Early American Seminar
Program 2003-04

September 9, 5:30 pm:  Richard Sher (NJIT), "'A More Extensive Diffusion of Useful Knowledge':  the Scottish Enlightenment in Late Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia"

October 14, 5:30 pm: Serena Zabin (Carleton College), "Dancing on the Atlantic Rim," from Dangerous Economies: New York City in the First British Empire, chapter 5.    Paper              One-page book abstract

November 11, 6:00 pm: David Jaffee (City College and CUNY Graduate School), "James Wilson and the Village Enlightenment: Cartography and Culture in the Rural United States, 1790-1840."   Paper    Illustrations 

December 9, 5:30 pm: Mary A. Gallagher (Queens College), "Free Trade/Freedom to Trade: Robert Morris and the Articulation and Implementation of Trade Policy during the Confederation Period"

February 10, 5:30 pm: James Delbourgo (McGill University), "How to Handle an Electric Eel: Doing Natural History and Natural Philosophy in the 18th-Century Atlantic World"    Paper                Illustration

March 9, 5:30 pm: Denver Brunsman (Princeton University and McNeil Center), "'A Mystery Never Yet Explained': Impressment's Failure to Ignite the American Revolution."

April 13, 5:30 pm: Ruth Bloch (UCLA), "Defining Public and Private in Early America: The General Problem and Evidence mainly from New England" (Co-authored by Ruth Bloch and Naomi Lamoreaux) Note: The April meeting will be held at SUNY Stony Brook Manhattan, 401 Park Avenue South (at E.28^th St.), 2^nd Floor.

May 11, 5:30 pm: Kathleen M. Brown (University of Pennsylvania), "The Shirt is Nearest the Skin: Cleanliness in Atlantic History" PLEASE NOTE: There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee (i.e., current and former program chairs) before the seminar, at 5:00 pm, to go over next year's program and any other relevant matters.

All titles subject to change.  Downloads will be made available about 1-2 weeks before each meeting.