Linda E. Mitchell, the Martha Jane Phillips Starr Missouri Distinguished Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and Professor of History at the University of Missouri—Kansas City, is author of the lead article in this issue of Historical Reflections/Réflexions Historiques (HR/RH). That honor is most fitting. After many years of outstanding service, Linda has retired from her position as senior editor of the journal. Linda’s connection with HR/RH is deep. She first published an article in the journal in 1991, when Stuart Campbell served as editor. Linda joined Stuart Campbell and Dan Gordon as co-editor in 2004 and assumed leadership as senior editor upon Stuart’s retirement in 2006. She subsequently recruited Brian Newsome as co-editor. She brought new scholars, such as Elizabeth Macknight, onto the editorial board. And she shepherded HR/RH into the fold of Berghahn Books.
In addition to managing “general editorial duties”—three words that only begin to convey the time and energy Linda has expended—she contributed articles and issue introductions of her own; started a new occasional series “Historians Reflecting on History and Historical Writing” (2010 and 2012); and organized two special issues, “Literary Eleanors and Historical Guineveres” (2004) and “Women, Gender, and Law: Essays in Honor of the Late Shona Kelly Wray” (2017). As both an editor and as a scholar, Linda has molded HR/RH into the interdisciplinary journal it is today and has positioned it for ongoing success in the years to come.
Elizabeth Macknight, Senior Lecturer in European History at the University of Aberdeen, is succeeding Linda as senior editor. Brian Newsome is continuing as co-editor. And the journal will remain with Vivian Berghahn and her wonderful team at Berghahn Books. With deep gratitude and warm wishes, Elizabeth and Brian and Vivian dedicate this issue of HR/RH to our colleague and friend, Linda Mitchell.