The History of the Family: An International Quarterly makes a significant contribution by publishing works reflecting new developments in scholarship and by charting new directions in the historical study of the family. Further emphasizing the international developments in historical research on the family, the Quarterly encourages articles on comparative research across various cultures and societies in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim, in addition to Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as work in the context of global history. While firmly rooted in history, the Quarterly is interdisciplinary; it publishes articles on historical anthropology, historical sociology, economic history and psychology as they relate to the family and the life course.

The History of the Family: An International Quarterly publishes essays submitted by individual authors as well as special topical issues on the history of the family, the household and kinship, marriage, childhood and youth, life course and aging, and historical demography as it relates to the family. The Quarterly also publishes book review essays, methodological reports, descriptions of databases and other source materials and conference reports.