While Mainsheet will be globally focused, each issue will be tied with annual institutional initiative themes at Mystic Seaport Museum that drive exhibitions, programming, symposia, lecture series, and the Frank C. Munson Institute for American Maritime History during that year and/or the year proceeding. Therefore, the first issue will highlight maritime social history to align with our major upcoming exhibition Entwined: Freedom, Sovereignty, and the Sea. The following issues will focus on the connections of marine science with maritime history in regards to ocean health and the impact of maritime activity on the world’s oceans, historically and currently.

The responses to calls for papers will focus on the general annual theme but can cover a wide range of national and international subjects and disciplines to reflect new and exciting scholarship in these areas. The goal is for those whose proposals are accepted to also participate in a broadening slate of annual academic conferences and lecture series hosted by Mystic Seaport Museum.

In addition to the 6-8 peer-reviewed articles by scholars, Mainsheet will include poetry, fiction, and the arts that also connect to the related journal themes. There will be a section highlighting upcoming research of young scholars in maritime studies as well as reviews of publications, exhibitions, and important events for the coming season. The publications will be perfect-bound of the highest quality production and design, approximately 144 pages per issue. The Call for Papers for our Spring 2024 issue on the theme of Maritime Technologies, Livelihoods, and Economies is now available here.