In February 1992 Don Grimes created Microscopy Today on his computer as a four-page, desktop-published newsletter. By November it had grown to 14 pages (see cover image below) and was delivered to 11,000 microscopists. In this latter issue there were articles on SEM and AFM, a detailed calendar of coming events, a column by Jean-Paul Revel, and an editorial encouraging readers to join MSA and MAS. Stephen Carmichael's review column made its first appearance in April 1994 (see page 8 for his 129th review!). Phil Oshel began Microscopy 101 in February 1997 and subsequently acquired most of the articles, especially those about microscopy methods. But the most unique aspects of those early MT issues were Don's humorous page fillers and his news about people and companies in the microscopy business. Don was able to make his news column work because he knew nearly everyone in the microscopy and microanalysis field: researchers, manufacturers, and salespeople.
After ten years of single-handedly publishing the magazine, Don Grimes sold Microscopy Today to the Microscopy Society of America in April 2002. New editor Ron Anderson and art director Dale Anderson produced their redesigned first issue in July (see below). Ron's knack for numbers and cost control allowed him to quickly repay MSA's purchase cost of the magazine. Ron and Dale continued to improve the magazine over the next seven years, building it up to about 80 pages per issue. During these years new departments were added such as Microscopy Pioneers and Dear Abbe, which was created by John Shields. Like Don Grimes before him, Ron did everything: soliciting articles, editing articles, selling ads, maintaining the subscriber database, and composing the entire magazine on his personal computer.
In 2009 MSA entered into an agreement with Cambridge University Press to publish Microscopy Today in addition to our peer-reviewed journal Microscopy and Microanalysis. At this time I was appointed editor. In collaboration with our publisher, I guided another redesign of the cover and inside pages (see below). Several new departments were instituted, including Microscopy Education that showcases successes in microscopy outreach. The first Microscopy Today Innovation Awards were presented at M&M 2010. Our subscription list is now over 17,000, and our advertising income is healthy. Happy 20th anniversary.
