Planning a spring syllabus? Read this first

2017 was an extraordinary year for the Omohundro Institute’s burgeoning role as a podcast producer. Liz Covart, creator and host of Ben Franklin’s World, joined the OI full-time as Digital Projects Editor. While they remain based in Boston much of the year, Liz, her partner Tim, and their companion Sprocket, planted a Red Sox flag in front of… Read More

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Report on the 4th annual Southwest Seminar

Today’s post is a special report from Joaquín Rivaya-Martínez of Texas State University on the Southwest Seminar, one of several conferences on #VastEarlyAmerica the OI is proud to support this year. From October 5 to 7, 2017, the University of California – San Diego hosted the fourth annual meeting of the Southwest Seminar Consortium on Colonial Latin America. The Southwest… Read More

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Vast in its Vastness

Today’s post is by Nathaniel Holly, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History at William & Mary. He attended Robert Morrissey’s VastEarlyAmerica lecture at W&M, an annual event that the OI sponsors in conjunction with various departments on campus, on Monday, October 2. Vast in its Vastness: Borderlands Hide Paintings and the Historical Processes of Early America by Nathaniel… Read More

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Pocahontas and After

The OI is proud to support the upcoming Pocahontas and After: Historical culture and transatlantic encounters, 1617 – 2017 conference which convenes March 16–19, 2017, in London.  Read More

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Summing up 3 days of discussion on slavery

The “Region and Nation in American Histories of Race and Slavery” conference took place at Mount Vernon, Virginia, this past weekend (October 6-9, 2016) before a crowd of over 125 people. With over three days of panels and papers as stimulation, the discussions were intense, long, and fruitful. Here a tiny smattering of the 1000+ tweets (#SlaveryMV) tells the… Read More

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No Second Fiddle

In today’s post, WMQ author Miles P. Grier (January 2016) reflects on the editing process at the William and Mary Quarterly and how his background as a literary scholar affected that experience.   I ain’t gonna play no second fiddle / Cause I’m used to playing lead —Perry Bradford by Miles P. Grier In a 2008 Forum, published simultaneously in… Read More

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Who Lives, Who Dies, and Who Tells Your Story

ICYMI, we direct your attention to Scholarly Kitchen Chef and OI Director Karin Wulf ’s reflection on Hamilton, the lyrics that ask one of the fundamental questions facing historians, and the real work of writing history in today's Scholarly Kitchen. Read More

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Evolving the discussion of what Columbus began

In today’s post, WMQ author Jeffrey Ostler reflects on what inspired his research and what questions he is still asking. I’m sure that most historians occasionally reflect on the paths that lead us to write the things we do. When I trace the path that led to the publication of “To Extirpate the Indians: An Indigenous Consciousness of Genocide in… Read More

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Reflections on the Octo

The Octo is now about six months old, which makes the timing right for some reflection on just what the project now looks like and what I’ve learned about the early American blogosphere. It began with a simple goal: create a space where the Institute can bring together some of the best online work… Read More

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