What is the magazine of the year? In 2014, the publication that was selected as magazine of the year in its circulation class is a magazine which celebrates the people and places of the great state of Kansas. In addition to this award, we are also celebrating the fact that 2015 marked 70 years of the publication now known as KANSAS! Special thanks to writer Julie Tollefson whose article in KANSAS! Magazine shared the history of this beautiful publication.
Andrea Etzel is the editor of KANSAS! Magazine. Andrea is the latest in the series of about a dozen editors who have guided the publication throughout its seven decades.
The publication began rather modestly. In November 1945, the Kansas Industrial Development Commission (predecessor of the Kansas Department of Commerce) launched a little eight-page newsletter called To The Stars. It was a rather Plain Jane newsletter in black-and-white.
The inaugural issue stated: “To The Stars is a new publication which we hope will be of help to Kansans, particularly to those interested in making Kansas the most outstanding state in the Middlewest. We want it to be informative. We will pass along all ideas and developments which have merit. We will, from time to time, have information that will be of benefit to every community in the state. We believe To The Stars will serve a real purpose in Kansas life.”
Continue reading “Kansas Profile – Now That’s Rural: KANSAS! Magazine”