About Us
The Washington Early
American Seminar
Current Program
People
What is WEAS?
The Washington Early American Seminar Series 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. During the year 2020-2021, all meetings will be held through Zoom. 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, & 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 and Indigenous 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 they be graduate students or professors, improve their scholarship and all of our knowledge.
How Can I Take Part In WEAS?
A Call for Papers is released each year to solicit papers for the upcoming academic year. It is usually shared in April or May of the preceding spring.
When we are not in the midst of a pandemic, the seminar meets about once a month throughout the academic year on Fridays at 4pm in Taliaferro Hall 2110. Papers (typically 30-40 pages) are pre-circulated among seminar participants seven days in advance of each meeting. If we are able to meet in person, the ninety-minute workshop is followed by dinner with the presenter at a local restaurant.
At least once a semester one meeting will take place in other locations. These special meetings are done in conjunction with other institutions, and have taken place at George Washington University, the Smithsonian, or Mount Vernon.
* Note: For the 2020-2021 Program, meetings will be held virtually through Zoom.
Have a Question About the Washington Early American Seminar?
Feel free to contact us.