Thirty years after relocating to Portland State University (PSU), the Pacific Historical Review (PHR) continues to play a significant role in academic publishing and student training. Since its move from the University of California, Los Angeles, the journal has involved undergraduate and graduate students in every stage of publication, offering them practical experience in editing and project management.
Founded in 1932, PHR is recognized as a leading historical journal focused on the Pacific Coast. The transition to PSU initially raised concerns about whether a smaller history department could maintain its reputation. Former co-editors Carl Abbott and David Johnson addressed these doubts by emphasizing student involvement and maintaining high editorial standards.
The current editor, Marc Rodriguez, highlighted the journal’s commitment to supporting new scholars: “We’ve published a lot of groundbreaking work by scholars when they were young,” said Rodriguez. “We want to see new scholars and new fields of inquiry develop, and that’s what the journal is all about.”
Rodriguez and associate editor Brenda Frink have continued prioritizing hands-on roles for student fellows. Frink explained their approach: “It’s a big priority for us that our fellows have real jobs where they have responsibilities that we are trusting them to do. They have project management responsibilities, but they’re also doing the real intellectual work of the journal.”
Rodriguez referred to student fellows as the journal’s “secret sauce.” He noted their role in improving clarity for authors: “I’ve said to them, ‘This process is good for you because if our really smart undergrad and grad students don’t get what you’re saying clearly in the first couple pages, no one else is — and then people aren’t going to use it in classes or cite it.’ They’re actually helping authors reframe their arguments and rewrite for clarity and readability. I think that’s why we win the prizes.”
The February 2026 issue featured articles on topics such as tribal sovereignty, Pacific expansion, and global trade. Lauren Yanase, a master’s student serving as Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow, described her extensive involvement: “I never thought I would be having that level of input and insight as a fellow,” she said.
Yanase manages submissions from initial review through developmental edits and final proofs while developing skills relevant both for her thesis work and future academic pursuits. She remarked on learning from established historians’ research methods: “As someone who hopes to continue down the academic route, it’s really fascinating to get a window into these historians and their methodology and research process,” she said.
Ava Becking, another fellow focusing on book reviews, selects titles for each issue’s 20-25 reviews and coordinates with reviewers across various specialties. Becking commented on her experience: “It’s almost an overwhelming amount,” she said. “But being able to see who’s publishing, what they’re publishing…has made me feel a bit more equipped for my own journey into my historical niche.”
Both Yanase and Becking recently worked together on an upcoming special issue about inquisitions in the Pacific world—a topic attracting international contributors whose primary language is not English.
Looking ahead, Rodriguez expressed interest in expanding global participation: “We’ve gone global in some very interesting ways and I’d like to see us build more bridges with scholars in places that aren’t the United States or Europe,” he said. “Making our journal accessible and approachable internationally is something that I’ve committed myself to…”
Frink emphasized how rewarding it is to watch both students’ careers progress alongside shifts within historical scholarship itself: “It’s a chance to see where our students and where the field is going to go in the future,” she said.
To mark three decades at PSU, PHR will host an anniversary lunch on March 12 honoring Abbott, Johnson, and associate editor emerita Susan Wladaver-Morgan.
