This special issue marks the first of two important developments in History of Intellectual Culture. First, the interface and design of the journal has changed dramatically, as now it is using the latest technology and theories of website design for surfing the journal for a maximum of convenience. With the overhaul of the site, the look of the journal has changed accordingly, as we have decided to opt for a minimalist aesthetic that places the content of each issue over the visual framework. While still structuring the pages, the visual interface fades more into the background while remaining functional for navigation. Here, we adhere to architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's (1886-1969) dictum that "less is more."

Second, this issue marks the first special issue in the history of HIC. This is also an instructive issue for contextualizing a major theme of the journal, being interdisciplinarity in all its forms. As we have mentioned in the Editors' Introduction in the first issue, the history of intellectual culture is open to everyone's interpretation, both in universities in the community, and this argues for a myriad of methodologies and perspectives according to the reader and intellectual participant. With "FREE SPACE: Reconsidering Interdisciplinary Theory and Practice," the editors have compiled a number of interesting and evocative articles that underlay the vibrant and expansive field of interdisciplinarity as it applies to research into historical intellectual cultures nationally and internationally. The history of intellectual culture encompasses numerous fields of study, disciplines, and socio-academic approaches. This issue indicates possible directions, among many, of how various research can promote critical analysis of intellectualism as applied without particular constraints to disciplinary boundaries.

HIC would like to welcome the special issue editors, Bruce Janz and Tamara Seiler. As chief editors of this issue, they vetted the contents as well as directed the stages of the production. HIC would like to acknowledge Donovan J. Tymchyshyn, editorial assistant, who was instrumental in website design, formatting the papers for electronic presentation, and facilitating this issue's publication. His level of creativity and industriousness is appreciated. Finally, Jo-Anne Andre, Director of the Effective Writing Programme at the University of Calgary, acted as copy-editor, and HIC's gratitude is extended for her work on this as well as co-ordinating various drafts of the papers that were exchanged among the various compilers of this issue.