American Bee Journal: History, Dadant Ownership, Content and Editors
Profile updated November 2026
American Bee Journal calls itself the beekeeper's companion since 1861, and it is described as the oldest English-language beekeeping publication in the world. Founded by Samuel Wagner, with the Rev. L.L. Langstroth as an early adviser, it has been owned by the Dadant family and published in Hamilton, Illinois, since 1912. Its November 2026 issue was Volume 166, Number 11.
| Founded | January 1861, by Samuel Wagner |
|---|---|
| Owner | Dadant and Sons, since 1912 |
| Address | 51 S. 2nd St., Hamilton, Illinois 62341 |
| Frequency | Monthly (Volume 166 in 2026) |
| Editor | Eugene Makovec, since late 2018 |
| Distinction | Oldest English-language beekeeping publication in the world |
| Official website | AmericanBeeJournal.com |
History of American Bee Journal
Samuel Wagner published the first issue of American Bee Journal in January 1861, with Rev. L.L. Langstroth, inventor of the movable-frame hive, as contributor and adviser. The Civil War suspended publication from 1862 until July 1866, after which Wagner resumed it in Washington, D.C.
Ownership and editors changed often in the 19th century. Rev. W.F. Clarke took over in 1873 and moved the journal to Chicago; Thomas G. Newman owned and edited it from 1874 to 1892; and George W. York, who joined as assistant editor in 1892, later owned it and ran it as a weekly. In 1912 York sold it to C.P. Dadant, of the beekeeping and bee-supply family known for comb foundation, who moved it to Hamilton, Illinois, and edited it until his death in 1938.
Later editors included G.H. Cale Sr., Vern Sisson and Joe Graham, whose tenure ran from 1974 to 2017. Kirsten Traynor edited the journal from September 2017 to November 2018, and Eugene Makovec has been editor since.
American Bee Journal Today
American Bee Journal publishes monthly in print and digital form. Its regular columns include Beekeeping Basics, Bees and Beekeeping: Present and Past, Notes from the Lab, Plain Talk Beekeeping, The Classroom and The Curious Beekeeper, along with Letters to the Editor and a U.S. Honey Crops and Markets report.
The November 2026 issue covered wet versus dry cappings, an August swarm and bees in Hollywood. A May 2026 history column noted that only two U.S. bee periodicals from the early era survive: American Bee Journal and Bee Culture.
What American Bee Journal Is Publishing Now
Practical beekeeping
Seasonal management, swarms, queens, varroa control and extraction for hobby and commercial beekeepers.
Science
Notes from the Lab and Science Insider columns translating honey bee research for working beekeepers.
Markets and history
Honey crop and price reports, industry news and columns on the history of American beekeeping.
American Bee Journal Editors and Staff
American Bee Journal's own history pages name these editors:
- Eugene Makovec - Editor
- Joe Graham - Former editor (1974-2017)
- Kirsten Traynor - Former editor (2017-2018)
- Wyatt A. Mangum - Columnist, Bees and Beekeeping: Present and Past
The journal's office is at 51 S. 2nd St., Hamilton, Illinois, telephone 217-847-3324.
Who Reads American Bee Journal
Readers are hobbyist, sideline and commercial beekeepers, bee scientists, extension apiculturists and queen breeders, in the United States and abroad. USDA NASS Quick Stats publishes honey production, colony counts and prices for readers following the honey market the journal reports on each month.
American Bee Journal readers have been comparing notes on swarms and honey crops since Lincoln was in office, so they understand patience and a well-timed sting. When the supers are off, farm.FM offers farm satire and farm humor in a dry rural voice, with ranch humor for beekeepers who move hives onto cattle country. Its farm jokes have a little buzz and no venom.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
American Bee Journal Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- American Bee Journal: The story of the American Bee Journal - official history and editors.
- Dadant: American Bee Journal - the publisher's page on the journal.
- Wikipedia: Charles Dadant - the beekeeping family behind the journal.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - honey production and bee colony statistics.
- USDA NASS: Publication highlights - federal agricultural statistics reports.
American Bee Journal FAQ
When was American Bee Journal founded?
In January 1861, by Samuel Wagner.
Who publishes American Bee Journal?
Dadant and Sons, in Hamilton, Illinois, owner since 1912.
Who edits American Bee Journal?
Eugene Makovec, editor since late 2018.
How often is American Bee Journal published?
Monthly; the November 2026 issue was Volume 166, Number 11.
After more than 165 years, American Bee Journal remains a monthly companion for beekeepers everywhere.