On its demise, a writer for the Yale Daily News wrote that “the purpose and scope of the Sheffield Monthly was never fully understood” and its “quality was never what it should have been.” The editors of the Monthly realized their error in documenting collegiate opinions and social activities in a publication intended for scientific writing. They aligned their stated editorial focus with the material they printed and joined forces with the beleaguered Yale Courant, the school’s first illustrated periodical (1865).
This sequence of events led to a writer for the Yale Daily News stating that “the purpose and scope of the Sheffield Monthly were never fully grasped” and its “standard was never what it should have been.” The editors of the Monthly recognized their mistake in documenting university opinions and social activities in a publication meant for scientific journalism. They adjusted their stated editorial focus to match the material they printed and teamed up with the struggling Yale Courant, the school's first illustrated periodical (1865).