Call for Papers

"The Republics of Benjamin Rush" - A Conference Sponsored by Dickinson College and The McNeil Center for Early American Studies

March 21-23, 2014, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

The year 2013 marks the 200^th anniversary of Benjamin Rush's death.  In commemoration of this anniversary, Dickinson College and The McNeil Center for Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania solicit paper proposals for an academic conference examining politics and culture of the early American republic. In addition to being one of the leading physicians of his day, Rush was also vitally involved in the political and institutional development of the United States, advocating for the reform of criminal justice, for new approaches to the treatment of the mentally ill, and for the abolition of slavery, among other causes. His interest in republican government also prompted his involvement in educational reform. 

This conference seeks to explore the many "republics" Rush envisioned and engaged. As Rush's interests extended to myriad disciplines, including political thought, educational, and social reforms, and medicine, this conference welcomes contributions along the wide spectrum of his engagements, and papers by no means need to focus narrowly on Rush himself.

In exploring the intellectual, social, scientific, and political contexts in which Rush was immersed, we hope a broader agenda for reconsideration might emerge for apprehending complexities, contradictions, and ambiguities of the founding era and its legacies for today.         

The conference will be held at Dickinson College, which was founded by Rush in 1783.  Dickinson promotes an honest examination of its founder's intellectual contributions to American culture, with an emphasis on Rush's concept of a "useful education" aimed at developing globally engaged citizens. 

Please submit proposals of approximately 250 words, along with curriculum vitae, to mceas@ccat.sas.upenn.edu no later than Friday, May 24, 2013. Accepted panelists will be notified by mid-July 2013. Some support for participants' travel and lodging will be available.

The following History prizes were announced at the History Majors Dinner on Wednesday, April 24:

The Class of 1914 Prize in American History - Melanie Levine; Morris W. Prince Prize for Distinguished Work in History - Steve Whittaker; Morris W. Prince Prize for Excellence in European History - Brad Meisel; and the Prince Prize in support of graduate study - Steve Whittaker.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to history majors, Ariel Blask, Jessica Karlberg, Leah Miller, Samantha Moyer, and Victoria Waldron who will be inducted into the History honor society, Phi Alpha Theta, on Wednesday, April 24.

The History Department's annual Pflaum lecture will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm in the Stern Great Room.  This year's lecture, "Why Don't American Cities Burn Very Often?" will be presented by Dr. Michael Katz, Annenberg Professor of History and a Research Associate in the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  Throughout his academic career, Dr. Katz has focused on three major areas of research:  the history of American education, the history of urban social structure and family organization, and the history of social welfare and poverty.  He is also the author of numerous books including The Price of Citizenship and Redefining the American Welfare State.  Please plan to attend!