This paper is a brief history of The journal of Hand Surgery from its found
ing in July 1976 through the third issue published in July 1999. An analysi
s of the 3,713 scientific articles published is done relative to type, cont
ent, and country of origin. The persons responsible for the journal are nam
ed and other features of the journal are discussed. (C) 2000 by the America
n Society for Surgery of the Hand.