New History Journal Publishes First Issue

Between the stacks of Widener Library and the professors of Robinson Hall, students had almost all the inspiration they needed to write history papers--except one.

They now have a chance to be published in Tempus, an undergraduate history journal first published last month. Tempus is a forum for students to share their research and ideas, said co-creator Sujit M. Raman '00.

Raman edits Tempus with Adam G. Beaver '00, who could not be reached for comment.

Tempus was Beaver and Raman's response to a revamped history tutorial program, although the magazine is not limited to history concentrators. Recently, the tutorial program has placed a new emphasis on writing during the first two years.

"One night, we were thinking about how to expand the process," Raman said. Tempus was "a natural extension of that--a logical step to then publish."

The first issue, which is 139 pages long, consists of 20-to 30-page articles, as well as 10-page essays. The articles are reserved for juniors' and seniors' original research only, while all students are invited to submit essays.

"The response has been incredible," Raman said. "We actually had to turn people down."

"Incredible" also describes the quality of the inaugural submissions. Three of the four articles won the history department's Junior Prize for excellence within the tutorial program.

Although it is limited to historical topics, Tempus is open to any genre and subject.

Topics of pieces in the first journal ranged from Harvard's construction and operation of the seventeenth-century Indian College to the Boston Chinatown raid of 1903.

Raman credits history Head Tutor James Hankins and Lecturer on Women's Studies Maura A. Henry for supporting their efforts.

The journal was funded by the Student Activities Fund Through Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, the History Department and Dean of Undergraduate Education William M. Todd III.

"They have all been very helpful," Raman said.