W. Reid Hastie, the fifth president (1957-1959) of the National Art Education Association, promoted the need for a scholarly venue devoted entirely to issues and research in art education and a place where related research results could be presented on a regular basis to the field of art education, as well as the larger field of education. His vision led to the initiation of "Studies in Art Education," a journal of issues and research in art education. The first issue was published in the Fall of 1959. Hastie's vision, practice, and support of research are examined within the context of the history of research in art education and the rapidly changing world of higher education following World War II.