Helix Magazine - History of The Helix

History of The Helix

Central's first literary magazine, A Link in the Normal Chain, was published on February 7, 1855 when Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) was the New Britain Normal School. The Pioneer appeared in 1901 with a six-woman editorial staff and the note 'To be published every month by the senior class.' In 1933, the New Britain Normal School had become the Teachers College of Connecticut; by the late 1940s, The Pillar was being published every spring. From the mid-fifties to the early seventies (it was known as) Contemporary. In 1959, Teachers College developed into Central Connecticut State College and was granted the status of State University in 1983.

Though there are drawings in previous magazines, art became a more permanent part of this tradition in the form of block prints from Mr. Craft's art class in volume 3 of the 1957 Contemporary.

In 1977 the first issue of the Helix appeared in an attempt to continue the tradition of having a literary magazine at CCSU. The book was very small and had a stapled binding. The book was very small in size and it stayed that way until the Helix's five year absence.

In 1990, English professor, John Heitner, decided to recruit students from his classes and continue the tradition of having a literary magazine at CCSU. The first Helix book came out in the Spring of 1990 and it was made out of 30 pages of computer paper. Having a $300 budget prevent the Helix from being able to produce a high quality product. As the Helix grew in the 1990s, the cover began to look better and eventually had color in 1993. The book would get bigger as funding increased and in 1998, because of the efforts of Samuel Gordon Paley (1995 and 1998 Editor in Chief), the book had perfect binding (a flat side with no staples). The Helix had evolved into a book.

In the early 2000s, the Helix began to incorporate more Art pieces and had entire sections dedicated to art. Slowly the Helix is expanding and growing more pages. The most recent issues have had over 150 pages and was filled with many different writing and art genres. Currently, the Helix is now trying to incorporate music into its issues.

The Helix Magazine has also hit a milestone as it will be celebrating its 35th anniversary issue in the Fall of 2012. The Helix is planning many events in order to give awareness to literature, art, and music in order to celebrate the 35th anniversary issue.