The organization, formed in March 2024, states, “The journal will showcase the best work on Texas history in all aspects.”
The Journal of Texas History is published as an open-access, online journal available at www.jtxh.org.
Rather than limiting the publication to members of the organization, the Alliance has committed to making well-researched history and peer-reviewed articles accessible to the general public at no cost to better support critical thinking about how the past influences our future. The online journal is hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) Libraries through their Mavs Open Press and the Digital Commons Network. Digital Commons offers free access to scholarly content for more than 700 institutions, enabling readers from more than 140 countries to reach a global audience. A print-on-demand option is available.
The Alliance is assisted on the project by Vanessa Garrett, Digital Publishing Librarian with UTA Libraries’ Open Educational Resources and Digital Scholarship Department.
“From our first meeting, it was clear our goals aligned,” Garrett said. “They were looking for a platform that made research available to the public. That’s at the heart of what we do at UTA Libraries.”
Co-editors are Rebecca Sharpless, professor of history at Texas Christian University, and Benjamin H. Johnson, professor of history at Loyola University Chicago. Felipe Hinojosa, professor of history at Baylor University, is the book review editor. An additional group of scholars with a wide range of expertise serve as members of the Editorial Board to ensure excellence in content and methodology for historical research.
Johnson said, “The study of Texas’ past has never been more vibrant than today, and this first issue of the Journal of Texas History shows how central the Alliance has become to Texas history, after little more than a year since its formation.”
Gregg Cantrell, retired professor of history at Texas Christian University, notes that Texas has grown more diverse, and new fields and methodologies have emerged in the historical profession.
“Texas’ population has doubled over the past 40 years, yet the number of scholarly journals devoted to the state’s history has remained roughly the same,” he said. “We believe, then, that there is room — and a real need — for another journal to tell the many stories of Texas and Texans.”
Those interested in submitting an article for the new journal can review the Call for Manuscripts on the Journal of Texas History website at www.jtxh.org or send an email query to submissions@jtxh.org.
The Alliance for Texas History (www.atxh.org) focuses on a 21st-century approach to historical analysis, dialogue, and perspective. Its mission is to foster a comprehensive understanding of Texas’ rich and diverse history. Their mission and values reflect their commitment to ensuring that the stories of all people are told.
