10 I CHRONICLESnTen Years of American Chroniclesn(September 1977 – September 1987)nIf Rockford, Illinois, was an unlikelynplace to launch a serious magazinenof literature and the arts, it was sonmuch better for Leopold Tyrmand, anman who appreciated life’s ironies.nHaving once escaped from Warsaw’snCommunist rule, Tyrmand had morenrecently fled from an oppressive NewnYork literary scene. Now, he was tonmake Middle America the home fornhis assault on a decadent liberal culture.nAt a time when conservative magazinesnwere building their circulationsnaround the political comedies stagednby the Carter administration, Tyrmand’snnew magazine was to have andifferent focus. Partisan politics andneconomics were only symptoms of anlarger battle over the control of Ameri-nFounding Editor, Leopold Tyrmand.ncan culture. A reader of Chronicles ofnCulture would clearly see “how anbook, its meaning and success, affectsnhis life, his economic activities and hisnsense of social order which is indispensablento carry out these activities.”nChronicles’ scope has greatly enlargednsince its first issues, but thenraison d’etre remains. There have beennno truces in the war of ideas. And innan era when new buzzwords like “culturalnconservatism” easily roll off thenlips of political operatives. Chronicles’nlong-standing dedication to seriousndiscourse is needed more than ever.nTwo years ago, Thomas Flemingntook the reins of the magazine andnnever looked back. Under his editorialnleadership. Chronicles has entertainednthousands of readers who have thirstednfor rigorous thinking and clear writing.nAs publisher I am pleased but humblednthat during this time. Chronicles’ninfluence has grown even faster thannits circulation.nOver the last 10 years, many othersnhave helped shape, manage, and marketnthe magazine. Some are currentlynon the masthead. Some were onlynwith the magazine briefly. Almost allnhad at one time been seduced bynTyrmand’s vision for the magazine, itsnpromise and possibilities.nWithout Nancy Mohrbaeher, thenfirst two years of Chronicles wouldnhave been far less accurate and grammatical,nand we shall not forgetnRebecca Woosley, whose editorial andnorganizational skills made her invaluable.nOr the ever-sunny Lindy Ellingwood,nwho did just about everything atnone time or another. Most recendy,nTheresa Lillibridge said good-bye afternhelping to introduce the tools of modernnmanagement and technology intonour publishing office.nChronicles’ former alumni of associateneditors began with James J.nnnThompson Jr., a brilliant historiannwho possessed the courtesy and highnsense of honor we used to expect fromnSoutherners. Many of our readers willnremember the hardworking professionalismnof Gary Vasilash, who smoothednour transition from a bimonthly to anmonthly. (Gary never really left: He isnstill writing for us as a contributingneditor.) Bryce Christensen, whosenwriting and editing recently earnednhim the editorship of The RockfordnInstitute’s newsletter The Family innAmerica also continues to make hisnpresence felt. Finally, the magazine isnalready beginning to show the thumbprintnof its newest managing editor,nMomcilo Selic. The current staff is thenstrongest team we’ve ever had, and wenshould not neglect to mention thensuperb covers designed by Anna Wodeckinand the patient hard work ofnCynthia Calvert and Leann Manning.nChronicles would not have beennpossible at all if it were not for JohnnHoward. As president of The RockfordnInstitute during its first decade. Dr.nHoward found the financial supportnneeded to sustain the magazine’s publication.nHis devotion to Leopold Tyrmandnand his dreams for Chroniclesnwere another testament to his noblencharacter.nI’ve admired those I’ve had thenpleasure to work with over these firstn10 years—especially the editors of thisnmagazine. They possess that rare abilitynto make sense out of the complexnrealities of modern life. Frankly, I’venalways thought that the editors atnChronicles have been able to use thatnability a little bit better than anybodynelse.nI can happily report to our readersnthat I expect this to be true for the nextn10 years as well.n—Richard A. Vaughann