May 26, 2009
Governor Bobby Jindal
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Dear Governor Jindal:
I write on behalf of historians in the United States to express our deep concern about the proposed budget cuts to—and perhaps even elimination of—the Louisiana State University Press. For almost seventy-five years the Press has been one of the most significant publishers in the fields of Southern history and its loss would be a severe blow to our understanding of the past.
In these difficult financial times, we appreciate that you face many hard choices. But the Press represents an essential part of the heritage of Louisiana, and an exemplar of the rich intellectual life in your state. Its authors through the years have included a number of the most distinguished historians in our discipline, including three presidents our Association: John Hope Franklin, C. Vann Woodward, and William Leuchtenberg. These are scholars who gained their high status in our profession by bridging the gap between academic scholarship and making history vital and real to the general public. Very few presses can claim such an eminent list of authors, or such an exemplary body of work.
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 seventy-five years and beyond.
Sincerely,
Arnita A. Jones,
Executive Director
cc: LSU Chancellor Michael Martin
LSU Provost Astrid Merget