Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Mississippi Valley Historical Review began publication in 1914 as the official journal of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. It changed its name to The Journal of American History in 1964 after the fiftieth volume was published.
Benjamin F. Shambaugh served as the first editor from 1907 until 1914 and laid the groundwork for what would become a major academic voice. He oversaw the early development of the publication before it officially launched under the original title.
Members of the association recognized that their scholarship had expanded beyond the original geographic boundaries defined by the Mississippi Valley. This shift prompted a formal name change to The Journal of American History in 1964 to reflect broader national themes rather than just regional studies.
The headquarters of The Journal of American History sits in Bloomington, Indiana, where it maintains close ties to the History Department at Indiana University. This physical location provides administrative support and academic resources essential for quarterly production.
As the official quarterly of the Organization of American Historians, the publication has maintained its status for more than a century since 1914. It continues to serve as a primary venue for peer-reviewed articles on all aspects of American history with regular quarterly releases.