Harpers Magazine

Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally liberal perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S.

When I heard “Harpers” it was familiar but I was actually thinking of the fashion magazine.

Harper's Magazine was launched as Harper's New Monthly Magazine in June 1850, by the New York City publisher Harper & Brothers; the same people who also founded Harper's Bazaar magazine, which eventually became HarperCollins Publishing. The first press run, of 7,500 copies, sold out almost immediately; circulation was some 50,000 issues six months later.

The early issues reprinted material already published in England, but the magazine soon was publishing the work of American artists and writers, and in time commentary by the likes of Winston Churchill and Woodrow Wilson. The first appearance in print of parts of Moby Dick occurred in Harper's Magazine in Oct. 1851 under the title, "The Town-Ho's Story". Which at that time meant townsperson not prostitute.

Harpers has had some notable controversies In the past. In an article called "Davy Crockett's Electioneering Tour" published April 1867, James Bethune claimed to have heard a speech called "Not yours to give", given by Davy Crockett and inspired by Horatio Bunce. As it happens, Bunce was not born until 1840, four years after Crockett's death and twelve years after the alleged speech. This enduring myth was debunked in 2004, the incident, and Horatio Bunce, did not exist.

The March 2006 issue contained the Celia Farber reportage, Out of Control: AIDS and the Corruption of Medical Science, presenting Peter Duesberg's theory that HIV does not cause AIDS. It was strongly criticized by AIDS activists, scientists, the Columbia Journalism Review, and others, as inaccurate and for promoting a scientifically discredited theory. The Treatment Action Campaign, a South African organization working for greater popular access to HIV treatments, posted a response by eight researchers documenting more than fifty errors in the article.

Harpers offers editorial and art internships throughout the year. These are unpaid and interns work on a 3-5 week basis.

As for submissions, “Harper's Magazine will neither consider nor return unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts that have not been preceded by a written query. Harper's will consider unsolicited fiction. Unsolicited poetry will not be considered or returned. No queries or manuscripts will be considered unless they are accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.”

Harpers has an online archive which goes back to 1859, each linked year includes selected articles, however to view them you must be a paid subscriber.

For the most part everything I’ve read has described it as a very general interest magazine, with specialization in magazine art.