Stroke: 30 years of progress: 1977-1981.

Abstract

My association with Stroke began in 1969, when the idea of a new American Heart Association (AHA) journal to be devoted to stroke was first proposed. The idea of a new journal went through the extensive review of doubts that it was necessary and concern for its survival. There were at the time 2 well-established American journals and 2 British journals publishing articles related to neurological diseases. The usual questions arose of why another journal, and why not send relevant articles on stroke to the existing ones. There were a number of things that indicated that a journal solely devoted to work on stroke would be successful. There had been 6 Princeton Conferences on stroke since 1954, and it was believed that these conferences had stimulated increased interest in stroke. Also, the Stroke Council of the AHA was creating increasing interest in stroke and what could be done about it. Interest was in addition stimulated by establishing a separate heart association meeting on stroke that began during my chairmanship of the council. The resulting research work stimulated by these activities was believed to provide a rich source of material that could easily support a new journal. With the interest and urging provided by Clark Millikan and Irving Wright, the AHA was persuaded to begin a new journal. Clark Millikan became the first editor. My association with the journal began when I was asked to become an associate editor in 1971, which I accepted with enthusiasm. Editorship of AHA journals was generally limited to 5 years, but this was extended for 2 years …