Share

Write for the Archives of American Art Journal

Guidelines for submitting scholarly articles for publication consideration.

The Archives of American Art Journal publishes two types of articles:

  • Research-based articles of 5,000 to 7,000 words (including endnotes) for peer review that present innovative interpretations of archival materials
  • Short commissioned texts for editorial review that explore historical or methodological questions through sources at the Archives

We also welcome proposals for other kinds of research-based or creative contributions that support the journal's mission. 

First published in 1960, as the Archives of American Art Bulletin, the Archives of American Art Journal is the longest-running scholarly periodical devoted to the history of art in the United States. This peer-reviewed publication showcases new approaches to and out-of-the-box thinking about primary sources. All contributions must be appropriate for the journal's broad audience and engage in a substantial, meaningful way with the holdings of the Archives of American Art.

With more than 20 million items in its continually growing collections, the Archives is the world’s largest and most widely used resource dedicated to collecting and preserving the papers and primary records of the visual arts in the US.

The Archives of American Art Journal publishes two types of articles:

  • Research-based articles of 5,000 to 7,000 words (including endnotes) for peer review that present innovative interpretations of archival materials
  • Short commissioned texts for editorial review that explore historiographical or methodological questions through sources at the Archives

We also welcome proposals for other kinds of research-based or creative contributions that support the journal's mission.

The Archives of American Art Journal is distributed by the University of Chicago Press. It is published twice a year, in the spring and fall. 

Only original, previously unpublished work that is not under review elsewhere will be considered for publication.

A complete manuscript submission includes all of the following:

  • An abstract of no more than 150 words
  • The manuscript text as one MS Word doc file, with endnotes, all double-spaced. Please do not use headers or footers. Text and notes should conform to The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition
  • A single PDF containing all proposed illustrations, with complete caption information (e.g., artist, title, date, medium, dimensions, collection/location)
    When preparing manuscripts for submission, authors should keep in mind that the journal publishes image-rich essays with full-color illustrations. Feature articles include up to 15 illustrations, while commissioned texts include 3–5 illustrations. We encourage authors to reproduce materials from the Archives of American Art that enrich their arguments. All final decisions regarding images are at the discretion of the executive editor and managing editor.

Unlike many other peer-reviewed publications, the Archives of American Art Journal obtains and pays for all image reproductions and permissions to publish them.

Authors should submit manuscripts through Editorial Manager®, the Archives of American Art Journal’s online submission and peer-review system. Please visit https://www.editorialmanager.com/aaaj to register in the system and upload your submission.

The Archives of American Art Journal uses a double-blind system of peer review for research articles. Each manuscript is assessed by the executive editor and, if approved for further review, sent to at least two outside readers. All commissioned manuscripts are thoroughly reviewed by the executive editor, in consultation with the editorial team. For both peer-reviewed and commissioned manuscripts, acceptance is conditional on revisions made at the executive editor’s request. Authors of accepted manuscripts will be consulted during fact-checking, copy editing, and the proofing of galleys. Authors are required to enter into a formal publication agreement with the Smithsonian Institution. The final authority to publish rests with the Archives of American Art. 

For more information about the editorial process, please contact executive editor Tanya Sheehan at sheehant@si.edu.

 

  • Jo Applin, Courtauld Institute of Art
  • Bridget R. Cooks, University of California, Irvine
  • Robert Cozzolino, Minneapolis Institute of Art
  • Susan Cross, MASS MoCA
  • Rachael Z. DeLue, Princeton University 
  • Michael Lobel, Hunter College
  • Anna O. Marley, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
  • Catherine Morris, Brooklyn Museum 
  • Asma Naeem, Baltimore Museum of Ar
  • Wendy Red Star, Artist
  • Joyce Tsai, Clyfford Still Museum
  • Rebecca VanDiver, Vanderbilt University 

The video on this page is hosted by Youtube (Privacy Policy, Terms of Service)

The Latest Issue of the Archives of American Art Journal