This article was written at the behest of "Demographys" editors on the 30th anniversary of the publication. An overview is provided of how the field of demography has changed within graduate study within the membership of the Population Association of America and within the literature published by "Demography." Publication began as an annual volume and expanded to a quarterly one. Several issues are fundamental yet controversial; for example the issue of the purpose of methodology for its own sake or as exclusion of relevant information and the issue of separation between demography and population study. Demographys philosophy is captured in the writings of William Ogburn that knowledge is a gradual building and expansion of research based on the solid material of statistics. However Ogburn did not recognize that successive generations rebuild the house of knowledge neglect the old structure and face new problems. A review of the historical records of past issues showed that the empirical results were durable and positive to forthcoming generations. Individual authors survive not alone but as the common knowledge of the profession and upon incorporation into others work. Significance is achieved by drawing attention to new problems. In the overview the following topics are discussed: founding problems and early achievement the coincidence of computer development and publication a record of research findings citations in other journals specialization among population journals isolation in disciplines the influence of journals on the discipline the annual population address segregation of articles and directions of research (mortality fertility the family international migration growth of cities and population and development). About 40 articles are published yearly with an acceptance rate of 15-20% including 20% "new" manuscripts. The number of citations in other journals has been stable and increased from 690 in 1982 to 897 in 1990; an analysis by journal indicated that "Demography" was cited more than any other publication in the field and among different professions. Citations referred back to articles published 10 years age and longer which is a measure of durability. Distinguishing characteristics of the major journals in demography are indicated.