:I think I have a better solution - I modified the BSAseries template to allow for a "lowbox".  It is intended that the lowbox variable would be another template.  So I created a new template - Template:MBHistory that I believe better displays what you had in mind.  This approach keeps a single "series" template (only one thing to edit), plus it allows more flexibility in how the lowbox info would be presented - images, text, etc.  I believe you will like this better.    

 ::As for white space underneath the portal tag, I have looked at that, and it's not caused by the series template, but by the TOC.  Articles that have short lead-ins and short TOCs do not have that problem.  I don't think there are any that are really bad now, but if there's a specific one that is unappealing, let me know and I will look into a solution.