Discusses the continuing aim of the 'Annales' to reformulate the task of historiography and the relation of history to the other social sciences. Since the founding of the journal in 1929 its editors have opposed exclusive specialization and have emphasized the need for synthesis with data drawn from allied disciplines. After the experience of World War II the editors stated that the task of history is the "goals of mankind." The author discusses the editorial philosophy in lengthy analysis of the individual editors, Marc Bloch, Lucien Febvre, Ferdinand Braudel and Charles Morazé.