42:3/4 Autumn 1996

DAVID NICHOLLS

Introduction to the 50th Anniversary Issue

In Autumn 1996 CR celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a double-issue that reprinted more than fifty pieces that had first appeared in CR. That issue—which has long been out of print—supplies the backbone for this sixtieth anniversary online constellation; we’ve supplemented it with an extra thirty or so pieces (including this one) in order to bring the collection up to date. In this introduction, editor David Nicholls explained how he and his staff selected their material, and describes the design of his curation, which includes the introductory notes that accompany each reprinted piece. As Nicholls explains, many of these notes were based on his correspondence with former contributors and editors.

We contacted Nicholls earlier this summer to see what he remembered about his time at the magazine. He told us about some of his innovations.

One of the things that really helped us recover financially was a computer. When I started, we sent the magazine to an outside typesetter; then, to a woman in St. Louis with a desktop computer; then we got our own, and things went much more smoothly and efficiently. It allowed us to typeset in house, manage our subscription files, and write letters. Eventually we got e-mail and set up the first Web page. We used to joke that we skipped the era of the electric typewriter completely—there was one old manual typewriter and a box of index cards when I started.

CR is still designed in house; and that old manual typewriter is still to hand.

[ES, 2006]

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