In a letter to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Arnita Jones, the AHA’s executive director, called on the state leaders to preserve the health and vitality of Louisiana State University Press, which faces deep and perhaps fatal cuts to its budget. She observed that “For almost seventy-five years the Press has been one of the most significant publishers in the field of Southern history and its loss would be a severe blow to our understanding of the past.” She notes that the press has published some of the “most distinguished historians in our discipline, including three presidents our Association: John Hope Franklin, C. Vann Woodward, and William Leuchtenberg.” She concludes that “The press has enriched our knowledge of history while bringing enormous credit to the state of Louisiana, so we do hope you will assure that the press will remain viable and strong for another 75 years and beyond.”

This post first appeared on AHA Today.