Pennsylvania Historical Review

Pennsylvania Historical Review is a quarterly scholarly journal focused on the history of Pennsylvania (state), the mid-Atlantic region, and their intersections with national and transatlantic developments. Founded in the early 20th century, the journal publishes research on political, social, cultural, economic, and military subjects related to Pennsylvania and adjacent jurisdictions, featuring articles, archival editions, book reviews, and documentary notes. Its readership includes scholars at institutions such as University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, Carnegie Mellon University, and museum professionals at The State Museum of Pennsylvania and Independence National Historical Park.

History

The journal was established in 1920 by a consortium of historians associated with Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical Association, and regional archivists from Library of Congress collections, responding to contemporary interests sparked by anniversaries of the American Revolution and the Civil War. Early editors drew on networks connected to Benjamin Franklin studies, William Penn scholarship, and research into colonial-era charters such as the Charter of William Penn. During the 1930s and 1940s, contributors engaged with debates linked to the New Deal era, labor conflicts like the Homestead Strike, and industrial narratives centered on the Pennsylvania Railroad and the U.S. Steel Corporation. In the postwar decades, the journal expanded to include cultural and gender histories that intersected with scholarship on figures like Thaddeus Stevens and Harriet Tubman, and with events such as the Great Migration and local manifestations of the Civil Rights Movement. From the 1970s onward, special issues addressed environmental controversies involving the Allegheny National Forest and energy policy debates around Three Mile Island.

Scope and Content

The Review covers political history from colonial assemblies and provincial governance—featuring studies of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and the influence of Quakers—to 19th-century state legislatures and 20th-century gubernatorial administrations tied to figures such as William Penn-era proprietors and modern politicians like Matthew Quay. It publishes social histories analyzing immigration patterns through ports like Philadelphia and industrial communities in Pittsburgh, labor histories of organizations such as the United Mine Workers of America and the American Federation of Labor, and urban studies engaging with the Philadelphia City Hall and the development of Altoona and Scranton. Cultural and intellectual histories examine authors and texts connected to the region, including research on Herman Melville's Pennsylvania readers, Edgar Allan Poe's regional reception, and the work of Walt Whitman. The journal includes archival editions of documents from repositories like the Pennsylvania State Archives, the American Philosophical Society, and the Princeton University Library. Reviews regularly assess monographs published by presses such as University of Pennsylvania Press, Penn State University Press, and the University of Pittsburgh Press.

Editorial Organization and Publication

The editorial board traditionally comprises historians located at universities and historical organizations across Pennsylvania, including scholars from Temple University, Bryn Mawr College, Lehigh University, and Swarthmore College, as well as curators from Philadelphia Museum of Art and librarians from Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The editor-in-chief is typically appointed by the Pennsylvania Historical Association and serves with associate editors who oversee peer review. Manuscripts undergo double-blind review by specialists with expertise in areas such as colonial legal history, industrialization, and African American studies tied to figures like Robert Purvis and context such as the Underground Railroad. The Review appears quarterly, with themed issues and occasional supplements devoted to centennials, such as commemorations of the Battle of Gettysburg's historiography, or to conferences hosted by institutions like Gettysburg College and Dickinson College.

Indexing and Accessibility

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic databases used by historians, including indexes that aggregate holdings from institutions such as JSTOR and the Digital Public Library of America, and is cataloged in collections at the Library of Congress and state archival networks. Back issues have been digitized in collaboration with repositories like the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and university libraries, increasing availability for researchers examining topics from the French and Indian War through late-20th-century policy debates over the Energy Policy Act of 1992 as experienced in Pennsylvania. Institutional subscriptions are held by major research libraries—including University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University, and Bucknell University—while select articles are made available open access through partnerships with regional archives and foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Impact and Reception

The Review has influenced scholarship on regional and national history by publishing influential essays that reframed narratives about industrial capitalism, labor movements, and urbanization in contexts connected to Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller-era philanthropy. Its articles have been cited in works addressing constitutional developments stemming from state courts like the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and in interdisciplinary studies referencing holdings from the Pennsylvania State Archives and the American Antiquarian Society. Scholars have lauded special issues that re-evaluated topics such as the legacy of William Penn and Quaker politics, while critics have urged broader engagement with comparative transnational frameworks involving ports like New York Harbor and migrations linked to the Irish Potato Famine. Overall, the Review continues to serve as a central venue for research on Pennsylvania-related history and its connections to broader American and Atlantic studies.

Category:History journals Category:Publications established in 1920