If ASALH gives up its publishing independence and become content providers to the University of Chicago Press, we will make sure that historians know that it was not necessary.

1. While the business of selling journals to libraries is declining, there is ample time to shift the business model. As one who did the business end of the journal for 13 years, it is not losing money.   We must pay the freight of speaking the truth once again.

2. No effort has been made to reduce the cost of production ranging from seeking a less expensive editorial office, adopting more cost savings via technology, or finding new vendors with more efficiency.

3. Members and board members have not had their dues raised to stay independent.  Hear me, members and board members.  Raising dues of board members–whose job it is to raise money–can easily raise $14K a year. A membership dues increase could raise another $10 to $12K.  Don’t be afraid of losing board members.  Clearly they don’t want to pay the cost to be independent.

4. As institutional subscribers decline, then staffing costs decrease saving more.

5. A $55K to $60K publishing reserve will be offered to ASALH for the JAAH to keep it independent.

The combination of these factors means that there is more than $50K available to publish a journal and a reserve to stabilize the finances. The reserve can be increased over time as necessary.

Journals began their lives being published and paid for by associations and thinking people know this is how associations should handle their business now, especially when your membership is about intellectual freedom.

Historians will have to figure out what motivated the leadership and the editor to try to sellout, but folks it ain’t about money. Personally, I know it is not about personal financial gain. Nope. To my mind, some folks really like other people’s company more than their own.