At the December 1973 meeting of the Board of Editors an amendment to the Bylaws of the Board of Editors of the HAHR was approved, adoption contingent on approval by a mail ballot. It was proposed that the present lifetime appointment would be replaced by service limited to the individual’s academic career plus five years. It was specified that, if approved, the new policy would not affect the status of current Advisory Editors, but would apply to all new appointees. With a unanimous mail ballot favoring the change, the second paragraph of Article IV of the Bylaws now reads:

The Advisory Editors are elected by the Board of Editors at such time as the Board may deem convenient and hold office for the period of the individual’s academic career, plus five years or until resignation. . . .

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The Managing Editor reminds HAHR readers of the change of institutional home and managing editor scheduled for September 1, 1975. Your attention is called to the From the Editor’s Desk section of the February, 1974 issue, wherein the procedure for selection is detailed and inquiries and expressions of interest are invited. It is hoped that the screening committee will be able to make a recommendation for the approval of the Board of Editors at their annual meeting in December 1974.

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At least as far back as 1946 there were suggestions of the desirability of preserving and having available archival material related to the history of the HAHR. The matter became current and urgent when Mrs. Mary Kahler, Chief of the Latin American, Portuguese, and Spanish Division of the Reference Department of the Library of Congress, requested guidance on the disposition of HAHR materials, largely relating to the editorships of Lewis Hanke and Charles C. Griffin, then held in her Division.

The Board of Editors decided that an effort should be made to find a single and permanent home for such materials. It also was decided to explore the interest of the Duke University Library in serving as the depository, in view of that institution’s long and supportive relationship with the journal. Dr. William E. King, University Archivist of Duke University, responded with enthusiastic interest, and the materials from the Library of Congress have been transferred to Duke. The current Managing Editor has contacted all living former editors, advising them of the arrangement and urging their cooperation by arranging for the shipment to Duke University of any HAHR materials remaining in their possession. Professors James King and Charles Griffin have shipped relevant materials, and Professor Robert E. Quirk is in the process of doing so.

Conditions of consultation and the need for guidelines that would protect living persons are matters of concern yet to be resolved. Dr. King will prepare a contract with proposed conditions and procedures for access for consideration by the Board of Editors. As soon as these have been agreed upon, they will be communicated to members of the profession.

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