The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 41, July 1937 - April, 1938 Page: 253
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Historical Notes
purpose of learning what was being done elsewhere. The answers
have come in and they are far from assuring. It seems that most
historical associations and societies have a small membership and
that the work is done by a few devotees. Very few societies have
one thousand members and those that have two thousand are rare
indeed. These facts we may as well face realistically in shaping a
future policy. Judge Harbert Davenport of Brownsville has main-
tained all along that we need not deceive ourselves with false
hopes as to general public interest and extensive memberships.
He insists that those actively interested in state history are few
and that the number can not be increased appreciably by mis-
sionary work and superficial enthusiasm. He is of the opinion, if
I understand him, that The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
should hold to its high plane and not seek to attract the crowd
which will not be attracted.
This does not mean that we can not publish interesting material.
It does mean that all material published should have historical
value. One member objects to the publication of theses and de-
mands variety in the form of documents, memoirs and occasional
letters. This is a sensible demand and one that may be supplied.
The archives of Texas are bulging with letters, diaries, and recol-
lections that can be made available in printed form.
It must be remembered, however, that the editors can not do
it all. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly is well supplied with
editors, but it needs more contributors. Moreover, a magazine is
like a show, it must go on. The editors must use what is available
and theses are always available. It is proper that they should be
published and more are worthy of publication than find it. The
theses only need to be balanced with other rations.
This department is itself an experiment and if it is to be a
success the editor must have help. He is not ingenious enough
to make it out of whole cloth. By recording the appearance of
certain historical publications, special newspaper editions for ex-
ample, it may offer a clue to students. It may serve to establish
dates of some historical importance. It may serve as a "want
column" for those in search of material. It may serve as a clear-253
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 41, July 1937 - April, 1938, periodical, 1938; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101103/m1/275/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.