Michigan History has been published since 1917 and is the state's popular–history magazine. With a circulation of 22,000, it is passed along again and again by subscribers so that approximately 100,000 people read every issue. Edited for history buffs as well as history professionals, it features stories of all kinds from Michigan's colorful past. Within its pages, all the classic topics of our history are represented such as logging, mining, manufacturing, and military engagements–as well as subjects like Michigan art and architecture, our musical heritage, sports legends, and shipwrecks among others.
Only about 50 manuscripts are accepted for publication in the magazine each year. To better your chances for a positive review, please follow these writing guidelines:
If you have never written for Michigan History magazine, please familiarize yourself with the style and tone of our articles before contacting us. (We are not a scholarly journal and do not accept academic papers.) We also recommend that you submit an article idea via U.S. mail or e-mail to majher@hsmichigan.org before submitting a manuscript. By taking this step, you save yourself the time of researching and writing an article that may not be suitable for publication. Please note, however, that approval of an article idea does not guarantee approval of the resulting manuscript.
When you are ready to submit a manuscript, please provide a digital copy of the text, and also list your research sources for fact-checking purposes. Include with your manuscript a summary of your writing experience and—in the interest of full disclosure—any relationship you have to your subject.
You are expected to gather your own graphics (provided digitally and with captions, if possible) or at least suggest possible graphics.
All manuscripts are reviewed by our editorial committee. If the subject is outside the expertise areas of the committee, we will forward the manuscript to an outside expert to review. Please provide your full contact information, including phone number and e-mail address, and allow three months for a response.
The editor reserves the right to make changes deemed necessary for the sake of clarity, accuracy, length, or conformity to the magazine's style and tone. We generally follow AP Stylebook format.
Please limit your manuscript to 2,500 words or less and send with other requested materials to majher@hsmichigan.org or:
Editor Michigan History Magazine
5815 Executive Drive
Lansing, MI 48911-5352
Acceptance - If your manuscript is accepted by the editorial committee, you will be notified by U.S. mail or e-mail. You will also be given a copy of the edited text to review for accuracy.
Copyright - As author, you retain the copyright for any article that appears in Michigan History magazine. You are, however, required to sign and return a form giving us permission to publish.
Payment - The permission form also indicates the amount that Michigan History will pay to publish your article. Your signature signals acceptance of that amount. Payment depends on the length of the article and the number of provided graphics, and ranges from $100 to $400. A check is issued after publication.
Complimentary Copies - You will receive five free copies of any issue in which your work appears.
