Kevin Byrne
The burgeoning field of the History of Sexuality encompasses themes related both to normative and nonnormative aspects of sexuality. For this issue of the OAH Magazine of History, guest editor Leisa D. Meyer has chosen to emphasize the latter for reasons she cogently explains in her Foreword. Nonnormative sexuality, a prevalent topic in the popular and political cultures around us, will become increasingly visible in U.S. history textbooks as scholars continue to explore this rich field. The articles here focus mainly on the post-World War II era, where much, but far from all, of the scholarly work is happening. We have chosen a cover that reflects this postwar emphasis: a photo of Christine Jorgensen, who became a celebrity in the 1950s after sex-change surgery. As author Joanne Meyerowitz explains, one gains significant historical insights by studying Jorgensen's story and the public's response to it.
The Kinsey Institute
One of the benefits of OAH's location on the Indiana University Bloomington campus is our proximity to excellent resources. In the case of this issue of the Magazine, I want to extend special thanks to three staff members at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction: head of information services Jennifer Bass, head librarian Liana Zhou, and curator Catherine Johnson-Roehr were uniformly generous with their time, and the insights they provided strengthened our presentation considerably. All of us at the Magazine want publicly to express our gratitude to these colleagues at the Kinsey Institute.
Additional Articles
As is customary, this issue includes some selections beyond the main theme. One article, for instance, examines Benjamin Franklin's domestic relationships. Although his public life will receive substantial coverage during this year's celebration of the tercentenary of his birth, we know relatively little about Franklin's relationship with his wife and children. Michael Sletcher explores these matters, providing a glimpse into the human dimensions of this Founding Father. Stephen Aron's article on the international aspects involved in the study of the American West appears as part of the "America on the World Stage" series, produced in conunction with the College Board. As Aron makes clear, no study of the history of the American West can now ignore the international implications of that chapter in U.S. history. The closing segment in the issue ties in with the location of our upcoming Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. The National Park Service Historic Sites we list comprise only a portion of the places of interest historians might want to visit on the National Mall. See them at the Annual Meeting, or on your next visit to the nation's capital.
OAH Annual Meeting
By the time you receive this issue of the Magazine of History, the OAH Annual Meeting will be only weeks away—beginning on April 19 and running through April 22—at the Hilton Washington in Washington, DC. If you are able to attend, we invite you to visit us at the Magazine of History booth in the Exhibit Hall. We always enjoy hearing from our subscribers! —Kevin B. Byrne
