In 2025, Sage is celebrating its origin story, a story that is deeply rooted in the passion and vision of one remarkable woman – Sara Miller McCune. At the young age of 24, Sara, an aspiring female entrepreneur, founded a publishing company that has now grown into one of the leading academic publishers in the world. This year, as we look back at our journey, we are reminded of the incredible gift that Sara has given us – the gift of a nocturnal anthropologist.
Sara’s journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur began in the early 1960s when she was a graduate student in the field of anthropology. It was during this time that she recognized a gap in the academic publishing industry – a lack of quality journals in the social sciences. Determined to fill this void, Sara took a leap of faith and founded Sage Publications in 1965.
From the very beginning, Sara’s passion for social science research and her unwavering dedication to the academic community were evident in Sage’s publications. Her vision was to create a platform for researchers to share their work and ideas, and to foster a community of knowledge exchange. This vision has remained at the core of Sage’s mission, even as the company has grown and evolved over the years.
Sara’s entrepreneurial spirit and determination were the driving forces behind Sage’s success. She faced numerous challenges and obstacles along the way, but she never wavered in her belief that social science research has the power to create positive change in the world. Her tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to quality and innovation have shaped Sage into the reputable and influential publisher it is today.
But Sara’s contributions to the academic community go beyond just publishing. She has also been a pioneer in promoting the use of technology in academic publishing. In the early 2000s, Sage became one of the first publishers to offer online access to its journals, allowing researchers to access and share their work more easily. This move revolutionized the academic publishing industry and paved the way for future developments in digital publishing.
Sara’s passion for social science research and her commitment to making it accessible to all has also led to the creation of numerous initiatives and programs at Sage. These include the Sage Publishing Innovation Awards, which recognize and support innovative research that has the potential to make a significant impact on society, and the Sage Social Science Collections, a digital library of resources for social science research.
In addition to her contributions to the academic community, Sara has also been a strong advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment. As a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, she has broken barriers and inspired countless women to pursue their dreams and make their mark in the world. Her leadership and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the careers of many women in the academic publishing industry.
As we celebrate our origin story and the remarkable woman behind it, we are reminded of the valuable lessons that Sara has taught us. She has shown us the power of passion, determination, and innovation in achieving our goals and making a difference in the world. She has also reminded us of the importance of creating a community of knowledge exchange and supporting each other in our academic pursuits.
In honor of Sara’s legacy, Sage has launched a new book series titled “My First Sage Book”. This series features books written by emerging scholars in the social sciences and aims to provide a platform for young researchers to share their work and ideas with a wider audience. The first book in this series, “The Gift of a Nocturnal Anthropologist”, is a collection of Sara’s personal reflections on her journey as an entrepreneur and her vision for the future of social science research.
As we look towards the future, we are excited to continue Sara’s legacy and build upon the strong foundation she has laid for Sage. We are committed to supporting and promoting social science research that has the potential to create positive change in the world. And we are grateful for the gift of a nocturnal anthropologist – a visionary leader, a trailblazer, and an inspiration to us all.
