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Announcing ECSSS ...
The Eighteenth-Century
Scottish Studies Society was founded at the Williamsburg, Virginia, meeting
of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies in March 1986. The
founders came from several different academic fields, including philosophy,
English literature, Scottish history, and American history. They were united
by a desire to establish a thoroughly interdisciplinary and international
organization that would address the growing interest of scholars and
(increasingly) non-scholars in the remarkable culture of eighteenth-century
Scotland.
ECSSS seeks to break down a
number of troublesome barriers that have traditionally divided those who
share this growing interest. There are barriers dividing us according to
academic disciplines and general fields of interest. There are barriers
dividing us among different departments, universities, and organizations.
There are physical barriers that set us far apart geographically.And there
are barriers between those who are drawn to this subject by intellectual
curiosity and those drawn to it by ethnic pride.
Breaking down these barriers
will be no easy task, but we think we are off to a good start. Already ECSSS
has attracted well over a hundred members (see "ECSSS Members" below). They
include many of the leading scholars of eighteenth-century Scotland from
both sides of the Atlantic, as well as postgraduate students and interested
generalists from a variety of backgrounds. Among the membership are people
with primary interests in architecture, economics, engineering, geography,
German literature, American history, all kinds of Scottish and British
history ( economic, social, political, intellectual), history of science,
law and jurisprudence, literature, music, philosophy, politics, religion,
and sociology. Roughly half the members live in the United States; about
one-third reside in Scotland; more than a dozen have Canadian addresses; the
rest live in Australia, England, Italy, Japan, and West Germany. ECSSS's
role is to serve as a clearing house and a catalyst for ideas and activities
relating to all areas of eighteenth-century Scotland. To achieve this goal,
ECSSS will:
* Produce this newsletter
each spring to provide information about relevant conferences, publications,
activities, grants, academic programs, etc. and to provide a convenient
forum for the exchange of ideas. If there is sufficient interest, the
newsletter will be expanded into a journal.
* Sponsor occasional
interdisciplinary publications on topics of general interest to members (the
first such publication, a volume of essays titled Scotland and America in
the Age of Witherspoon, is discussed elsewhere in this newsletter).
* Sponsor seminars at
meetings of regional, national, and international organizations such as the
American, British, and Canadian Societies for Eighteenth-Century Studies
(see "ECSSS at Cincinnati" in this issue).
* Sponsor or co-sponsor
conferences on topics of general interest (see "ECSSS Conference Planned for
1988" below). It is hoped these will be held every other year at alternating
sites, for example: 1988 at the Scottish Studies Institute in Norfolk,
Virginia; 1990 at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, or Glasgow; 1992 at a suitable
Canadian setting).
* Establish one or two annual
prizes for the best publication( s) in eighteenth-century Scottish studies
(we hope to attract donations and use royalties from ECSSSsponsored
publications to fund these prizes).
* Provide members with
promotional material and perhaps special discounts on relevant books
purchased for their personal libraries. If these features sound worthwhile
to you, we hope you will help us in the following ways:
* Send us short articles,
announcements of events, publications, calls for papers, queries,
bibliographies, obituaries, personal/professional news Gob changes,
promotions, retirements, etc.), curriculum news, letters to the editor, and
other newsworthy items appropriate for publication in this newsletter.
* Tell us your ideas for
publications, seminars, conferences, etc.
* Publishers: please send us
review copies of any and all books dealing with eighteenth-century Scotland
( all relevant books sent to us will receive at least a brief notice). We
would also appreciate information about forthcoming publications and
discount offers for ECSSS members.
* Fill out the enclosed
membership form and send us your 1987-88 dues (covering the spring 1988
issue of the newsletter). We are trying to keep dues to a minimum and cannot
afford additional mailings for dues reminders, so please help us by sending
your 1987-88 dues as soon as possible after receiving your copy of this
newsletter.
* Tell your friends, library,
or organization about us! With your help, ECSSS can bring great benefits to
everyone with an interest in eighteenth-century Scotland.
Please give us your support!
--The Editor
First Issue (Spring
1987) (pdf)
Other issues can be read on
their web site |
