Notes and Queries

From Freepedia

Notes and Queries (originally subtitled "a medium of inter-communication for literary men, artists, antiquaries, genealogists, etc") is a quarterly publication, part academic journal, part correspondence magazine, in which scholars and interested amateurs can exchange knowledge on literature and history.

Notes and Queries was first published in 1849 as a weekly periodical edited by William John Thoms. The format consisted of "Notes" (miscellaneous thoughts from correspondents that they and the editors considered might be of interest to the readership), and "Queries" (and responses to queries), which formed the bulk of the publication. The magazine has been likened to a nineteenth century version of a (moderated) Internet newsgroup.

Today, the magazine operates more like an academic journal, and is different only in the length of the articles, which are often very short. The 'Notes' now far outweigh the 'Queries', and book reviews have also been introduced. The focus is now almost entirely on literature.

The publication's motto, "When found, make a note of", is a catchphrase of a character in Dickens' Dombey and Son.

Notes and Queries has given its name to a number of similar columns and publications; for instance there is a regular feature under the similar title Notes & Queries in The Guardian newspaper.