Like many academics, I’ve spent many hours this summer in conference rooms with fluorescent lighting and insufficient air conditioning. For the most part, this has been a real pleasure—after a year of teaching, it is always invigorating to hear others present their research and engage in fruitful conversations. But one part of the experience always fills me with dread: the comment. Continue reading
Author Archives: Ken Owen
The Consequences of War: An Omohundro Institute Conference Recap
Last weekend, the world of early Americanists transferred itself to Canada, for the Omohundro Institute’s annual conference. Hosted by Dalhousie and St Mary’s Universities, Halifax (Nova Scotia) provided the backdrop to the academic festivities. Though it was a long and arduous journey to Halifax (at one point I thought I might have to Skype my paper from Philadelphia airport), and though the weather frequently failed to shine (to this Brit, it was very reminiscent of summer), the conference was a tremendously well-organized feast of academic camaraderie. What follows is necessarily only a partial recap, but one that I hope gives a flavor of what was on offer. If you have other reminiscences—not least on the many panels I missed!—please do share them in the comments. Continue reading
Announcing the Missouri Regional Seminar on Early American History
Seminar series have been a popular facet of the early American history culture across the country, from Philadelphia and New York across to the Rocky Mountains and the Bay Area. In this post, we’re introducing another regional seminar to the mix, based around Missouri and the greater St Louis area (extending into central Illinois, and interest from eastern Kansas, southern Iowa, or northern Arkansas is most welcome). We’re hoping to foster a sense of community among those working on early American topics in the region, and to provide a supportive environment for graduate students and faculty to test out preliminary findings of their research. Continue reading
Is Blogging Scholarship? Reflections on the OAH Panel
On Sunday, at the 2014 OAH Annual Meeting, I was part of a roundtable discussion entitled “Is Blogging Scholarship?” Several other participants have posted their thoughts on the subject; there was also a great deal of live-tweeting, and our own Joe Adelman has also joined (and developed!) the conversation. The discussion itself was fantastic, and was videotaped for later broadcasting. But in reflecting on the panel, I’ve found there are some points I wish to re-emphasize, and some problems I have with the way the entire roundtable was framed. Continue reading
Junto March Madness 2014: And The Winner Is…
Over 600 votes were cast in the Championship Game of Junto March Madness 2014—an NCAA Tournament-like bracket that pitted some of the best books in early American history against each other (or, at least, those published since 2000). Unlike last year, when Edmund Morgan’s American Slavery, American Freedom was the runaway winner from start to finish, this year’s tournament provided a nonstop series of upsets, with no number-1 seed making the Final Four, and the championship game involving a 6-seed squaring off against a 13-seed. Continue reading
Junto March Madness 2014: Championship Game!
It started off with 64… now only 2 remain. It’s the day you’ve been waiting for—the time when the ultimate champion of Junto March Madness will be decided. Strong challengers have fallen by the wayside; now your votes will decide who walks away with the fame, fortune and accolades for being recognized as the best early American history book since 2000. Final Four results, and the final poll, all after the jump!
Junto March Madness 2014: The Final Four!
As the last four teams in the NCAA tournament make their way to Dallas, so today it is the turn of the Final Four of Junto March Madness to square off against each other. (In Philadelphia, perhaps? Boston? Or maybe Jamestown?)
Junto March Madness 2014: Sweet 16 Results!
It was a bad day for top seeds in Junto March Madness, with a number of big names falling at the Sweet 16 stage. Competition was fierce, with some matchups receiving as many as 350 votes, and now eight books remain, all vying for a bid to the Junto Final Four. Find out who after the jump!
Junto March Madness 2014: The Sweet 16
The first weekend of the NCAA tournament is done and dusted, and while Cinderellas like Dayton and Tennessee are making their way to regional finals, so the best early American history books since 2000 are getting ready for their equivalent of the showdown at Madison Square Garden. As befits such a grand stage, there are some marquee matchups. Who will prevail? As ever, your votes will decide! Continue reading
Junto March Madness 2014: Round 2, Brackets 3 and 4
Yesterday, your favorite books on Atlantic, Native American, and religious history all slugged it out against each other. Today it’s the turn of histories of race and politics. Will Francois Furstenberg score an upset over T.H. Breen? Will Vincent or Christopher triumph in the battle of the Browns? And can Michael Jarvis extend his run as the lowest remaining seed? Your votes will decide it all! Continue reading
The Junto 