JUNE 17–19, 2011 • STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, NEW PALTZ

Hosted by the State University of New York, New Paltz, with substantial support from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

INTRODUCTION

The Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture was founded as the Institute of Early American History and Culture in 1943 by the College of William and Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to foster “study, research, and publications bearing on American history approximately to the year 1815.” Still jointly sponsored by the College and Colonial Williamsburg, the Institute was renamed in 1996, in recognition of a generous endowment from the late Mr. and Mrs. Malvern H. Omohundro, Jr. The Institute publishes the William and Mary Quarterly, books in its field of interest, and a e-newsletter; organizes and supports a variety of conferences, seminars, and colloquia; and annually offers a two-year NEH postdoctoral fellowship and a one-year postdoctoral research fellowship.

In June 1995 the Institute inaugurated a series of annual conferences specifically designed to serve as a forum for the rich variety of work under way in the early American field. Organized exclusively by calls for papers and panels and held in a different geographic region each year, these meetings are intended to bring together and facilitate exchanges among junior and senior scholars from several disciplines who share a common interest in the history and culture of early America.

Christopher Leslie Brown (Columbia University) and L. H. Roper (State University of New York, New Paltz) chaired the program committee for the 2011 conference. Members of the committee included Leslie Choquette (Assumption College), Nicole Eustace (New York University), Evan Haefeli (Columbia University), Cathy Matson (University of Delaware), James Merrell (Vassar College), and James D. Rice (State University of New York, Plattsburgh).