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Kansas History - Editorial policy and style guide

Kansas History, current issueKansas History is published quarterly by the Kansas Historical Foundation and the Department of History at Kansas State University. As a peer-reviewed journal, it contains scholarly articles, edited documents, and other materials that contribute to an understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of Kansas and the Central Plains. Traditional historical topics and approaches are welcome, as are biographical and historiographical interpretations and studies of archeology, the built environment, and material culture. Articles emphasizing visual documentation, exceptional reminiscences, and autobiographical writings also are considered for publication in special cases. Genealogical studies generally are not accepted. Previously published articles,articles produced with AI/text generative technology, or manuscripts under consideration for publication elsewhere will not be considered.

Preparing Your Article

To prepare an article, consider the following criteria. Authors must make a persuasive historical argument that appears early in the article, based on careful use of both primary and secondary sources. Some attention should be paid to previous academic scholarship on the topic (i.e. historiography), although an extensive historiographical analysis is not needed. There must be a balance between summary and analysis. Articles should follow a logical organization (including both intra- and inter-paragraph organization) with clear topic sentences. Writing should be straightforward and concise. Submissions should total approximately 10,000 words, excluding footnotes. We suggest you download our brief publishing guide.

Manuscripts must be typed on a computer and saved in .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) format, double spaced in Times New Roman 12 pt. font, with footnotes in the Chicago/Turabian style (notes should also be double spaced). We ask that authors insert notes using the automated feature in Word. No identifying features (author byline, etc.) should appear in the manuscript itself.

Kansas History follows The Chicago Manual of Style, published by the University of Chicago Press (17th ed., 2017). Submitted articles should follow the manual as closely as possible, particularly with regard to the citation of source material. We have also developed a short style sheet to help with citation formatting.

Submitting Your Article

To submit, please email your submission to khjournal@ksu.edu as a .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) file along with either a curriculum vitae (CV) or a short description of who you are and how you became interested in this project. We no longer accept submissions through fax or postal mail. Please allow at least six to eight weeks for a decision, which will be communicated through the editors along with appropriate comments and suggested or required revisions.

Publishing Process

If a manuscript is accepted, having gone through peer review, the author will work with the editors to produce a final draft. The editors, of course, reserve the right to make changes in the article but will consult with the author throughout the editing process. Authors will have opportunities to review the article at the copyediting and proof stages.

Published articles include images that are selected by our associate editor; consult our image selection guide for more information. The author is responsible for the cost of any images that are not freely available; the cost of any illustrations personally commissioned from photographers, cartographers, graphic designers, etc., is also the responsibility of the author.

During the production process, the author will be required to sign a copyright transfer agreement (CTA), which is standard in publishing. This copyright agreement, which allows the Kansas Historical Foundation to copyright each journal issue, will be sent to the author several weeks prior to the scheduled publication date; refusal to sign the release rescinds the journal’s acceptance of the manuscript.

The copyright agreement also requires that the author attest to the originality of the work and, wherever applicable, acquire permission to publish or reproduce for publication all currently copyrighted materials (photographs, maps, etc.) submitted by the author but not original to or created by the author. Authors also stipulate that they will not reuse or reprint the article without first having acquired permission from Kansas History.

The Foundation agrees to publish the article in a timely manner and provide the author with six free copies of the issue containing their work. The author may also purchase ten additional copies of this issue at one-half the regular cost per issue.

Access and Promotion

Abstracts of each article will be posted online, and publication will be announced on the journal’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky) @kshistoryjournal. Articles appearing in the print version of Kansas History will be available on the Kansas Historical Society's website approximately one year after publication. Journal articles are abstracted and/or indexed with Historical Abstracts, America: History and Life, and EBSCO Publishing. The journal on microfilm is available from ProQuest Microfilms.

The Edgar Langsdorf Award for Excellence in Writing, which includes a plaque and an honorarium of two hundred dollars, is awarded each year for the best article published in Kansas History. The Kansas Historical Foundation designates a panel of judges to choose the recipient.

All editorial queries should be addressed to the current editor, Dr. Kristen Epps.

Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains
Kansas State University
Department of History
802 Mid-Campus Drive South
Manhattan, KS 66506-1002
khjournal@ksu.edu