Write FOR Us; Write TO Us
You Know History - Send Us Your Ideas
Ramsey County Historical Society welcomes article proposals for our quarterly history magazine Ramsey County History, as well as for books, podcasts, and other media–because who knows history better than members of our community in the county, cities, or neighborhoods? We are looking for ideas that:
- Offer a new, more complete, or corrective contribution to material focused on the history of Ramsey County, Minnesota; and
- Have an effective balance of appropriate historical research, documentation, and accessibility to a broad audience of readers; and
- Are written in an engaging style and include appropriate visual materials such as photos, maps, diagrams, or other illustrations that encourage the reading of and appreciation for local or regional history.
How to Submit an Article Proposal
Please read the following carefully before submitting your proposal:
- Submit a one- to two-page proposal (do not submit a complete manuscript) to the RCHS editor at the address below. The proposal should include: a working title; name of author(s); a short article summary, including why you believe your proposed manuscript can add to our county’s historical record; descriptions for one or two related sidebars; photo, image, or map ideas; and any other relevant material. Include contact information, as well.
- The RCHS Editorial Board meets on the second Wednesday every other month. The editor presents article proposals to the board for comment and possible selection.
- Following the meeting, the editor will contact you to let you know if RCHS would like to move ahead with your proposal and will arrange for an in-person meeting and contract signing.
Proposals should be directed to editor@rchs.com.
Author Honorarium Program
Because it is important to the society that manuscripts exemplify the highest standards of historical research and writing, RCHS awards a modest honorarium to authors of manuscripts that meet the criteria listed above.
Each manuscript that is submitted is evaluated against the above three criteria. Acceptance of a manuscript for publication is not an automatic qualification for an honorarium. Authors interested in writing for RCH magazine may wish to read recent examples of published articles that exemplify excellence:
- All Dakota Issue (Fall 2023)
- Kristina Her, “Hmong Foodways in Ramsey County,” (Summer 2023)
- Frank M. White, “From a Star on the Ball Diamond to a Star at the Minnesota State Capitol: Billy Williams,” (Spring 2023)
Paul Nelson, “The Children’s Preventorium of Ramsey County,” (Winter 2023) - Eleta Pierce, “Growing Up in St. Paul: My Harley Grandma Mary Eileen Kehoe and the St. Paul Motorcycle Escort Club,” (Winter 2023)
- Nieeta L. Presley, “Traveling Without Aggravation: How Victor H. Green Changed Travel for Black Americans: Green Book Locations in the Historic Rondo Community (1940-1956),” (Summer 2022)
- Steve Trimble, “Forgotten to Time? The Search for Scottie Primus Davis,” (Winter 2022)
- Kate Dietrick, Gabrielle Horner, and Janet Kampf, “Tikkun Olam: Jewish Women Serving Their St. Paul Community,” (Fall 2021)
- Kao Kalia Yang, “Growing Up Hmong in the Twin Cities: Gatherings from Before,” (Summer 2021)
- Matt Flueger, “A Fort Snelling History Mystery: The Lost Barracks and the Twenty-Fifth US Infantry Regiment,” (Spring 2021)
- Harriette Peterson Koopman, with Connie Koopman Pettersen, “Growing Up Along the Mighty Mississippi: The Great Depression Through the Eyes of a Young River Rat,” (Winter 2021)
- Leetta M. Douglas, “Votes for Everywoman: Nellie Griswold Francis, the Women of Rondo, and Their Suffrage Crusade,” (Summer 2020)
Volunteer with RCHS Publishing Department
Are you a writer, editor, historian, researcher, or out-of-the-box thinker? Then RCHS publishing might be the place for you. We have a number of volunteer opportunities:
- Manuscript reviews
- Book reviews
- Research assistance
- Project or event assistance
- Correspondence assistance
- Editorial board
Contact editor@rchs.com to learn more.