It’s the fall season, and the end of the year is
in sight. I want to remind you that dues are due now. If you wait until the
first of the year you will not be on the list to receive the January Issue.
2014 is the 60th anniversary of this publication, and if all the funds can
be raised, the final issue of the year will be extra special.
We are more than halfway there due to some generous donations of several
individuals and member societies.
Every bit helps, and your donation is tax-deductible.
Those who help make the anniversary issue happen will be acknowledged in
the issue, and on the website. If you’ve ever wanted to write something,
but have put it off, now is the time! Be a part of the 60th! I already have
contributions coming in.
This issue includes the web address of the CSASI website on the cover page.
Please visit it if you have a chance and enjoy all the features it has to
offer.
Also, LIKE US on FACEBOOK if you can. The page has more than 900 “likes” as
of publication. I try to put things on there of timely interest, as well
as articles and other things dealing with archaeology and collecting that
will not make the print publication.
While the publication has been available for almost 60 years, up to now,
it has only been available for scholarly research at institutions that have
subscribed.
Thus for instance, articles that discuss a long lost habitation site, bannerstones
or the finding of a Cumberland point are rarely referenced in archaeological
research papers. That is about to change with the Journal becoming part of
JSTOR. The entire publication will be digitized, and become available to
the thousands of institutions in the JSTOR network. At last, when someone
is doing their doctoral thesis on bannerstones, they will have every article
ever written in this Journal available for reference. Not only will this
add to the prestige of our publication, it will also insure that the contributions
of the membership over the years will be preserved for posterity. Lastly,
after a period of time, our involvement in JSTOR will result in royalty payments
that will help us out financially. I should also note that financial cost
of the digitization of the Journal and the uploading of its contents is done
at no cost to us. It is a win-win.
I have received numerous inquiries and comments on my July column “Clues
to the Past.” The “letters to the Editor” section contains
a long commentary on this, as well as a lengthy letter from a member on the
topic.
Finally, this issue concludes the two years of focusing on collectors of
the past. I have received numerous positive comments on the various articles
covering these individuals of long ago who shared our passion of collecting
and archaeology. This final issue includes an article on one of the first
collector magazines with some focus on artifacts. I wish to thank all of
those who contributed fine articles throughout the past two years.
Steven R. Cooper September 2013
