WMQ-EMSI Workshop – Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals | Electronic Submission

“Before 1607”
Call for Proposals

The Omohundro Institute and the University of Southern California-Huntington Library Early Modern Studies Institute are pleased to announce the eighth in a series of William and Mary Quarterly-EMSI workshops designed to identify and encourage new trends in understanding the history and culture of early North America.

Participants will attend a two-day meeting at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California (May 24–25, 2013) to discuss a precirculated essay-length portion of their current work in progress along with the work of other participants. Subsequently, the convener will write an essay elaborating on the issues raised in the workshop for publication in the William and Mary Quarterly. The convener of this year’s workshop is Karen Ordahl Kupperman, New York University.

Historians are no longer patient with the idea that “America” can trace its origin to struggling outposts near the Chesapeake, or to any Anglo-American settlements. The burst of scholarship over the past generation, since at least the Columbian Quincentennial of 1992, has given us a much richer understanding of the Americas that long predated the founding of Jamestown, Santa Fe, and Quebec. This workshop will assess the relationship between studies of the long sixteenth century and those that stress developments after 1607, as well as chart a new course for future pre-1607 scholarship, primarily for North America north of the Rio Grande.

We seek proposals from scholars in history, literature, or art history who are investigating pivotal questions about indigenous peoples as well as Europeans. How can new work in related fields—such as the history of medicine (with new insights about the so-called “Columbian Exchange”), archaeology, and linguistics—propel our understanding of the period before European nations decided to make sustained investments? What did Europeans see as they looked across the Atlantic at North America in 1600? What was the relationship of earlier European economic activities, such as fishing on the northeastern coast and the fur trade, to later colonial ventures? What explains Europeans’ wavering commitment to making substantial investments in capital and colonists in the vast territory north of Mexico? Why did Indian leaders decide to allow initial settlements and missions?

Proposals for workshop presentations should include a brief abstract (250 words) describing the applicant’s current research project, an equally brief discussion of the particular methodological or historiographical issues they are engaging (which will be circulated to all participants along with the chapter or essay), and a short c.v. The organizers especially encourage proposals from midcareer scholars. Proposals may be submitted online at the conference Web site by October 31, 2012. All submissions will be acknowledged by email. Questions may be directed to Christopher Grasso, Editor, William and Mary Quarterly,at cdgras@wm.edu.

The workshop will cover travel and lodging costs for participants.