Conservative attitudes to old-established organs: Oliver Lodge and Philosophical Magazine

In 1921 Oliver Lodge defended the Philosophical Magazine against charges of mismanagement from the National Union of Scientific Workers. They alleged that its editors carried out little editorial work, the bulk being done by the publishers, Taylor and Francis. Lodge reassured Nature’s readers that the journal did consult its editors, and suggested ‘a conservative attitude towards old-established organs is wise; and that it is possible to over-organise things into lifelessness.’

The paper explores Lodge’s response by considering the editorial arrangements at the Philosophical Magazine. Founded in 1798, it remained remarkably unchanged and so appeared old-fashioned when compared to its closest rivals, the Proceedings of the Royal Society and the Proceedings of the Physical Society. We argue that for Lodge the management of the Philosophical Magazine gave it the flexibility and independence required to sustain the kind of physics, also open to accusations of obsolescence, in which he believed.