Central states communication association: History since 1981 and 50 years of communication studies

Abstract

This essay presents an overview of events affecting the Central States Communication Association since 7987 and an examination of the development of Communication Studies in its first 49 volumes. The Association's decline in the early 7980s and its revival through efforts of its officers, members, and the then Speech Communication Association are traced. The Central States Speech Journal and the developments that resulted in changing its name to Communication Studies are discussed in ten volume segments. A total of 7 254 articles were published in the first 49 volumes. Early volumes contained many non‐research articles. Later volumes emphasized public address or other critical research. Interpersonal Communication was the focus more often than any other subject or research type in the 1990s.