NEHA Green Book

Chapter 5 THE SANITARIAN THE JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The publication entitled Journal ofEnvironmental Health, official publication of the National Environmental Health Association, was first published by the National Associa tion of Sanitarians as The Sanitarian, with the first issue dated June 1938. From 1938 until January 1943, the prescribed frequency was monthly; however, various circum stances including wartime shortage of paper caused several issues yearly to be combined. Finally with the January/February 1943 issue the frequency was changed officially to bi-monthly, which it remains today. Early volumes - 1938 - I 975 - were in a small 6 in. x 9¾ in. format, and initially all covers were brown with the NAS shield as design. Since 1957, there have been several design changes, with the name change occurring with the July/August 1962 issue. The size change to 8½ x 11 format was accomplished with the July/August 1975 issue. Numerous volunteers were responsible for editing and production for 20 years. Walter Mangold was Editor of The Sanitarian from June 1938 through the July/August 1949 issue. Strangely, in the publication there is no mention of Walter Mangold's stepping down as editor or why, or any mention of his successor being named. Floyd Jimison of the Los Angeles Bureau of Housing became Managing Editor in 1939 and was credited by A. Harry Bliss in a 1952 editorial as being editor in fact if not in name for most of his 11 years of service to the publication. Bliss became acting editor with the January/February 1950 issue and Editor with the September/October 1950 issue. He ended his first term of service with the May/June 1956 issue when the association was moving from California. In 1946, the Board of Directors of NAS contracted with a commercial firm to sell advertising and publish The Sanitarian. Editorial responsibility, however, remained with the association. This arrangement was terminated in 1957 because it was not economically beneficial, nor was it improving the image of the publication. Numerous members of the association were listed as an "Editorial Board" over the years, and various members were called associate editors at other times. Effective with January 1, 1957, the office of The Sanitarian was listed as the University of Denver, Department of Sanitary Science, Denver, Colorado. Professor Milton M. Miller was editor and Nicholas Pohlit (new Executive Secretary of NAS) served as managing editor. A number of associate editors were listed. Miller was editor through the November/December 1960 issue, when Frank Justice became editor, serving until the May/June 1964 issue. At that time, Dr. A. Harry Bliss, University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health again became editor, a position he held until the May/June 1977 issue. A stipend was paid during this time and the major function was to make final decisions on papers after peer review and generally guide the tenor of the Journal. Nicholas Pohlit took on the production responsibilities when he became NAS Executive Secretary. In June 1967, part time and/or temporary associate editors (paid staff) were employed to help with office details and production chores. In August 1968, Ida Frances Marshall, a journalist with 10 years experience in publishing, was employed as associate editor, taking over the tasks of editing, writing,layout and pro duction for the Journal. After 10 years, her title was upgraded to Editor-in-Chief under Executive Director, Dr. Lawrence J. Krone. At the time this history was published, Marshall is nearing completion of 19 years of service to the members of NEHA in producing the Journal. Through her efforts in managing the peer review process, working with Editors, Editorial Directors and hundreds of writers and reviewers, the Journal has improved steadily, and continues its progress.