December 8, 2004

BSU, ISU, and Idaho Historical Society Join Forces To Revive Idaho Yesterday's Journal

Three state agencies — Idaho State University, Boise State University and the Idaho Historical Society — have joined forces to revive publication of Idaho Yesterdays. The popular journal devoted to the history of the Gem State debuted in 1957 and served as a valuable academic journal of Idaho history for 45 years. Due to state budget cuts, the Idaho State Historical Society suspended publication in 2002. “The rebirth of Idaho Yesterdays has been a marvelously collaborative project,” said Todd Shallat, director of the Center for Idaho History and Politics at Boise State. “The combined publishing and research expertise of the State Historical Society and two public-spirited universities has done something no single agency could have accomplished alone.” Idaho Yesterdays combines color photography with rare imprints, museum artifacts, memoirs, reviews and peer-reviewed academic articles. Edited by Laura Woodworth-Ney at Idaho State University, it is produced by the Center for Idaho History and Politics under the direction of graphic artist Adele Thomsen and production supervisor Shallat. After publication of Idaho Yesterdays was suspended, ISU faculty in history and American studies approached the historical society to discuss ways it could be revived. As part of their investigation they conducted a telephone survey of historical societies throughout most of the western states to determine the kinds of publications they supported and/or were available in their states. They found that all of these states possess history journals. “The revitalization of this important resource for Idaho history could not have been possible without the spirit of cooperation and generosity exhibited by our institutional partners,” said Woodworth-Ney.  “The state agencies have come together to save the journal, which, in preserving Idaho’s past, provides a great service to the people of Idaho. It has been a true pleasure to work with the people who have made this happen.” The journal is available to the public through a subscription managed by the Idaho State Historical Society, and it will also be available at local bookstores. It is published quarterly by the Idaho State Historical Society with generous support from the Idaho Humanities Council and the Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). The journal’s editorial board is made up of faculty from Boise State University, University of Idaho, Lewis and Clark State College, Brigham Young University-Idaho and College of Southern Idaho. Visit http://www.boisestate.edu/history/idaho/publicat1.html to learn more about the journal. -30- Contacts: Steve Guerber, executive director, Idaho State Historical Society, (208) 334-2682, sguerber@ishs.state.id.us Laura Woodworth-Ney, Idaho Yesterdays editor, (208) 282-2606, woodlaur@isu.edu         Media Contacts: Kathleen Craven, University Relations, Boise State University, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu Andrew Taylor, University Relations, Idaho State University, (208) 282-3209, taylandy@isu.edu