A student publication that was a breeding ground for some of Australia's most prolific and brilliant historians is being given new life.
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The second iteration of the Australian National University's Historical Journal will be launched in May and will again be a platform for students to see their work published alongside leading academics.
![ANU students Madalyn Grant, Jessica Urwin and Emily Gallagher have worked to re-launch the ANU Historical Journal which originally ran in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. They have now published the first works of notable acedemics and historians. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos ANU students Madalyn Grant, Jessica Urwin and Emily Gallagher have worked to re-launch the ANU Historical Journal which originally ran in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. They have now published the first works of notable acedemics and historians. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7534asrenitnpa4za04.jpg/r0_587_6000_3974_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The original journal published 15 volumes between 1964 and 1987 and featured the first work of notable Australian historians such as Robert Moss, John Ritchie and publisher John Iremonger.
The original publication was supported by Manning Clark but was wholly put together by the university's history students, as is the new version.
Author Ian Britain edited two issues of the journal in 1968 and 1969, before going on to write several books and editing Australia's oldest literary journal, Meanjin.
Dr Britain said editing and contributing to the journal was like an apprenticeship for young historians.
"I learnt a lot putting that journal together," Dr Britain said.
"Editing, layout, design, soliciting advertising, I learnt so many tricks of the trade.
"It was invaluable in my case."
![Original ANU Historical Journals which ran in the 60s. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos Original ANU Historical Journals which ran in the 60s. Photo: Dion Georgopoulos](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc7534bgjejaguc9aja04.jpg/r0_288_5637_3470_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
He said the focus of the journal was to highlight the very best of undergraduate work and was a "pioneering milestone" in providing a tangible academic publication for young scholars.
The journal's aim today is very much the same as it was when it was first released in 1964.
The old journal piqued the interest of history PhD student Emily Gallagher, who was the driving force and editor behind the first issue.
She said she viewed the journal as a way to give back to the School of History and fellow students.
"When I started my PhD I was looking for something to throw myself into," Ms Gallagher said.
"Something that could encourage young people to publish."
Ms Gallagher said the original journal had a big subscriber base in its heyday, was stocked in Canberra bookshops and in libraries across the country and sold enough to warrant advertising.
![A 1960s cigar box, which was turned into a money box to raise funds to help students publish the ANU Historical Journal. Photo: Supplied A 1960s cigar box, which was turned into a money box to raise funds to help students publish the ANU Historical Journal. Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc753k42cy8zkvfddychw.jpg/r0_530_5184_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"For what was a student-led journal it went for a long time," she said.
Students would often come on for a year and learn the ropes before taking over to edit an issue in their second year, she said.
Ms Gallagher was joined by Madalyn Grant and Jessica Urwin on the editorial team for the first issue and hopes they can take it forward in future years.
And although it might be a student publication it is held to no less a rigorous standard as any respectable academic journal.
For the upcoming edition, Ms Gallagher received more than 30 submissions from a mix of students and academics.
Theses were sent around the world to be peer reviewed and finally seven research articles made the cut alongside seven memoirs from past editors and contributors and seven smaller articles.
All up the first new edition is an 80,000-word journal and will be accompanied by a specially designed website. Old editions will also steadily be digitised.
Ms Gallagher said the School of History had witnessed a recent revitalisation in student activity, much like the environment the original journal was born from, and it was easy to see why she said.
"Just looking at the state of Australian politics today," she said.
"There is much wisdom to be gained looking at the past, not necessarily for lessons but for context."
The upcoming issue is full of stories of a Canberra of a bygone era, when Lake Burley Griffin was not yet full and Vietnam War protests were solidifying a passionate youth movement.
The former editors thought they could change the world with history and recalled packing into the overcrowded and stuffy Childers Street lecture theatres to hear Manning Clark and others give weekly lectures.
Dr Britain said with the nature of Canberra, being at that stage a small city, the campus was the centre of life for students and because of the closeness, he had made lifelong friends.
It was a different Canberra and ANU, but one this journal may go some way to helping recreate.