Early
American Studies
Here is a change
Covenors:
John Majewski, History, at ext. 2837 or e-mail majewski@history.ucsb.edu
Ann Plane, History
Early American Research Focus Group
Application for Funding in 2003-04
I. Research Interests of the Group
The Early American Research Focus Group fosters discussion
of American culture and society from the colonial period
through the 1850s. Our goal is promote a sense of community
among the diverse group of early American scholars
in the Santa Barbara area. Over the past six years,
we have organized major conferences, sponsored speakers
from around the country, and discussed our own research
in more informal lunches and gatherings. This past
year alone we sponsored two major public lectures,
one by
Professor Ruth Bloch of UCLA and the other by Professor
Alan Taylor of UC Davis.
II. Core Membership and Conveners
Below is a list of core members associated with our
research focus group, but it should be kept in mind
that we often invite graduate students and members
of the wider community to our events. Weare particularly
strong in English and in History, but draw upon a core
membership from four different departments:
Catherine Albanese (Religious Studies) Patricia Cohen
(History)
Jonathan Glickstein (History) Richard Helgerson (English)
Stephanie LeMenager (English)
John Majewski (History)
Ann Plane (History)
Bruce Robertson (Art History)
John Majewski and Ann Plane will serve as co-conveners
of the group for 2003-04.
III. Planned Themes and Actives in 2003-04. Although
we have not yet planned any specific events for next
year, we have decided to focus on a specific theme:
the relationship between early American history and
public history. We want to explore how monuments, museums,
commemorations, and various forms of popular culture
(novels, television, and film) have interpreted the
meaning of early American history. How do various public
history forums present marginalized groups in early
American history (slaves, Indians, women)? How do different
interpretations of early American history inform competing
visions of American identity today? Why is the public
and media now fixated on Founding Fathers such John
Adams and Benjamin Franklin? In asking these questions,
we hope that our research focus group brings together
a broad interdisciplinary audience of scholars and
public history professionals. Such an approach will
also leverage the resources and students of the history
department's thriving public history program.
IV. Speakers in 2002-03. In addition to sponsoring
several lunch and informal gatherings where members
of our group could present their own work, we sponsored
several outside speakers. A mixed group of undergraduates,
graduate students, and faculty attended these presentations.
1. Professor Ruth Bloch
Affiliation: UCLA (History)
Title: "Reconsidering Separate Spheres" Time:
3:30 pm
Date: April 14, 2003
Location: HSSB 4020
2. Professor Alan Taylor Affiliation: UC Davis (History)
Title: "The Science of Empire: Thomas Jefferson
and the Pacific"
Time: 3:30 pm
Date: April 30, 2003
Location: McCune Conference Room
3. Professor Christopher Looby
Affiliation: UCLA (English)
Title: "The Print Public Sphere and Early American
Fiction" Time: 4pm
Date: May 26, 2003
Location: South Hall 2635
