developed it. Such magazine historians as Lyon A. Richardson,
Albert H. Smyth, Algernon Tassin, William B. Cairns, and,
notably, Frank Luther Mott, have written excellent accounts of
the early and middle periods of magazine history, but properly
placed their emphasis on other aspects of the story. Social his-
torians have indicated their awareness of magazine growth,
change, and distribution, but have not attempted to estimate
magazine effects on the individual reader and on the social
group. Magazine editors, in their autobiographies and published
comments, have noted instances of magazine influence, but
usually only as this was a part of their own stories or the stories
of their magazines.

The present book should be of particular interest to the stu-
dent of the periodical press and to all of those, writers, editors,
publishers, and advertisers, to whom what magazines do and
what magazines are like is a matter of material and daily con-
cern. The book is also addressed to the general public, or to that
part of the public which recognizes the importance in civilized
life of public communication of every kind.

The original idea for this book was put forward by Donald M.
Hobart. His was the suggestion that such a book needed to be
written. The fruits of his long association with magazines, and
his interest in their history and significance in American life,
provided stimulus and encouragement all through the writing
of the manuscript. Though he is in no way responsible for the
critical ideas which it expresses, his constructive criticism and
advice contributed essentially to the development of this book.

J. P. W.

Philadelphia, Pa.

December, 1948

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