About Us
The Washington Early
American Seminar
Current Program
People
What is WEAS?
The Washington Early American Seminar brings senior scholars, junior faculty, and advanced graduate students to College Park, Maryland and other locations in the Washington DC area to discuss their work in progress. To get on our mailing list, or to obtain a copy of an upcoming paper, please email Holly Brewer (hbrewer@umd.edu) or Rick Bell (rjbell@umd.edu).
The seminar is composed of graduate students and faculty from the University of Maryland and a host of other area institutions, and is convened by Professors Rick Bell, Christopher Bonner, Holly Brewer, Zachary Dorner, & Clare Lyons.
What is the Goal of WEAS?
Our seminar is meant to bring together a diverse group of scholars to explore a variety of topics in early America. Whether it be Native Peoples, slavery, trade, religion, migration, empire, government, material culture, or more, WEAS is open to any topic related to the Atlantic World through the mid-nineteenth century. Scholars present their works-in-progress through a pre-circulated paper; the seminar consists of a short presentation by the author, a reaction by a graduate student, and then discussion from the audience. Our aim is to help scholars, whether graduate students or professors, improve their scholarship and all of our knowledge.
How Can I Take Part In WEAS?
The seminar meets once a month during the academic year on Fridays at 4pm in Taliaferro Hall 2110, the Ira Berlin Room. Papers (typically 30-40 pages) are pre-circulated among seminar participants seven days in advance of each meeting. The ninety-minute workshop is followed by dinner with the presenter at a local restaurant.
At least once a semester we meet at another area institution, usually at George Washington University, the Smithsonian, or Mount Vernon.
A Call for Papers is usually shared in May or June of the preceding spring.
For academic year 2024-2025, the call for papers (due July 15) is here:
Have a Question About the Washington Early American Seminar?
Feel free to contact us.