A History of Scientific Journals: Publishing at the Royal Society, 1665-2015

by Aileen Fyfe, Noah Moxham, Julie McDougall-Waters, Camilla Mørk Røstvik

Overview

This book investigates more than 350 years of scientific journal publishing through the epic tale of the Philosophical Transactions, from its first publication to full digitisation in the modern era. Unrivalled insights from the Royal Society archives reveal a story of meaning and purpose in a changing scientific community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800082335
Publisher:	U C L Press, Limited
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	664
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 2.00(d)

About the Author

Aileen Fyfe is professor of modern history at the University of St Andrews. Noah Moxham was a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Kent's Centre for the History of Sciences. Julie McDougall-Waters was a postdoctoral research fellow on the "Publishing the Philosophical Transactions" project at the University of St. Andrews. Camilla Mørk Røstvik is a professor of art history at the University of Aberdeen.

Table of Contents

List of figures

List of tables
List of abbreviations
Contributor roles
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Origins Myths

Part I Invention, 1665-1750

1 The first Philosophical Transactions, 1665-1677

2 Repeated Reinventions, 1677-1696

3 Stabilising the Transactions, 1696-1752

4 The Transactions and the wider world, c.1700-1750

Part II Maturity and Institutionalisation, 1750-1820

5 For the Use and Benefit of the Society, 1750-1770

6 Sociability and Gatekeeping, 1770-1800

7 Circulating Knowledge, c.1780-1820

Part III The Professionalization of Science, 1820-1890

8 Reforms, Referees and the Proceedings, 1820-1850

9 Editing the Journals, 1850s-1870s

10 Scientific Publishing as Patronage, c.1860-1890

Part IV The Growth of Science, 1890-1950

11 The Rise of the Proceedings, 1890-1920s

12 Keeping the Publications Afloat, 1895-1930

13 Why do we Publish? 1932-1950

Part V The Business of Publishing, 1950-2015

14 Selling the Journals in the 1950s and 1960s

15 Survival in a Shrinking, Competitive Market, c.1970-1990

16 Money and Mission in the Digital Age, 1990-2015

Reflections: Learning from 350 years

Bibliography
Index