Records of Boise Magazine, 1987-1991
Boise Magazine, a glossy city magazine published and edited by Alan Minskoff from 1987 to 1991, highlighted the cultural, political, and business life of Boise, Idaho. It began in 1969 as Boise Business, published by the Greater Boise Chamber of Commerce. Its name was changed to Boise Magazine in 1974 and continued publication under the auspices of the chamber until 1981. In these early years, the focus of the magazine was on commerce and tourism. In the Fall of 1983 Boise Magazine was revived by publishers Pat Quinn and Jay Flaherty, who broadened its scope to include more coverage of cultural affairs. Alan Minskoff, as Idaho Annual, Inc., acquired the title in 1987. He edited and published 24 issues and won several awards for the publication, including the 1991 Idaho Press Club award for Best Magazine. The magazine’s last issue was in 1991. The records in this collection document the administrative and editorial history of the magazine under Minskoff’s direction. In 1997 he began editing another incarnation of Boise Magazine published by Michael G. Earls, but there is nothing from that later period in this collection.
Alan Minskoff donated the records of Boise Magazine to the Special Collections Department of the Boise State University Library in 1991. The records consist of general management files, articles and poetry submitted for publication, and a complete run of the magazine under his editorship, 1987-1991.
The records have been divided into three series. Series I, Administrative, contains information concerning the general operations of the magazine. Series II, Content, includes correspondence with authors, other material from outside sources, ideas for articles, and reader surveys of Boise favorites. Contributions of local writers appear within the files. The magazines themselves form Series III.
Collection number: MSS 114
Inclusive dates: 1987-1991
Collection size: 1 ft.
Processed by: Mary Carter and Kimberly Gilbertson, 1997
Box and Folder List
Series I: Administrative records
Box 1: Administrative records
Folder 1 Editorial philosophy
Folder 2 Business plan
Folder 3 Circulation marketing plan
Folder 4 Circulation ideas
Folder 5 Marketing
Folder 6 Boise Magazine sales package
Folder 7 Editorial contract
Folder 8 Layout
Folder 9 Editor’s notes
Folder 10 Clippings, addresses, and notes
Folder 11 Internal office memos
Folder 12 Advertising sample
Folder 13 Editorial outline
Folder 14 Newcomer directory service
Series II: Editorial Content
Box 1: Editorial content
Folder 15 Marge Boylan – KAID
Folder 16 Tom Alibrandi
Folder 17 Beth Barclay
Folder 18 John Barclay
Folder 19 John Bauman / Monica Sanders
Folder 20 Peter Bowen
Folder 21 J.A. Cooper
Folder 22 David Crowder
Folder 23 Pat Ford
Folder 24 Margaret Fuller
Folder 25 Jeanette Germain
Folder 26 Gerald Grimmett
Folder 27 Todd Graeff
Folder 28 Rene Hawkley
Folder 29 Sheila Hennessey
Folder 30 Barbara Herrick
Folder 31 Dirk Kempthorne
Folder 32 Colleen Birch-Maille
Box 2: Editorial content
Folder 1 Mike Markel
Folder 2 Alberta Mayo
Folder 3 Lyn McCollum
Folder 4 Ellie McKinnon
Folder 5 Kathy Mulady
Folder 6 Penelope Reedy
Folder 7 Diane Ronayne
Folder 8 John Rember
Folder 9 Tom Rybus
Folder 10 David Thompson
Folder 11 William Woodall
Folder 12 News Releases and Public Relations
Folder 13 Best and Worst of Boise
Folder 14 Book review materials
Folder 15 Boise Museum Association
Folder 16 “I Dig Downtown” contest
Folder 17 Past contributions
Folder 18 Alan’s Redline copies—Journal
Folder 19 Cover ideas
Folder 20 Cookie file
Folder 21 Downtown boardgame
Folder 22 Environment
Folder 23 Favorites
Folder 24 Forest matters
Folder 25 Idaho National Guard
Folder 26 University of Idaho
Folder 27 College of Idaho
Folder 28 Idaho Traveler
Folder 29 Lobbyist survey
Folder 30 Media Watch
Folder 31 Outside
Folder 32 Out of Town
Folder 33 Idaho products
Folder 34 Poetry
Folder 35 Kids poetry
Folder 36 Photo contest
Folder 37 Profiles
Box 3: Editorial content
Folder 1 Review
Folder 2 Radio ratings
Folder 3 Special sections
Folder 4 Boise Favorites survey totals
Folder 5 Short Takes
Folder 6 80’s Salute
Folder 7 Children’s issue
Folder 8 February 1991 issue
Folder 9 March/April 1991 issue
Folder 10 May 1991 issue
Series III: Magazine issues
Box 4: Issues of Boise Magazine
1987-1991