Imprimis
Encyclopedia
Imprimis is the monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College
, described by Salon.com
as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of" and by Rush Limbaugh
(whose radio show is sponsored by Hillsdale College) as "one of the best and most important publications that I read."
and George Roche III
as a free alumni service. Lew Rockwell
was an early editor. Hillsdale's President George Roche III
initially sent 1,000 issues to "friends of the College." The publication improved Hillsdale's name recognition and did "wonders for out-of-state enrollment" as its circulation "ballooned." And Imprimis was one of the more visible elements of "intellectual ferment on the right" found at college campuses in the 1980s.
Its circulation has grown to 2 million . The publication is free upon request. Imprimis's content consists almost entirely of edited transcripts of speeches delivered by conservative movement leaders at Hillsdale-sponsored events.
In 1991, the dean at Boston University
, H. Joachim Maitre, was accused of plagiarizing an Imprimis article by Michael Medved
in a commencement address, which led to Maitre's resignation.
Contributors to Imprimis have included Jeb Bush
, Ward Connerly
, Dinesh D'Souza
, Milton Friedman
, Jack Kemp
, Irving Kristol
, Limbaugh, David McCullough
, Richard John Neuhaus
, Sarah Palin
, Ronald Reagan
, Margaret Thatcher
, Clarence Thomas
, and Tom Wolfe
.
wrote that Imprimis is "Hillsdale's way of sharing the ideas of the many distinguished speakers invited to their campus. And, I might add, Hillsdale College is one of the few colleges where students get a true liberal arts education, absent the nonsense seen on many campuses."
In contrast, Mark W. Powell, writing in the Toledo Blade, criticized Imprimis for eschewing fact-checking and failing to issue editorial corrections
, which he described as part of a pattern of "Cavalierism with facts to drive political points." Jordan Smith of Salon offered similar criticisms, citing a piece by Republican representative Paul Ryan
that he said repeated a "widely discredited assertion" regarding health care rationing under Obama's health insurance reforms. Kevin D. Williamson at National Review
has countered that speech transcripts ordinarily aren't fact-checked or verified for the truth of their claims.
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, described by Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of" and by Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
(whose radio show is sponsored by Hillsdale College) as "one of the best and most important publications that I read."
History
Imprimis was founded in 1972 by Clark DurantClark Durant
W. Clark Durant is co-founder and former CEO of the Cornerstone Schools , a group of charter and independent schools in the inner city of Detroit. Durant was a Republican politician in the state of Michigan, and is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012.-Early life:Durant was born in Detroit,...
and George Roche III
George Roche III
George Charles Roche III was the 11th president of Hillsdale College, serving from 1971 to 1999. Although Roche led Hillsdale out of a near financial collapse and raised the college to national prominence, his contributions are often overshadowed by a scandal surrounding an alleged affair between...
as a free alumni service. Lew Rockwell
Lew Rockwell
Llewellyn Harrison "Lew" Rockwell, Jr. is an American libertarian political commentator, activist, proponent of the Austrian School of economics, and chairman of the Ludwig von Mises Institute.-Life and work:...
was an early editor. Hillsdale's President George Roche III
George Roche III
George Charles Roche III was the 11th president of Hillsdale College, serving from 1971 to 1999. Although Roche led Hillsdale out of a near financial collapse and raised the college to national prominence, his contributions are often overshadowed by a scandal surrounding an alleged affair between...
initially sent 1,000 issues to "friends of the College." The publication improved Hillsdale's name recognition and did "wonders for out-of-state enrollment" as its circulation "ballooned." And Imprimis was one of the more visible elements of "intellectual ferment on the right" found at college campuses in the 1980s.
Its circulation has grown to 2 million . The publication is free upon request. Imprimis's content consists almost entirely of edited transcripts of speeches delivered by conservative movement leaders at Hillsdale-sponsored events.
In 1991, the dean at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, H. Joachim Maitre, was accused of plagiarizing an Imprimis article by Michael Medved
Michael Medved
Michael Medved is an American radio host, author, political commentator and film critic. His Seattle, Washington-based nationally syndicated talk show, The Michael Medved Show, airs throughout the U.S...
in a commencement address, which led to Maitre's resignation.
Contributors to Imprimis have included Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
, Ward Connerly
Ward Connerly
Wardell Anthony "Ward" Connerly is an American political activist, businessman, and former University of California Regent . He is also the founder and the chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, a national non-profit organization in opposition to racial and gender preferences...
, Dinesh D'Souza
Dinesh D'Souza
Dinesh D'Souza is an author and public speaker and a former Robert and Karen Rishwain Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is currently the President of The King's College in New York City. D'Souza is a noted Christian apologist and conservative writer and speaker....
, Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
, Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
, Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol was an American columnist, journalist, and writer who was dubbed the "godfather of neoconservatism"...
, Limbaugh, David McCullough
David McCullough
David Gaub McCullough is an American author, narrator, historian, and lecturer. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award....
, Richard John Neuhaus
Richard John Neuhaus
Richard John Neuhaus was a prominent Christian cleric and writer. Born in Canada, Neuhaus moved to the United States where he became a naturalized United States citizen...
, Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
, and Tom Wolfe
Tom Wolfe
Thomas Kennerly "Tom" Wolfe, Jr. is a best-selling American author and journalist. He is one of the founders of the New Journalism movement of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life and education:...
.
Reception
Imprimis has been praised by conservatives. For instance, Walter E. WilliamsWalter E. Williams
Walter E. Williams, is an American economist, commentator, and academic. He is the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University, as well as a syndicated columnist and author known for his libertarian views.- Early life and education :Williams family during childhood...
wrote that Imprimis is "Hillsdale's way of sharing the ideas of the many distinguished speakers invited to their campus. And, I might add, Hillsdale College is one of the few colleges where students get a true liberal arts education, absent the nonsense seen on many campuses."
In contrast, Mark W. Powell, writing in the Toledo Blade, criticized Imprimis for eschewing fact-checking and failing to issue editorial corrections
Correction (newspaper)
A correction in a newspaper is usually the posting of the notice of a typographical error or mistake that appeared in a past issue of a newspaper. Usually, a correction notice appears in its own column....
, which he described as part of a pattern of "Cavalierism with facts to drive political points." Jordan Smith of Salon offered similar criticisms, citing a piece by Republican representative Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan (politician)
Paul Davis Ryan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been ranked among the party's most influential voices on economic policy....
that he said repeated a "widely discredited assertion" regarding health care rationing under Obama's health insurance reforms. Kevin D. Williamson at National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
has countered that speech transcripts ordinarily aren't fact-checked or verified for the truth of their claims.