That seems like a good idea. I'm hesitant to muck with the basic structure of the forum nodes. It requires considerable effort to add a new primary node, such as Tobacco History, and I worry about breaking the forum software. [There is quite a bit of hidden coding linked to vague code variable references. And there are some procedure calls to external code that appears to be stored in server locations to which I have no access.] I will study that task, and consider its difficulty and associated risk. Establishing a separate forum would also require tracking down, and moving existing threads on tobacco history into the new forum.
We currently have a "Tobacco History" section in our Index of Key Forum Threads (near the bottom). In scanning through each of those entries, it seems that each has generally originated within the particular forum most closely related to the subject of that history. That is, cigar history topics appear under the Cigar forum, topics related to scientific clarification of specific varieties appear under types of tobacco or tobacco science, etc. Some are in General Discussions.
For now, I would suggest any new topic that you wish to create regarding tobacco history follow the same approach. If they seem to be of broad interest, they will then be linked in the Index of Key Forum Threads. Topics such as specific books on tobacco history can follow that same approach. When in doubt, start the thread in the General Discussions.
Bob
