Although this issue is the first to appear during my tenure as Editor of the Journal of American Studies, an expression of gratitude to Jay Kleinberg for ten years of unstinting effort on behalf of the Journal of American Studies, first as Associate Editor (1996–2001) and as Editor (2001–6) is in order. The present issue is one that has taken shape in the period of transition from her Editorship to mine, and her contribution to it has been considerable. I am sure that readers will share with me in thanking Jay for her hard work over the past decade, and in wishing her the very best for future endeavours.