When we decided to produce a magazine highlighting the research and educational aspects of this remarkable institution, we thought long and hard about what to call it. The Huntington is a place of rich history and tradition and, of course, spectacular collections. But it is much more. The Huntington is a dynamic, thriving place. Every day, dozens of scholars come through our doors to study rare books, historical manuscripts, and art objects—including paintings, sculpture, tapestries, furniture, and ceramics. Their research results in countless works of nonfiction, documentaries, articles, essays, and even the textbooks that young people read in the history, social studies, and political science classrooms across America. In the botanical labs, researchers examine and propagate rare plants. And in the gardens and galleries, students and their teachers experience the wonders of the Huntington’s collections firsthand. It is a place that functions on the frontiers of knowledge—where new things are learned every day.

It is with this notion of frontier—on the edge of discovery—that we introduce this new publication.

What happens behind the scenes here? What are scholars and students learning? What issues are they confronting as they sort through information and develop their own new findings?

Every person who experiences The Huntington creates a new story of interaction. This magazine celebrates such stories. While no collection of articles can encapsulate the full range and breadth of The Huntington, these offerings attempt to show how The Huntington intersects with the world around it.

One such story is a profile of Literary Manuscripts Curator Sara S. (Sue) Hodson, who attempts to strike a balance between a researcher’s access to library materials and the right to privacy of an author or subject. Another is a look at the new Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science and how educators are testing and retesting hands-on science exhibits to make sure they stand up to the tough scrutiny of middle school students.

Working on the frontiers of knowledge, to varying degrees, involves risk taking. The Huntington has never before attempted to capture its stories in a magazine format. And yet we do know that what goes on here is extraordinary.

We are grateful to the Annenberg Foundation for providing generous support to strengthen the Huntington’s communication efforts. The magazine is an opportunity to offer insight into what makes The Huntington special. Please let us know what you think.

Steven S. Koblik