American Autobiography (Paperback)

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The first student guide to American autobiography.

This introduction to the major forms of autobiographical writing in America and important current developments in autobiography studies discusses both ‘canonised’ texts and those from contemporary writers.

Taking a broadly chronological approach, the history of American autobiography is explored including the social and cultural factors that might account for the importance of autobiography in American culture. Then post-1970 autobiographies are examined, taking into account the development in poststructuralism from this time that affected notions of the subject who could write, and conceptions of truth, identity and reference.

[/vc_column_text][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1427118320331{padding: 20px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;border: 1px solid #b7b7b7 !important;}”]Author: Rachael McLennan
Edition: 1
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 9780748644605
Price: £19.99
Publication Date: Nov 2012
Dimensions: 216 x 138 mm
Extent: 168 pages
Series: BAAS Paperbacks[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”4589″ css_animation=”fadeInRight” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][dt_gap height=”5″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_type=”no_bg” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”scroll” parallax_sense=”30″ animation_direction=”left-animation” animation_repeat=”repeat” bg_override=”0″ parallax_content_sense=”30″ fadeout_start_effect=”30″ overlay_pattern_opacity=”80″ seperator_type=”none_seperator” seperator_position=”top_seperator” seperator_shape_size=”40″ seperator_svg_height=”60″ seperator_shape_background=”#fff” seperator_shape_border=”none” seperator_shape_border_width=”1″ icon_type=”no_icon” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ type=”3″ bg_position=”top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_cover=”false” bg_attachment=”false” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ parallax_speed=”0.1″ bg_type=”no_bg” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #E3E3E3));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#E3E3E3 0%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#E3E3E3 0%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#E3E3E3 0%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#E3E3E3 0%);background: linear-gradient(top,#E3E3E3 0%);” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”scroll” parallax_sense=”30″ animation_direction=”left-animation” animation_repeat=”repeat” bg_override=”0″ parallax_content_sense=”30″ fadeout_start_effect=”30″ overlay_pattern_opacity=”80″ seperator_type=”none_seperator” seperator_position=”top_seperator” seperator_shape_size=”40″ seperator_svg_height=”60″ seperator_shape_background=”#ffffff” seperator_shape_border=”none” seperator_shape_border_width=”1″ icon_type=”no_icon” icon_size=”32″ icon_style=”none” icon_color_border=”#333333″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”50″ img_width=”48″ ult_hide_row_large_screen=”off” ult_hide_row_desktop=”off” ult_hide_row_tablet=”off” ult_hide_row_tablet_small=”off” ult_hide_row_mobile=”off” ult_hide_row_mobile_large=”off”][vc_column width=”1/2″][dt_gap height=”20″][vc_column_text]

Key Features

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• Engages in discussions about the ‘Americanness’ of autobiography, especially in relation to important contemporary issues such as multiculturalism and transnationalism
• Acknowledges the problematic nature of the ‘canon’ of American autobiography
• Explores the most exciting recent developments in relation to the self, writing, and autobiography (e.g. poststructuralist thought, the postmodern, the post-colonial, life-writing and genre)

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• Considers autobiographies from Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, Walt Whitman and Gertrude Stein to Maxine Hong Kingston, Lance Armstrong, Lucy Grealy and Barack Obama
• Includes study of the Puritan autobiography, the slave narrative, political texts, photography in autobiography, and illness/ disability memoirs

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British Association for American Studies

Minutes 279th

Minutes of the 279th Meeting of the Executive Committee, held at the Institute of the Americas (UCL), Wednesday 9 July 2014 at 1.00pm.

1. Present: Sue Currell (Chair), Bridget Bennett (Vice Chair), Theresa Saxon (Treasurer), Jenny Terry (Secretary), Zalfa Feghali, Katie McGettigan, Rachael Alexander, Jo Gill, Cara Rodway, Nick Witham, Bevan Sewell, Joe Street, Uta Balbier, Sinéad Moynihan, Celeste-Marie Bernier.

Apologies: Rachael McLennan, Doug Haynes, Scott Lucas, Martin Halliwell.

In attendance: Jenny Terry

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

These were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3. Matters Arising

None

(a) Review of Action List

Sue Currell has been liaising with Louise Cunningham at Keele who is prepared to perform part-time administrative work on behalf of BAAS. Sue will be co-ordinating tasks suitable for Louise to take on and organising payment. ACTION: SC

All other action list duties will be addressed under the relevant section below.

4. Chair’s Business

(a) Sue Currell welcomed the new executive members and thanked them for their commitment and service to BAAS. Special thanks were offered to Theresa Saxon for being willing to step into the role of Treasurer.

The co-option onto the executive of Theresa Saxon, Jo Gill and Cara Rodway was formally agreed. The matter of co-opted members will need to be revisited in April 2015.

(b) Thanks were noted to Iwan Morgan for his assistance with the meeting venue.

(c) Sue Currell reported

i. Correspondence

• An email has been received from Susan Worrall at Birmingham about the BAAS archive and deposit policy. Sue will follow up. ACTION: SC

• BAAS has received a request for funding in support of a proposed £2,500 memorial for British citizens who took part in the American Civil War. One memorial is to be located in Liverpool and the other in the Museum of the Civil War Soldier at Pamplin Park VA. Details available: www.acwbma.com There is a need to counter a misperception of BAAS as a ready funding source. Sue will follow up with a reply. ACTION: SC

• Following the annual conference in Birmingham, a warm note of thanks was received from Thomas Leary, Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy: It was good to see you in Birmingham. I had a very nice time. I know the conference is about the scholarship for most, but it’s more about the people for me. You and your colleagues are great. All the best, Tom.

• Letters of thanks have been sent to Sara Woods and the VC at Birmingham congratulating them on the conference.

• A letter was also sent to the Head of English Studies at Durham congratulating on Jenny Terry’s election to Secretary.

• Over this period, there have been lots of conference calls and emails regarding the new Partnership Agreement with CUP (discussed in detail later in the meeting).

ii. Activities and Meetings

• On Friday 23 May 2014 Sue attended the Learned Societies and Subject Associations Network at the British Academy. A more detailed account will follow but she reported an interesting and very useful talk by Keith Lawrey, a barrister/lawyer who advised on governance issues, the charity commission, VAT legislation, charity law and other legal matters for Learned Societies. Sue asked various questions about changes to standing orders/articles, online voting, trustee liability and confidentiality clauses in contracts (for example, with publishers). Other sessions later in the day were on Open Access, Early Careers, BIS’s Science and Innovation strategy, AHRC strategy updates and schemes, strategic themes, changes in PhD funding etc. Lawrey is a good point of contact if we have further questions. Sue might in future develop a webpage with up to date information.

• 25 May 2014: Michael Gove announced the removal of American texts from the GCSE curriculum. The new list of requirements pertaining to literature ‘from the British Isles’ is more restrictive. The exam boards – and indeed individual schools – are free to add any extra books they see fit, but the new rules have left them very little room for any twentieth-century writing from outside of Britain. Sue did not write to Gove on behalf of BAAS but Martin Halliwell had sent a letter to the NATE. Sue has added a list of nineteenth-century American texts to the website (under ‘Schools’) for public consultation. Additions to this list would be welcome.

• On Friday 20 June 2014 Sue attended a AHUG meeting (now AHA, the Arts and Humanities Alliance). A few Royal Historical Society agenda items of note:
1. HEFCE metrics consultation for REF Open Access
2. OA and Institutional practices regarding PhD Dissertations
3. ‘Research Leadership’ as a Research Council theme
4. Masters recruitment
5. Future of AHUG and its renaming

• 3 July 2014 Sue met with Katie McGettigan at the British Library about developing the BAAS website.

• 3 July 2014 a small BAAS delegation attended the Independence Day celebrations at the Ambassador’s mansion, an excellent event.

iii. Announcements

Promotions, Prizes and Grants: Achievements of note to BAAS members

• Prof. Martin Halliwell has been elected as the Chair of the English Association.
• Prof. Simon Newman at Glasgow University has been awarded a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant of £300,000 for a study of ‘Runaway Slaves in Britain: Bondage, Freedom and Race in the Eighteenth Century.’
• Dr. Katie McGettigan has been awarded a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship at Nottingham for work titled ‘Transatlantic Nationalism: The Invention of American Literature in Britain, 1820-1860.’
• Dr. Michael Cullinane at Northumbria University has been awarded an AHRC Early Career Fellowship for the project ‘Memorial Communities and Presidential Legacy: Remembering Theodore Roosevelt.’
• Dr. Zoe Colley at Dundee University has been awarded an AHRC Early Career Fellowship for the project ‘Universities of the Revolution: Black Nationalism and the Prison from the Nation of Islam to the Black Panther Party.’
• Dr. Nick Witham has been awarded a Fulbright American Studies Scholarship for a visit to NYU this summer and an AHRC International Placement Scheme Fellowship to go to the Library of Congress, both furthering research on ‘Popular American History Writing during the Cold War.’

Institutions

• It was announced that Dr. Jonathan Bell, currently of Reading University, is to be the next director of the UCL Institute of the Americas in succession to Prof. Maxine Molyneux. He takes up post on 1 September 2014 and will be appointed as both Director of UCL-IA and Professor. Sue will write to Jonathan. It is hoped that the BAAS executive can use the Institute’s space again in the future.
ACTION: SC
• The recent threatened closure of the Institute of English Studies at the School of Advanced Study had prompted widespread protest and has been put on hold. The situation recalls BAAS’s former campaign to prevent the closure of the ISA.

5. Secretary’s Business

(a) A phased handover from Jo Gill to Jenny Terry is in process. They have been dealing with enquiries and liaising with the Chair and Treasurer.

(b) As Jenny Terry will be at the Huntington Library in California from September to December 2014, alternative arrangements will be necessary for the next Executive Meeting. It was agreed that Sue Currell will organise the agenda and meeting on 15 November 2014 at the University of Sussex and that Jo Gill will take minutes.

(c) In January 2015 the Conferences Sub-committee will meet in Belfast. A date for this will need to be arranged with Philip McGowan. ACTION: SM

6. Treasurer’s Business (TS reporting)

(a) Bank Accounts (as at 07/07/2014)

General Deposit: £30,277.82

Current: £9,109.89

Dollar Account: $3375.42

Theresa Saxon suggested that the separate dollar account is now less needed than before as internet banking has replaced many of its functions. The closure of the account could be revisited when exchange rates are more favourable.

(b) Membership Figures

These were unavailable at this time in the absence of Rachael McLennan (Membership Secretary). The possibility of these being updated and monitored by an administrative assistant in the future was discussed. Katie McGettigan suggested that new database software linked to the website could potentially assist too, with members updating their own details. ACTION: SC with Louise Cunningham

The Birmingham conference organisers had asked for membership ID numbers as delegates registered for the conference. Although this ensured membership among those attending, it had resulted in a lot of enquiries. If an administrator held the membership database he or she could deal with such enquiries about numbers.

(c) The handover from Sylvia Ellis to Theresa Saxon is underway. Because of the need for multiple signatures the process takes some time; although Theresa does not yet have a chequebook she is now able to complete bank transfers and pay bills online.

7. Development Subcommittee (ZF reporting)

(a) Academy of Social Sciences Subscription

Retaining the status quo (of our non-subscription) seems the wisest course for now, although this could be revisited in the future.

(b) Online elections:

The possibility of online elections in the future was being looked into as part of a range of improvements to our web capability (see (d) below). A membership login facility would be a step towards this, although standalone online voting systems (e.g. ‘ballot-bin’) were also a possibility. Sue Currell noted that any such change of practice would also require a change to the BAAS constitution.

(c) The Development Committee had discussed the issue of reinstating awards to support conference organisation. If BAAS were to be in a financial position to do this in the future, a proposal involving clearer guidelines on the award and a fixed deadline had been agreed. It was decided to revisit this at the next meeting in November with input from the Treasurer on the budget at that time. Sue Currell noted that this kind of support is a priority; in the meantime, executive members are happy to offer guidance and advice on conference organisation and other sources of funding.

(d) It was agreed that the BAAS weekly digest via the emailing list was working well. Thanks were offered to Katie McGettigan for her efforts with this and also to Michelle Green and Ben Offiler for all their work on the USSO site. It was suggested that an ‘autoreply’ acknowledging receipt would be helpful for those submitting items to be included in the digest. ACTION: KM

Katie reported on her ongoing consultation with ‘Clear and Creative’ (the current host of the main BAAS website). There are opportunities to reconsider the BAAS image and brand identity as well as enhance the web functions. It was agreed the website could do more to highlight American Studies research and activities; it could foreground the Journal of American Studies further. There was a suggestion that adverts from publishers might be a way to generate revenue. Sue, Katie and Simon Gregory (from ‘Clear and Creative’) will set up a meeting to discuss what we want and costs.
ACTION: SC, KM

The USSO and BAAS sites are currently on separate hosts. It was agreed that integration would be desirable and modest costs for this could be met as there would be long term savings.

(e) Schools: Cara Rodway reported on the handover from Gareth Hughes and planned events with schools in the coming year. She would like to run a schools conference co-sponsored by BAAS and the Eccles Centre in the future. There are plans for an A-Level History event in Manchester and an A-Level Politics event, possibly in Bradford.

There are opportunities for capturing and sharing resources that we could develop. For example, videoing presentations at future conferences or pooling outreach materials that BAAS members might already have.

8. Postgraduate Business (RA reporting)

(a) The next Postgraduate Conference will take place at the University of Sussex on 15 November 2014: ‘Protest: Resistance and Dissent in America’. Joe Street is giving one of the keynotes. There will also be a career development workshop. The organisers are considering extending the CFP deadline to the end of September.

9. Publications Subcommittee (BB reporting)

(a) BRRAM:
Ken Morgan’s previously-circulated report had been discussed. The work of BRRAM in recording materials continues well, including negotiations with the Ayrshire Archives. The sub-committee had also discussed how better to integrate BRRAM, ASIB and EUP into the website in the future. Ken agreed to make sure the BRRAM area of the website was up to date and to contact ASIB with a short report for possible inclusion in the next issue.

(b) EUP/BAAS Paperback Series:
The Editors, Martin Halliwell and Emily West, had given the sub-committee an update on the series. They agreed to report back with any developments following a meeting with EUP on 9 July 2014. Three new high-quality works are in the pipeline. Some discussion was held by the sub-committee about how the series was marketed, especially in the US. Further discussion covered the way that textbooks are considered within the REF framework. Finally there was a discussion about the importance of the presence of both EUP and CUP at the annual Conference.

(c) ASIB:
Nothing to report from the sub-committee. The executive discussed the need to review the relationship of ASIB to the other BAAS web and mailing list developments. Its original function as a newsletter has now been partly eclipsed. It continues to hold a function as a hardcopy ‘brochure’ or aid for explaining BAAS and its activities, although the website and something simpler in printed form (e.g. a BAAS postcard) could serve the same. Content such as interviews with BAAS fellows, reports on awards and new member details could be delivered via the website in future. The repository aspect of recording BAAS work in hardcopy was noted. It was agreed to revisit this issue and that Bridget Bennett would check when Kal Ashraf’s tenure as ASIB Editor ends.
ACTION: BB

(d) Journal of American Studies

i. Bridget reported that the new Partnership Agreement has been completed. The Executive had ratified the revised contract. Work will now have to start on the detail of how it can be implemented and consideration be given to its implications for the future working agreement between BAAS and CUP.

ii. Appointment of JAS editors
Bevan Sewell and Celeste-Marie Bernier have been appointed as the joint Editors of the journal. Nick Witham was elected to the position of Associate (Media) Editor. The subcommittee had also voted on the appointment of a new Associate Editor. Sinéad Moynihan had the most votes and it was decided to ask the Executive Committee to ratify her as the new Associate Editor. The executive formally approved all the new appointments. Congratulations were noted.

iii. Appointment of a new JAS board member
Three candidates were considered for this position. All accepted their nominations and submitted a mission statement and CV in advance. Hugh Wilford had the most votes and it was decided to recommend that he replace Richard Crockatt on the Board. Alex Goodall came a near second and the sub-committee recommended to the Executive Committee that he should be appointed to the position that will be left vacant (in December 2014) when Brian Ward’s post expires.

Bridget noted that there should be a later discussion about whether or not to expand the Board and that Martine Walsh had already been consulted and had recommended expansion. It was agreed the discussion should be continued and Bridget reminded the sub-committee that for reasons of economy, Skype would be used to include overseas members who were unable to fund their own travel.

iv. JAS Report
A pre-circulated report was discussed by the sub-committee. The process of making a transition from one editorial team to another is under way. The provisional running order for the November 2014 issue has been agreed. Two special issues – ‘Acts of Emancipation’ (February 2015) and ‘Fictions of Speculation’ (November 2015) are in preparation. The first has been pushed back for editorial reasons.

(e) Standing Orders proposal
Bridget Bennett suggested that in future the standing orders for the sub-committee were changed to allow for the new arrangements between JAS and BAAS (as per the new agreement). This was accepted in principle. She will bring a full proposal to the next meeting. ACTION: BB

10. Conference Subcommittee (SM reporting)

(a) Birmingham 2014:
Sara Wood has reported a surplus from the Birmingham conference; details will follow in the next Treasurer’s report.

The state of progress with the application to the U.S. Embassy for funds to subsidise postgraduate attendance at the Birmingham conference needs to be checked. ACTION: SM/TS

(b) Northumbria 2015:
Everything is in hand for the 2015 conference at Northumbria. Joe Street the following matter to the committee’s attention: Joe proposed that, in order to attract publishers to Northumbria, they be charged only the conference attendance fee (i.e. there would be no additional charge for setting up a stand, as has been the case in previous years).

The Executive supported the suggestion.

An electronic version of the poster should be added to the website. ACTION: JS, KM

(c) Belfast 2016:
The conference will run 7-9 April. The receptions and venues are in place: on Thursday, Belfast City Hall will host a reception; on Friday, CCCU will host a reception at Queen’s University; on Saturday, the final plenary and banquet will take place at Titanic Belfast.

(d) CCCU 2017 and EAAS/BAAS 2018: Nothing to report.

11. Awards Subcommittee (JG reporting)

(a) The handover from Ian Bell to Jo Gill has taken place.

(b) There will be two GTA awards, at New Hampshire and Wyoming, next year. Doug Haynes is looking into a replacement for the Virginia arrangement, which has ceased. The importance of promoting and encouraging students to apply for these awards, as well as to the BAAS Postgraduate Essay prize, was stressed; the number of applications is not always as high as might be expected.

(c) As agreed at the last meeting, Honorary Fellowships will no longer be awarded annually, but rather only in years when the Executive identifies a particularly strong candidate.

(d) It was proposed that the BAAS/UCL Fellowship details be taken down from the website. This scheme could be revisited in the future. Jonathan Bell will need to be updated on this. ACTION: KM, JG

(e) Louise Cunningham will be in touch with Executive members about sitting on one of the award committees in January. It was noted that Jo Gill will be away in the States in the Spring and that Uta Balbier will be stepping in to cover on Awards.

(f) We should encourage those whom we are funding for research visits to the US to consider submitting articles to JAS.

12. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee

No report

13. EAAS

No report

14. AOB

(a) Sue Currell outlined the new Journal of American Studies agreement between CUP and BAAS:
• She gave a brief history of the relationship and described the process of reaching the new arrangements. Thanks were offered to Bridget Bennett especially for all her work on this.

• Sue tabled our Academic Partnership Agreement with CUP, highlighting that it brings new obligations and responsibilities but also significant benefits. The Agreement does not affect the decision-making authority of the Editors.

(b) Sue tabled the BAAS Constitution and Standing Orders. She drew the Executive’s attention to these documents as there will need to be some constitutional amendments arising out of the CUP Agreement. The amendments will need to come to the Executive in November for consideration prior to the AGM. ACTION: SC, JT

(c) Sue welcomed Celeste-Marie Bernier and Bevan Sewell, present by special invitation at the Executive and Publications Subcommittee meetings. In the future it might also be a good idea to have the Associate Editor as a member, providing cover where needed.

(d) Some other issues arising from the Agreement were noted and will need taking forward:
• The redesign of the JAS cover and branding.
• Membership subscription change from £20 to £25.
• Arrange a joint editorial meeting for September.
• Revised contracts for editors required.
• Invite Martine Walsh to future Publications Subcommittee meetings.

15. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Association for American Studies will be held on 15 November 2014 at the University of Sussex, Brighton. Time tbc.

Outgoing Secretary: Dr. Jo Gill / Email: j.r.gill@ex.ac.uk or jo.gill@baas.ac.uk / Office Phone: (01392) 264256 / 07963 940742

Incoming Secretary: Dr. Jenny Terry / Email: j.a.terry@durham.ac.uk / Office Phone: (0191) 3342570 / 07963 640482

British Association for American Studies

Minutes 278th

Minutes of the 278th Meeting of the Executive Committee, held at the University of Birmingham, Thursday 10 April 2014 at 12.30pm.

1. Present: Sue Currell (Chair), Bridget Bennett (Vice Chair), Jo Gill (Secretary), Zalfa Feghali, Jonathan Munby, Jon Ward, Doug Haynes, Sinéad Moynihan, Ian Bell, Michael Collins, Gareth Hughes, Rachael McLennan, Martin Halliwell, Joe Street.

Apologies: Nigel Bowles, Sara Wood, Sylvia Ellis (Treasurer).

In attendance: Jo Gill

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

These were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3. Matters Arising

None

(a) Action List Review

The Secretary asked the Exec to comment on the status of their Action List duties. All Action List duties will be addressed under the relevant section below.

4. Chair’s Business (SC reporting)

i. Announcements

a. Promotions, Prizes and Grants: Achievements of note to BAAS members
• Professor Martin Halliwell has become the first holder of the newly-established ‘John Maynard Keynes Fellowship in US Studies’ at University College London’s Institute of the Americas. Professor Halliwell, of the University of Leicester’s School of English and the Centre for American Studies, will undertake a new research project entitled Voices of Health and Illness: Medicine, Psychiatry, and American Culture,1970–2000 during his tenure as John Maynard Keynes Fellow. He will carry out the research while working in his newly-appointed role as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Leicester.
• In February Dr. Henry Knight, of Northumbria University won the Florida Book Award in the category of ‘Nonfiction’ for his book Tropic of Hopes: California, Florida and the Selling of American Paradise, 1869-1929.
• Professor Celeste-Marie Bernier has been awarded a Visiting Fellowship at the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery at Yale University (one month of March 2014)
• And Professor Celeste-Marie Bernier’s book Characters of Blood: Black Heroism in the Transatlantic Imagination has just been announced as a joint winner of the EAAS ASN Book Prize.
• Professor Robert Cook, University of Sussex: a one-year BA/Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowship for his project: Contested Realm: Civil War Memory in the United States Since 1865
• Dr. Michael Jonik, University of Sussex, has also been awarded a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship for his project “Anarchists, Scientists, Lovers, and Con-men: Risk in the 19th-Century Novel”.
• Dr Jonathan Bell, historian of post-World War II US political liberalism, author of The Liberal State on Trial: The Cold War and American Politics in the Truman Years (Columbia University Press, 2004) and California Crucible: The Forging of American Liberalism (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012), currently of Reading University, has just been appointed the next director of the UCL Institute of the Americas in succession to Professor Maxine Moline. He takes up post on Sept 1 and will be appointed as both Director of UCL-IA and Professor.

• Dr. Paul Williams has been awarded an AHRC grant of £144k for his project “Reframing the Graphic Novel: Long form adult comic narratives in North America and the UK – 1973-82”.

• Dr Simon Middleton (Sheffield) has been awarded a British Academy research fellowship for his project “The Price of the People: Money and Power”

b. Institutions

• See UCL-IA above.
• Building on from Raphael Hoermann’s appointment as a result of a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship for Career Development Grant, UCLAN has committed to funding an Institute for Black Atlantic Research (IBAR) run from the school of Language, Literature and International Studies with significant input from Art and Design. The co-directors will be Alan Rice and acclaimed Black British artist Professor Lubaina Himid. They are launching the new institute with a reading from novelist, essayist and screenwriter Caryl Phillips joined by partners such as the International Slavery Museum, Preston Black History Group, Manchester Galleries, Lancashire Museums and Tate. They will showcase work from the centre at the event including a slide show from Tate Britain curator and IBAR PhD candidate Zoe Whitley’s New York exhibit on Afro-Futurism.

ii. Correspondence and Meetings

a. Correspondence

• Open Access progress: from Peter Mandler: “HEFCE will be releasing its Open Access policy for the REF, on Monday. It represents in my view a significant improvement, not only on RCUK’s policy, but also on the draft consultation. I think we owe ourselves a collective pat on the back for a successful lobbying effort.”

• Regular email correspondence, phone calls etc regarding BAAS administration, awards and issues in the run-up to the conference.

• Ongoing and regular consultation and correspondence with Cambridge University Press and our consultants Bertoli-Mitchell over negotiations regarding the new partnership agreement.

b. Meetings and activities

• QAA English Benchmark review committee. Sue Currell has taken part in this review panel chaired by Professor Martin Halliwell.

iii.AOB

• REF 2020 : HEFCE announced April 2014 that there will be Independent review of the role of metrics in research assessment. David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, has asked HEFCE to review the role of metrics in research assessment and management. James Wilsdon, Professor of Science and Democracy at the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, will chair the review, supported by an independent steering group drawn from higher education institutions, research funders and national academies. A formal invitation to submit evidence will be issued shortly. To read this item in full visit: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2014/news86882.html

5. Secretary’s Business (JG reporting)

a. JG has continued to liaise with Louise Cunningham (Awards Administrator) and Ian Bell (Awards Sub-Com Chair) with regard to the Awards process and attendance at the Awards banquet. She was on the interview panel for the GTA scheme.
b. She has dealt with routine correspondence and has liaised with the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Web Officer on day-to-day issues.
c. She has liaised with the Fulbright Commission / Sutton Trust with regard to a Study Abroad event in April 2014 at which she will speak on behalf of BAAS.
d. She has written to all members to notify them of the change of format for ASIB (print to online).

6. Treasurer’s Business (SE sent a written report)

a. Bank Accounts (as at 9/4/14)

General Deposit: £27,554.86

Current: £2051.88

Total = £29,606.44

Dollar Account: $3371.33

April 2013

General Deposit: £18963.82

Current: £2622.13

Total = £21585.95

Dollar Account: $3371.33

A Gift Aid rebate of £1800 has been received. There was also a small surplus (£259) received from the Schools’ History conference (Durham). The BAAS Conference at Exeter (2013) made a welcome surplus which has helped replenish the BAAS coffers. Thanks to the Exeter conference organisers for this.

b. Membership Figures (RMcL reporting):

April 2014 membership: 527 fully paid up (228 PG) / 538 including not fully paid up (194 PG)

April 2013 Membership: 428 fully paid up (163 PG)

The Exec noted that this is a significant increase on the past two years (up c. 200 members from 2012). This may partly be a consequence of the greater targeting of our marketing (e.g. via Membership Leaflets sent to conferences that we have financially supported via Development, or promoted via our Website), and partly a result of clarifying our eligibility criteria for Awards.

MH noted that BAAS’s annual subscription to EAAS is calculated by membership numbers and so our increased membership may have the unintended consequence of increasing our costs!

7. Development Subcommittee (ZF reporting)

a. Financial Support for Conferences and other Events:

ZF began by raising questions about how / when / in what form to reinstate the BAAS Conference Support process (i.e. the facility by which conference and event organisers can apply to BAAS for financial support). The Development Sub-Com had discussed the matter of priorities and had favoured prioritising post-graduate participation and travel. The Sub-Com also stressed the importance of establishing clear guidelines for advance applications and agreed not to support retrospective applications. As ZF noted, without a clear budget for this area of BAAS’s work, it is difficult to agree a sustainable course of action. While budgetary matters remain pending, it was proposed and agreed to defer any further discussion to the next BAAS meeting (June 2014).

ACTION: ZF and Development
b. Administrative Support:

The Exec Meeting noted the pressures on the Officers, Sub-Com Chairs and on other Exec Members at particular times. The Meeting would like, finances permitting, to delegate some routine administrative matters (e.g. membership, some awards matters, some schools matters etc) to a paid administrative assistant. SC will pursue and will report back at the next (June) meeting.
ACTION: SC

c. Schools:

GH reported on this year’s very successful schools’ events (i) the A-Level History conference held at Durham School in Feb. This attracted 108 pupils from some 7 or 8 schools, and (ii) the A-Level Govt & Politics Conference held at Wakefield School in March. This attracted some 90 students. In both cases, BAAS thanks the organisers and members of BAAS’s community who contributed talks and the US Embassy who provided funding for speakers.

Unfortunately, the planned conference in the South (Marlborough College) did not take place due to low recruitment; GH noted that this may be a result of competition from other events in the region.

GH also spoke at a Schools’ History conference at the University of Birmingham.

SC thanked GH for his contribution during his term of office. SC reported that she is pursuing possible replacements for GH from a small team of teachers covering History, Govt & Politics, and Literature; the Exec hopes to confirm ongoing arrangements by June. SC also noted that our improved Web presence may provide opportunities to share resources with schools.

ACTION: SC
8. PG Business (JW reporting)

a. PG Conference:

JW reported that the next BAAS PG Conference will take place at the University of Sussex on 15 November 2014. The theme is Protest, Dissent, Resistance. The conference is in its planning stages and JW will be meeting with the organisers and his successor as PG rep. in order to ensure a smooth handover.

ACTION: JW / RA
b. USSO:

The new US Studies Online (USSO) Editors (Michelle Green and Ben Offiler) have been studying the responses to a survey circulated to delegates at the last BAAS PG Conference and will be making changes to USSO as appropriate.

c. PG Awards:

JG raised an issue that had been discussed in the Awards Sub-Com – the relatively low number of applications this year for the BAAS PG Essay Prize. JG urged Exec members to spread the word and to encourage PGs to submit essays for this prestigious award. JW noted that the USSO editors have started to compile an email list of PGs in American Studies and History; this will prove a useful resource in promoting this and other prizes (e.g. Ambassador’s PG prize) in future.
ACTION: JG and Awards
d. Early Career (ZF reporting)

ZF noted that there are plans to offer career development workshops at the next BAAS PG conference for PGs and Early Career Academics. She asked for volunteers from the Exec to participate in these.

ACTION: ZF and all.
9. Publications Sub-Com (BB reporting)

a. BRRAM:

BB reported on Ken Morgan’s behalf. The work of BRRAM in recording materials, specifically those relating to plantations, continues well. BB urged Exec members to peruse and refer colleagues / students to this resource.

b. EUP Paperback Series:

Now under the editorship of Martin Halliwell (Leicester) and Emily West (Reading), the Paperback Series is proceeding well with 2 new titles under contract, 2 with positive reports from readers, and 2 out for review.

c. ASIB:

Continuing under the editorship of Kal Ashraf, ASIB is now produced in on-line format, starting with the Spring 2014 issue. This saves us money in printing and postage costs and ensures that the content is widely accessible. BB thanked Kal for his hard work and success in managing this transition. In future, the editor hopes to make ASIB available via a link on the Website, rather than as a PDF attachment.
ACTION: BB/KA/KMcG
e. USSO:

With its revised remit as a PG / Early Career space, USSO now comes under the Development Sub-Com. See above.

f. Journal of American Studies (JAS):

BB recorded the appointment of two new members of the editorial board: Gary Gerstle and George Lewis, with one further appointment to be finalised. Richard Crockatt is retiring from the board and so it will be necessary to start the process of finding his replacement.

ACTION: BB and Publications

The Publications Sub-Com had received a positive report on the progress of JAS from the editor, Scott Lucas. Two special issues are in the pipeline: one on emancipation (Spring 2015) and one on speculation (Fall 2015). BB offered BAAS’s thanks to Scott for his excellent work on the Journal. She further reminded Exec members that as we approach the end of Scott’s term of office (Jan 2015), we are in the process of finding a new editor.

10. Conferences Sub-Com (SM reporting)

a. Northumbria 2015:

JS (Conference Organiser) circulated copies of the Northumbria poster. Copies are also available in the conference packs. Accommodation at Northumbria will be at hotels in the city near to the conference venue. The banquet venue has been booked, as have the keynotes, Gary Younge, Sarah Churchwell, and Dana Nelson. JS has invited several editors from US Academic Publishers to offer a workshop / masterclass. There may also be a disco . . .

b. Belfast 2016:

SM reported that plans are progressing. This will be a 3-day conference, starting on the Thursday and closing with the Awards Banquet on the Saturday evening. Philip McGowan, the Conference Organiser, will be invited to attend the BAAS Conferences Sub-Com from June 2014.

ACTION: SM
c. Canterbury Christ Church College 2017:

The Sub-Com had discussed a bid for the 2017 conference from Canterbury Christ Church College (Nick Witham and Zalfa Feghali). The bid was recommended to the Exec, and approved. This will be a three-day (two night) conference.

d. London (joint conference with EAAS) 2018:

SM has discussed matters arising at the last BAAS Exec with Clare Birchall and Uta Balbier. MH (BAAS’s representative to EAAS) noted that EAAS is in the process of moving from its traditional use of themes for each of its conferences and from its usual workshop format. Both of these changes will aid the synthesis of the two conferences in 2018.

e. SC noted that Sara Wood (Birmingham Conference Organiser) has been drafting some useful handover notes / FAQs for future organisers; SW will hand these over to SM for dissemination.

ACTION: SW/SM
.
11. Awards Sub-Com (IB reporting)

a. Awards:

IB noted that entries for most Awards have risen since last year – in some cases quite substantially. However, there were slight dips for the BAAS Book Prize, and for the BAAS PG Essay Prize. The former tends to rise and fall over time, and according to publishing / REF calendars, etc, and thus isn’t too much cause for concern. However, the BAAS PG Essay Prize ought to attract a much larger field – esp. considering that the PG membership of BAAS now stands at c. 200. IB urged members of the Exec to disseminate details of this and other prizes to colleagues, and to ensure that they nominate their own promising students. JG noted that the unwieldiness of the current membership spreadsheet makes it difficult to target particular members / categories; if finances permit, an overhaul of the membership database was recommended as this will allow us to promote particular events and opportunities more effectively.

b. GTAs:

IB announced, with regret, that this year’s MA GTA Studentship at Virginia is to be the last. This is because of change of personnel and financial constraints at the host institution. IB thanked DH for his tireless work in ensuring that the scheme could continue at least for this final year. The Exec discussed the value (to BAAS, to the host institution and to individual students) of the GTA schemes but noted that this needed to be balanced against the resources required to administer them. The Exec is minded to investigate alternative partners to replace Virginia (and to join a list that comprises New Hampshire, Wyoming and Mississippi). Oregon (Mark Whalan), Louisiana State (Michael Bibler), Arkansaw (John Kirk), NYU (Peter Nicholls) and Long Beach (Hugh Wilford) were mooted as possibilities; MH has discussed the former with MW on a recent visit to Oregon. The Exec agreed that those with contacts at the above might make informal enquiries with a view to further discussion at the next Exec meeting (June).

SC suggested that Kal Ashraf might approach previous GTA winners with a view to posting information about their experience and subsequent careers to the web. This might also be shared with USSO.

ACTION: MH, DH, KA, JG and all
c. Honorary Fellowships:

The Honorary Fellowships have been offered annually for 6 years now and have, in each case, been awarded to outstanding members of the American Studies community (this year’s Fellowship, awarded to Iwan Morgan, continues this trend). The Exec discussed the pros and cons of continuing to offer this Fellowship on a year-in, year-out basis vs. awarding it only periodically (e.g. once every 3 or 5 years). On balance, the Exec favours a slight change to the procedure whereby the Honorary Fellowship will be offered only in years when the Exec at its November / December meeting (subsequent to consideration and recommendation by the Awards sub-com) has identified a particularly strong candidate. This allows us to offer the Fellowship each year if appropriate but not to offer it in years when sufficiently distinguished candidates are not apparent. The invitation to members of BAAS to annually nominate candidates will be removed from the website.

ACTION: JG
d. UCL / BAAS Fellowship:

This scheme is in the second year of operation; the Fellowships are non-stipendiary. However, there are hidden costs to the host institution who have kindly met these for this year. Subject to finances, BAAS would like to reciprocate in future years but the arrangements do need further discussion. SC will liaise with UCL and will report back in June. Pending the outcome of these discussions, the UCL /BAAS Fellowships will not be advertised for 2015-16.

ACTION: SC/JG

12. BLARS (MC reporting)

a. BLARS at the BAAS Conference:

BLARS has invited three speakers for the opening session of the BAAS conference 2014: Tom Cutterham, Caroline Edwards and Chris Gilson. The theme is social media (blogging and various apps) in research. The theme for the BLARS session at the 2015 conference will be the preservation of resources in the context of conflict.

b. BLARS membership:

Christine Anderson (Senate House) has joined BLARS and has kindly offered Senate House as a venue for future meetings. Jayne Kelly (BLARS secretary) is moving to a new post at Cambridge University and thus is standing down, having fulfilled the BLARS role for 10 years. The Exec thanked her for her hard work and wished her well in her new post. Jane Rawson (Bodleian) will take over as BLARS secretary. MC will continue in his role as BLARS Chair. The Exec approved this course of action.

13. EAAS (MH reporting)

See 10d for a report on Conference Arrangements. MH further reported on the success of the recent EAAS Conference in The Hague. The next EAAS conference (2016) will be held in Bucharest.

14. AOB

15. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Association for American Studies will be held in London on 9 July 2014 at the Institute of the Americas, UCL. Sub-Coms will commence at 11.30.

Outgoing Secretary: Dr. Jo Gill / Email: j.r.gill@ex.ac.uk or jo.gill@baas.ac.uk / Office Phone: (01392) 264256

Incoming Secretary: Dr. Jenny Terry / Email: j.a.terry@durham.ac.uk / Phone: 01913 342570

The 2021 award is now open.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation and the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello, USA

The British Association for American Studies (BAAS), in conjunction with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF) and the International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS), is delighted to announce this award for teachers who cover the American Revolution, the Constitution and related materials in their A Level or Advanced Higher teaching of history and politics.

To be eligible to apply for these awards, applicants must have at least three years teaching experience, and teach A Level or Advanced Higher materials relevant to the Fellowships.  It is expected that these awards will be of particular interest to teachers interested in the  Edexcel History Paper ‘From Colonies to Nation 1763-87’, as well as to those teaching other 18^th century history and American politics topics at A Level, such as the American Revolution, slavery, and the development of American constitutional government.

Barringer Fellowship

One Barringer Fellowship will be awarded to a British teacher.  This award will enable a teacher to travel to Monticello, and work with academic staff at ICJS (including those involved in the Archaeology Department, and their extensive programme on slavery in Virginia).  The Fellowship will allow the successful applicant to spend time working on the development of classroom materials, lesson plans, and related materials.  The successful applicant will be chosen by BAAS and then confirmed by the ICJS.  Their application must demonstrate that the Fellowship will relate to and directly benefit their A Level or Advanced Higher Teaching.  The Barringer Fellowship will include: local accommodation, a per diem for food, and some travel costs.  In addition, BAAS will provide a travel award of up to £600 to pay for international travel. For more information see: www.monticello.org/barringer

The successful applicant will be required to share their experiences and relevant teaching materials on the BAAS website for school teachers. The successful applicant will also be contacted by Monticello staff before the appointment to provide additional information and to select their preference for the MTI (either June 27-July 2, July 11-16, or July 25-30).

BAAS is committed to promoting best practice in matters of equality and diversity, and will be attentive to issues of equality and diversity when judging applications.

British Association for American Studies: application process for Barringer Fellowship

The closing date for applications for the 2020 award is 19 February 2021.

Please send your application (details below) by e-mail, together with a letter from your Head Teacher confirming that if successful, you will be allowed to take up the award, to awards@baas.ac.uk. Please indicate the name of the award in the subject line.

Your letter of application should include the following information:

1. Name:

2. School:

3. One-page CV:

4. An indication of which A/AS level or Advanced Higher (or equivalent) modules, options, or subjects are you currently teaching and / or will you be teaching in the near future?

5. A one-page statement of your personal and professional reasons for applying for this award, and the ways that you expect to be able to use your award in your teaching.

**Adaptation to the programme related to the covid19 crisis: the Thomas Jefferson Center will be running a smaller cohort in 2021 in order to effectively social distance; applicants should know that measures will be implemented to guarantee everyone’s safety**

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Winners of the Barringer Fellowship

2018:

Claire Hollis, Reigate Grammar School

2017:

William O’Brien-Blake, Forest School, London

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Institute of the Americas/BAAS Visiting Fellow 2014-15

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Exceptionally the panel will accept Fellowship applications for the full academic year.The Fellow will be expected to give one presentation on the project he/she is working at the Institute of the Americas during the tenure of the fellowship and to submit a research paper for the April 2014 BAAS Conference at the University of Birmingham. In the event of a longer fellowship being awarded, the Fellow will also be expected to organize a one-day symposium pertaining to his/her project.

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Applications for the UCL-IA/BAAS Fellow in US Studies should be sent via email to awards@baas.ac.uk by the deadline of Friday 14th February 2014The judging panel for this fellowship will consist of members of UCL-IA and the BAAS Executive. We hope to make an announcement at the BAAS Annual General Meeting at the University of Birmingham in April 2014.

Applications for the Visiting Fellowship have now closed. Please continue to check the website for information about future research fellowships.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][dt_gap height=”10″][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We would particularly welcome Fellowship proposals from scholars whose interests match those of current UCL-IA faculty: the US presidency, political history, economic issues, foreign policy, film, and transnational issues. UCL-IA will provide the Fellow with office space at its Gordon Square location in the heart of Bloomsbury and a Library card for the use of University of London libraries.Applications are invited from candidates who possess a PhD from a UK institution, the focus of which is any aspect of American Studies. Proposals from current PhD students are only permitted if the thesis has been submitted by 31 December 2013 and a viva date has been set.Application ProcedureApplicants should submit a 1-page summary cv and a 500-word supporting statement indicating: (i) the rationale for applying; (ii) the nature of the research project; (iii) a timetable of activity; and (iv) the benefits of the Fellowship to UCL-IA and BAAS.  Applicants should state whether this is a Fellowship application for Semester 1, 2014-15 (September 2014 – January 2015) or Semester 2, 2014-15 (February – June 2015).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][dt_gap height=”10″]

Minutes of the 276th Meeting of the Executive Committee, held at the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford, 13 September 2013 at 1.30pm.

1. Present:                   Sue Currell (Chair), Bridget Bennett (Vice Chair), Jo Gill (Secretary), Zalfa Feghali, Jonathan Munby, Joe Street, Doug Haynes, Sinéad Moynihan, Gareth  Hughes, Michael Collins.

Apologies:                   Sylvia Ellis, Ian Bell, Jon Ward, Rachel McLennan, Nigel Bowles, Martin Halliwell.

In attendance:  Jo Gill

2.  Minutes of the Previous Meeting

These were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3.  Matters Arising

None

(a) Action List Review

The Secretary asked the Exec to comment on the status of their Action List duties. All Action List duties will be addressed under the relevant section below.

4.  Chair’s Business (SC reporting)

a. Announcements

i. Promotions, Prizes and Grants: Achievements of note to BAAS members

Professor Bridget Bennett of Leeds (and Vice-Chair of BAAS) has been awarded c£32 k for an AHRC network titles “Home, Crisis and the Imagination”.  She is PI and her colleague Hamilton Carroll is CI.
June 2013 Announcement: Paul Quigley, lecturer in American History at Edinburgh, was recently named the first James I. Robertson, Jr. Professor in Civil War Studies and joins the Department of History at Virginia Tech. (The James I. Robertson Jr. Professorship was created in 2005.) His first book, published in 2011, won three major awards, including the British Association for American Studies Book Prize.
With effect from 1 December 2013 Professor Simon Newman (Glasgow/former Chair of BAAS) has been appointed by the Foreign Secretary as a Commissioner on the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (with responsibility for the Marshall Scholars programme). Commissioners serve for a term of three years, with the possibility of re-appointment for a second term. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission is responsible for overseeing the British Marshall Scholarships programme, which was established in 1953 by an Act of Parliament. The scholarship programme enables talented, young American postgraduate students to study at a UK institution and to develop an understanding and appreciation of the UK. Up to forty new scholars are selected each year. The scholars are identified as potential future leaders in the United States and as alumni they make an important contribution to the UK-US bilateral relationship. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office gives the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission an annual grant-in-aid, which is £2 million in 2013-14.”
Congratulations to Dr. Zalfa Fegali (BAAS exec early career rep), awarded her PhD this summer and heading straight into a 2 year post in American literature at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Mike Collins has become Deputy Director of American Studies at Kent. (From September Karen Jones will be Acting Director until John Wills returns from sabbatical in the Summer term when he will take over the Directorship from David Stirrup.)
The embassy has appointed a new Ambassador — Matthew Barzun – a businessman, democratic fundraiser for Obama, and notably a history and literature graduate of Harvard, (related/grandson of Jacques Barzun – famous American historian).
Congrats to Gareth Hughes (schools rep) on his book contract.
 

ii. Institutions

Good news regarding the new Sussex Centre for American Studies (SCAS). The centre is up and running and the new Director is Daniel Kane.
AS admissions this year: healthy at Leicester and Sussex. More information needed from other institutions to get a sense of the direction this year.
SC will be taking part in the Learned Societies evaluation project which is about to get underway run by the Academy of Social Sciences. SC will be interviewed and BAAS entered as a case study in this project. This project gives Learned Societies the opportunity to demonstrate the economic and social value of their activities and will generate an evidence base which can be carried forward in case-making activity.

·       Announcement by HEFCE re funding SA: From 2014-15 onward, a new regulated fee limit for study abroad students will be set at 15 per cent of the fees chargeable to most other full-time undergraduates: this is equivalent to a fee of up to £1,350 (for students attending institutions where the higher tuition fee amount is permitted) or up to £900 (for those attending institutions where only the basic tuition fee amount is permitted). Tuition fee loans will be available to eligible students to cover these costs.

Correspondence
SC sent a letter to the Provost of UCL, Professor Malcolm Grant, commending the revival of the Commonwealth Fund Professor of American History at the Institute of the Americas (mentioned in last report – awarded to Professor Iwan Morgan). Letter response 14th August saying that he’s been very pleased to establish UCL’s Institute of the Americas under the leadership of Maxine Molyneux and “we will continue to do all that we can to encourage the community of scholars of American history in the UK.”
SC wrote in protest of the disestablishment of IAS to head of HEFCE Sir Alan Langlands and incoming head Madeleine Atkins on 30/07/13. The response from Sir Alan Langlands dated 13 August, noted that the funding to SAS comes in the form of a block grant to University of London and that it is free to use according to its own priorities and while BAAS’s concerns for the demise of NAS were appreciated, “it is not for HEFCE to intervene in the internal management of the University of London.”
c.                        Meetings

·       June 12th – Simon Middleton (Sheffield) re: schools project.

·       June 13th – Meeting with Neil Jones Head of English of BAHSVIC, Brighton. (re: Schools Development Report 2013 circulated).

·       Thursday June 20, 2012: Attended the Embassy for “An Evening with Wajahat Ali” American writer and playwright Wajahat Ali discussed his play “The Domestic Crusaders” exploring the theme of Muslim Americans in the arts. And a performance. Play to be performed for the 1st time in the UK for 3 weeks 25th Sept to 11th Oct in London at the Tara Theatre.

·       June 22nd: New Directions in American Studies. University of Kent. Mike Collins. See programme at http://www.kent.ac.uk/amst/new%20directions.pdf

·       June 24th Attended the Embassy’s Sutton Trust Reception.

·       July 1st and 2nd attended the 2-day conference Open Access Monographs in the Humanities and Social Sciences Conference at the British Library. Report circulated.

July 2nd: PBS film screening of “Viva Las Vegas: THE IMPROBABLE STORY OF DOC POMUS” @ American Embassy. Presentation from Ian Scott (Manchester/former BAAS Chair of Awards) who is currently working with the filmmaker on a documentary.
·       July 3: Attended the independence day celebrations at the ambassador’s mansion in Regent’s Park.

July 5th, Golden Hinde Trust, attended the event entitled “Francis Drake in America” on board Golden Hinde II.
·       July 25th – visit to BAAS archive. Also meeting with Martin Halliwell. Meeting with Sara Wood and John Fagg to talk about the conference. Ad hoc meeting also with Steve Hewitt, Chair of BACS who is also based at Birmingham.

AOB
Open Access: There’s a newly published BIS Report at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/business-innovation-and-skills/news/on-publ-open-access/ which considers the OA consultation that many of us participated in and thereby revises government’s OA policy in the Finch report –advising away from ‘solid’ Gold and a move further towards green OA. It’s pleasing that the reports SC and MH wrote/co-wrote for BAAS and CCUE/English Association were consulted as evidence.  Madeleine Burrows of the Academy of Social Sciences, however, draws attention to the fact that, despite frequent mentions in the evidence supplied to the Committee, the situation of learned societies themselves is not mentioned in the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations. Societies’ needs and the role they play in the research system are left aside.
 

5.  Secretary’s Business (JG reporting)

JG has arranged for the design and printing of the 2014 BAAS and Eccles Centre Awards posters. See Awards (below) for more details.
On BAAS’s behalf, she attended and spoke on study abroad opportunities at a Fulbright / Sutton Trust orientation event for 6th form students selected to participate in summer schools at prestigious US universities.
She has dealt with routine correspondence and has liaised with the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Web Officer on day-to-day issues.
On 23 Sept she will speak on Sylvia Plath at an event organised by the charity Poets in the City, and supported by the US Embassy.
6.  Treasurer’s Business (SE sent a written report)

Accounts:
Bank Accounts (as at 11/9/13)

General Deposit (Saver): £31,669.04

Current:  £947.04

Total =   £30688.11

Dollar Account:   $3371.33

Sept 2012:

General Deposit (Saver): £19,883.99

Current:  £1,068.63

Total = £20,952.62

Membership:
As at 5 September 2013: 441 fully paid up, 170 of which are PG.

As at September 2012: 255 fully paid up (74 postgraduates)

c.                    Narrative Report:

i.     A surplus of just over £11,000 was received from the University of Exeter in July and the final conference accounts have just been received.

ii.     This amount is extremely useful in our efforts to balance the books.  However, we are still effectively running with no reserves (as this surplus merely honours pre-existing commitments).  Remember we should be have 18 months unrestricted operating costs (approx £51,000 on 2012 figures) so it is still important to minimise such costs.

iii.     Gift Aid claim pending for £1863.88 (need to change authorized personnel).  SE attempted to do this but HMRC will only recognise the previous Treasurer.  Theresa Saxon is chasing this.

iv.     CUP – we are now up-to-date on payments (the overpaid bill has been repaid).

v.     Given the continuing tightness of the budget, SE recommends the continuing freeze on Development spending. SE intends to do the accounts early January, so we can review this if our financial situation looks stronger.

vi.     The 2012 accounts have been uploaded on the Charities Commission website.

vii.     The report on last year’s Embassy funds has been submitted and new applications are about to be made.

viii.     There have been a small number of unpaid subscriptions on Paypal (recurring payments but not paid).

ix.     The Donation button:  one £50 donation.

x.    Eccles reports for 2012/13 should be in by the end of September and Louise

Cunningham (Keele) will be chasing these so that SE can report back to Phil Davies (Eccles Centre) asap.

d. AOB:

SC reminded members of the Easy Fundraising website which enables members to help raise money for BAAS by registering for a small percentage from any on-line purchases to be made payable to our funds. See: www.easyfundraising.org.uk

7.     Development Subcommittee (SC reporting)

a.     Website: See Publications.

b.     Schools: GH reported on progress with the 2013-14 schools events. The following are now confirmed:

11   Feb 2014 – GCSE / A-level History conference (Durham)

7      March 2014 – Politics conference (North)

18   March 2014 – Politics conference (South)

GH has a range of speakers lined up and expects c. 120 students at each event.

JG to liaise with GH with a view to seeing whether BAAS exec members’ WP / Outreach offices can help with promoting the event to local schools.

c.     JG and SC have both had informal discussions with the Sutton and Fulbright Trusts with a view to collaborating on future events.

8.     Postgraduate Business (JW submitted a written report)

Plans are shaping up well for the 2013 BAAS PG Conference to be held at Nottingham University on 7 and 8 December (a slight change from the 6 – 7 dates previously announced because of problems with room bookings). The CFP has been circulated. Speakers (incl. Bridget Bennett as keynote) have been confirmed.

9.     Publications Subcommittee (BB reporting)

a.     BRRAM

BB reported that Kenneth Morgan (representing BRRAM) had been able to attend the morning’s subcom and that this had been most useful. BRRAM (British Records Relating to America on Microfilm) microfilms and digitises a range of resources. 5% of sales are paid over to BAAS. The Exec enquired about BRRAM’s selection and editorial policy and processes. BB to investigate.

b.     Edinburgh University Press (EUP)

Emily West attended the morning’s sub-com and presented a well-received paper highlighting her and her co-editor (Martin Halliwell’s) plans for the future of the EUP paperback series.

c.     Open Access:

SC circulated a report of a meeting that she had recently attended about Open Access. She noted that discussion seems to have moved away from the “Gold” route and towards a hybrid or Green route. Monographs look likely to be excluded from OA requirements until beyond the next REF (2020). She noted that feedback from BAAS had been taken into consideration in the latest BIS report. She also observed that there may be some positive benefits to the change in journal publishing e.g. via crowd sourcing and similar and that there may be a place for BAAS e.g. in terms of providing grants / financial support for scholars seeking to publish in OA journals.

d.     American Studies in Britain (ASIB)

MC reported on discussions with Kal Ashraf (current editor) with regards to changing the format of ASIB from print to online. MC circulated a very useful report from KA about possible ways forward – specifically a move to a different software / typesetting system called “Squarespace” – this would, in effect, be a parallel website to our own. The Exec expressed some concern about the impact of such a system on visits to and the identity of our own website, which has only recently been moved to WordPress. The Exec agreed that we will achieve financial savings by publishing ASIB online rather than in print format; the question is which system to adopt. Given that some of the material published in ASIB (e.g. annual update of cttee details etc) is easily accessible via the BAAS website, there may be a case for refining the purpose of ASIB. This is something we need to discuss in relation to our other Web / Publication / Social Media plans – and more specifically in terms of our need to coordinate the same. SC will discuss further with KA.

e.     US Studies Online

BB raised the issue of the future of US Studies Online especially in relation to changes in the BAAS website, in proposed changes to ASIB, noted above, and, more broadly, in relation to the changing nature of academic publishing which means that US Studies Online’s place as a publisher of academic articles may be difficult to sustain. The Exec noted that USSO has the potential to speak directly to and for a strong PG community, and mooted the possibility of USSO becoming a PG area on the revived BAAS website – along with a social media / blogging section etc.

Under this proposal, the BAAS website would be the umbrella / host with ASIB as a quarterly report via the same site, and USSO as a PG-area on the same site.

f.      Website (MJC reporting)

See above for future development. For now, MC reported that the site has been successfully moved over to Word Press and that SC and JG have received initial training on how to update areas of the site.

g.     BAAS Mailbase

Nothing to report

10.  Conferences Subcommittee (SM reporting)

a. Exeter: SM noted that the Exeter surplus (#11,056.46) has been paid over to BAAS.

b. Birmingham (2014): Keynotes are confirmed. John Fagg will take over temporarily as conference organiser during Sara Wood’s Research Leave (Sept 13 to Jan 14). Accomm. is on campus instead of hotels. Fee is £385 incl. for residential delegates with lesser fees for PGs, day-delegates etc. Embassy funding is in the process of being applied for. Northumbria have made arrangements to contribute towards the cost of their hosted reception.

c. Northumbria (2015): A conference coordinator has been appointed. The organisers have reserved 180 rooms in Newcastle hotels at 3 different rates. Gary Younge will be the Northumbria University speaker (Thursday night); this will possibly take place at the Baltic with the Baltic terrace used for the reception for the subsequent (Belfast) conference. Eccles and JAS are deciding on their speakers.

d. Belfast (2016): As per the terms of the Queen’s University, Belfast, bid, the conference will take place from the Thurs pm to Sat evening when it will close with the Awards Banquet.

e. 2017: Several possibilities are under discussion for 2017 including a joint bid from Kent & Canterbury Christchurch (MC and ZF are liaising) or from Sussex. Difficulties remain with the latter in that the Sussex term dates preclude an Easter conference. MC and ZF were asked to report back as soon as possible on whether they would like to submit a formal proposal so that others e.g. Sussex might, if necessary, step in.

f. 2018: Discussions continue re. a joint UCL / KCL and BAAS / EAAS conference. This would be a four-day event; questions were raised about: arrangements for keynotes; dates; funding; theme; structure (i.e. workshops or panels and national representation on same as per EAAS’s usual provisions). SM will continue to discuss with the relevant parties.

11.  Awards Subcommittee (JG reporting)

a. Posters for the 2014 awards (2 designs) have been printed and will be circulated this week by Louise Cunningham (Keele) to all American Studies and related departments. More copies are available from JG on request. JG is updating the Awards section of the website with a view to launching the Awards by the end of Sept online, via Twitter and through the distribution of the posters. JG requested that all Exec members should spread the word in order to ensure a strong field for these prizes. She particularly asked members to draw the attention of schools in their area to the Ambassador’s Essay Prize and to prompt strong final-year students to consider the GTA scheme. JG will liaise with the Fulbright / Sutton Trust about circulating Ambassador’s Award information to the school students with whom they are in contact. SE has applied to the Embassy for funding to support the Ambassador’s and other awards.

b. IB will be in touch with Exec members in due course re. the constitution of various judging panels.

c. DH reported that he is liaising with GTA coordinators at the Universities of Virginia and Mississippi in order to firm up the details of the 2014 GTA scheme.

12.  BAAS Libraries and Resources Sub-Committee  (MC reporting):

MC reported on recent discussions at BLARS with respect to Open Access and the possible use of Symplectic as a way of linking institutional repositories with the BAAS website.

The BLARS sessions at the Birmingham (2014) and Northumbria (2015) conferences will be on the themes of “Green Libraries” and “Endangered Archives” respectively.

BLARS is exploring ways of generating income, e.g. through advertising from publishers and others on their website.

13.  EAAS (MH submitted a written report):

The CFP for the 2014 conference at The Hague has been circulated via the website and mailing list. BAAS regrets that in the current financial climate it is unlikely that it will be able to offer financial support to postgrads planning to attend the EAAS conference, although this will be kept under review.

14.  Any Other Business

UKCASA / Academy of Social Sciences

The meeting noted that with Bridget Bennett’s election as BAAS Vice-Chair and as Chair of the Publications Sub-Com, a new BAAS representative is needed for UKCASA. Sinead Moynihan has nominated, with Doug Haynes as her substitute when required. JG will inform UKCASA.

Attendance at next meeting

In a change to our usual practice (see minutes 275), Exec Officers (SC, JG, SE, BB) and Sub-Com Chairs (IB, SM) only will attend the next BAAS Exec Meeting while Sub-Coms will meet on the morning of the April Exec (Birmingham Thurs 10 April 2014). Sub-Com Chairs are asked to liaise with their members in advance of the next Exec Meeting so that their views can be garnered.

15. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Association for American Studies will be held at the University of Nottingham on Sat 7 December 2013 (this is a change to the original proposed date and venue of Sat 11 Jan 2014 at Northumbria; the Conferences Sub-Com only will meet at Northumbria on this date).

Dr. Jo Gill / Email: j.r.gill@ex.ac.uk or jo.gill@baas.ac.uk / Office Phone: (01392) 264256

British Association for American Studies

Minutes 273rd

Minutes of the 273rd Meeting of the Executive Committee, held at the University of Birmingham on 18^th Jan 2013 at 12pm.

1. Present: M Halliwell (Chair), S Currell (Vice Chair), J Gill (Secretary), S Ellis (Treasurer), T Saxon, I Bell, M Bibler, M Collins.

Apologies:       G Hughes, T Ruys Smith, B Bennett, M Bibler, N Bowles, J Ward, D Ellis, N Bowles.

In attendance: J Gill

Observer: P Williams

2.  Minutes of the Previous Meeting

These were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3.  Matters Arising

None

(a) Action List Review

The Secretary asked the Exec to comment on the status of their Action List duties. All Action List duties will be addressed under the relevant section below.

4.  Chair’s Business (MH reporting)

1. Announcements

i. Promotions and Grants

Professor Tony Badger (University of Cambridge) has been elected as Fellow of the Society of American Historians. Tony is the only British-based academic invited to be a fellow.

Professor Judie Newman (University of Nottingham) was awarded an OBE last summer recognition of her contribution to scholarship.

Professor Dick Ellis (University of Birmingham) has been elected President of the Society for the Study of American Women Writers, commencing January 2013.

Dr Simon Topping (Plymouth University) has been appointed as Associate Head of the School of Humanities and Performing Arts.

Professor Martin Halliwell (University of Leicester) has been made a Guest Professor at Shanghai International Studies University.

Nicola Ramsay (Edinburgh University Press) has been promoted to Head of Editorial (Books) to start in February 2013.

Professor Tim Armstrong (Royal Holloway College, London) has received a grant of £31,204 from the Leverhulme Trust for a research project on Micromodernism.

ii. Institutions

UCL Institute of the Americas

MH attended the first Advisory Council for the new Institute of the Americas based at Gordon Square, University College London. The Council is chaired by Baroness Hooper and had representatives from American Studies (Philip Davies, Simon Newman, Sue Wedlake, MH) as well as Latin American and Canadian specialists. The MA and PhD programmes are already running and the Institute will be looking to extend its remit over the coming years. MH discussed with the Director, Professor Maxine Molyneux, the possibility of having a BAAS Fellowship each year at the Institute that we advertise with our BAAS awards. She is very keen and we will pursue this proposal, with the plan of having a standalone advert this spring for 2013-14, but then to include with the BAAS awards from autumn 2013. The details of the Fellowship need to be agreed, but it may focus exclusively on postdoctoral scholars.

Institute for the Study of the Americas

MH attended the ISA Council meeting in November at which future strategy of the Institute was discussed. The Institute will no longer run MA and PhD programmes, but it has an extensive set of fellowship and conference initiatives and will continue to represent North American as well as Central and South America and the Caribbean scholarship. The new Director of ISA, Professor Linda Newson, is very keen to work with BAAS, and has suggested that we develop the Institute’s online portal to gather data on North Americanists. This will be discussed under the Development Subcommittee’s business.

2. Correspondence and Meetings

MH was invited on a panel to validate the new BA American Studies at Northumbria University in September (the first intake of students will be October 2013). MH noted the interesting employability aspects of this new programme.

MH sat on an Interdisciplinary Studies Forum for research councils on 29 October and attended an AHRC meeting to discuss the draft of the council’s new strategy document (19 October) and gave verbal feedback from BAAS’s perspective.

MH attended a roundtable on interdisciplinary research (with Sue Currell) at the Rothermere American Institute on 19 October. He had discussions with the History Commissioning Editor of Oxford University Press (US), Susan Ferber, and followed this up with a discussion at the American Studies Association conference in Puerto Rico in November. Susan will be based in London through the first half of this year and is very keen to work with the American Studies community in the UK. MH discussed a number of ideas with her, including a Publishers’ Panel at the Exeter BAAS Conference – which Nicky Ramsey from EUP has agreed to be on – as well as some other initiatives, which MH will discuss again with Susan Ferber at Exeter. Paul Williams will forward details of Harvard UP nominee to MH.

MH attended the very successful BAAS Postgraduate Conference at the University of Leicester on 24 November, along with George Lewis, Sue Currell and Jon Ward. There were 70+ delegates.

MH met Nicky Ramsey and Simon Newman in December to discuss the future of the BAAS Paperback Series. This will be taken under Publication Subcommittee business. One related proposal is that instead of the BAAS Series Editors being expected to attend the Publication Subcom meetings, there would be an annual meeting of the Publications Chair, Nicky Ramsey (or her successor) and the Series Editors, preferably at the BAAS Conference.

MH will attend the Westminster Forum on Open Access on 5 February.

MH has had some correspondence with Heads of American Studies about 2012 and 2013 recruitment patterns.

3. AOB

9. MH provided a brief update on the ‘American Studies in Britain’ Impact brochure to be launched at the 2013 conference showcasing range of research projects from across the BAAS community with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, impact case studies, and knowledge exchange. To be taken under the Development Subcommittee.

1. Finally, MH was sorry to report the sad news of Professor Susan Manning, Grierson

Professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, who died this week. Susan was a pioneer on the relationship between American and Scottish literature and on transatlantic literary cultures more generally.

5.  Secretary’s Business (JG reporting)

1. JG arranged and reported back on the recent BAAS Members event (private tour of the “Hollywood Fashion” exhibition at the V&A).
2. She has compiled a list of BAAS Awards Winners 1998-2010 and circulated the list for any information about the present whereabouts of those she hasn’t been able to trace. She will then send a fund-raising letter.
3. She arranged for the redesign and, with Louise Cunningham, for the distribution of the BAAS Awards Posters.
4. She has been liaising with Ian Bell and Louise Cunningham with regard to the administration of Awards, and with Graeme Thompson and Mike Collins re. the website.
5. She has liaised with Richard Huish College (Taunton) and Gareth Hughes re arrangements for the March schools event in Cambridge.
6. She has dealt with routine enquiries.
7. She has been working with Sinead Moynihan and Paul Williams on the arrangements for the BAAS 2013 Conference.
8. She has drafted the notices for the AGM and for the forthcoming elections. These will be posted to membership via the mailing list, website and ASIB.

6.  Treasurer’s Business (SE reporting)

1. Accounts

The balance of accounts as at 16 Jan 2013 is as follows:

Current:  £2478.96

Saver:  £33544.18

This compares with the following figures for January 2012:

Current: £3291.99

Saver: £47078.29

And for January 2011:

Current: £9454.27

Saver;  46685.17

Donations (relating to the Hollywood Costume exhibition: £15)

SE noted that the drop in funds may partly be an issue of timing e.g. money paid out to certain creditors may not be billed at the same time in each year.

1. Membership

As of January 2013:

321 members (105 PG). This is a significant increase on the figures recorded at the last Exec (Sept 2012) of: 255 (74 PG). The rise may in part be due to the extensive circulation of the new membership leaflet (e.g. at conferences co-funded by BAAS), in part by a clarification of the requirement for membership for most BAAS (excluding Eccles Centre) awards and in part by the work of current and recent PG reps / conference organizers (almost 50% – 31 – of the 66 new members are PGs). There has been an increase of around 10 in the number of current members updating obsolete standing orders.

1. Expenses

SE will maintain a tight rein on the budget. SE observed that she and the Exec have already reduced Development expenses, reduced Exec and Sub-Com expenses, are monitoring Awards expenses, and are pursuing other Fund-raising and Membership initiatives. JG to check commitment to number of Founders’ Awards in the Constitution. Membership drive and donations drive to continue.

JG / IFAB proposed reducing the number of individual Awards posters designed, printed and distributed next year from 6 to 1 or 2. MH proposed that for all Awards other than Eccles, applicants should be members (JG to check with Charity Commission).

1. Miscellaneous

SE has completed Charity Commission returns, Gift Aid paperwork, and Embassy Awards application.

1. 7. Development Subcommittee (SC reporting)

1. SC reminded members that the conference funding process (i.e. American Studies conferences organised by groups and institutions with financial support from BAAS under the auspices of the Development Sub-Com) which was previously suspended during 2012 in order to maintain control of expenditure (see BAAS 272) can now be re-opened. The application form can now be re-posted to the BAAS website. There will be a limit of a possible 2 awards per meeting (up to £300 per award). SC suggested checking always on budget issues before agreeing to make awards. SC will advise MC of details and closing dates.  MC to deal with posting the form to the web. The Development Sub-Com, in liaison with the Treasurer, will keep this under careful review. The Exec approved this proposal.

1. Expert Database: the ISA has a “Portal” for researchers in Latin American / Caribbean fields and have invited BAAS to add information to this database.

See: ISA Portal  (MH) http://handbook.americas.sas.ac.uk/search_academic.php

This would be administered by ISA. BAAS would need to link to this via our own Website; some work might be needed in order to re-title and re-describe the portal and to add a logo / tab to the BAAS Website in order to make the link to BAAS as clear as possible. The Exec agreed that it would also be necessary to ensure that BAAS members contributed and updated their details. MH will talk to Dir of Institute (cc MJC) with a view to moving forward from April 2013. MJC first to check out the ISA portal and then discuss with MH.

1. c. Schools: GH sent report along with his apologies. There are two schools events forthcoming – one in Leeds (8^th March) and one in Cambridge (19^th March). The United States Embassy is kindly funding speakers to the tune of £800. MH and SC are speaking at both to promote BAAS and will also flag up the Barringer and Ambassadors’ Awards. The Principal Examiner for Politics on the AQA exam board has been in discussion with GH and has offered to speak at the Leeds schools’ event on how to improve exam performance. Unfortunately, the day’s speakers have already been booked but he is happy to do a short 10 minute slot and sit on the QTime panel. GH hopes to involve him in future events of this kind.  

GH has received a letter of thanks from a school at which Nigel Bowles kindly spoke about the American political system.

GH has been in initial correspondence with a Development Officer from Education Scotland about their revised qualifications.

GH raised concerns about schools being unable to complete the membership process via the website. MC and RM to check.

GH and GL will both speak at the BAAS / Rosa Parks event taking place on 6^th Feb at University of Leicester. 460 school children are attending. BBC World Service are making an hour-long programme, as are BBC Radio Leicester. There will be a small cost to BAAS (e.g. train fares for speakers); GL will liaise with SC and SE.

1. PG Conference: JW sent report along with his apologies [report was subsequently circulated with Development Sub-Com minutes]. Discussion of plans for BAAS/IAAS PG Conference in November or December 2013. SC will liaise with JW in order to make a decision prior to the April meeting about (i) whether this is to be a joint event; (ii) whether it’s one day or two in order to open up bids in Feb and March. SC can proceed via Chair’s Action in order to firm up bids in sufficient time to advertise by April BAAS Conference. JG to check CM’s files for paperwork relating to the bid process for PG Conferences and forward to SC. MH recommends continuing with format of one keynote per one-day conference.

1. IMPACT BROCHURE: MH recirculated the IMPACT brochure and noted the need to source  additional images. MH is awaiting a quote from Clear & Creative and / or has other design options to pursue. SC suggested adding information about Fulbright’s decision to develop a postdoctoral / Early Career Fellowship as a direct consequence of Richard Martin’s BAAS Report.

1. Fund-Raising: SC suggested a fund-raising book sale at future BAAS Conferences wherein the Exec and other members would donate books for sale at £10 / £5. JG / PW to discuss for Exeter (bearing in mind that other publishers have already agreed to pay for stalls in order to promote and sell their own full-price books).

1. 8. Postgraduate Business (JW submitted a written report)

Written report was circulated with Sub-Com minutes and covered the following:

1. a. the bid for the BAAS PG conference (of which there are two – one from UEA and one from Nottingham – circulated to the sub com via email after the meeting),
2. b. the mechanics of the BAAS/IAAS joint PG conference:  the conference would be held in Dec 2013 – Kate Kirwan approved the December timeslot. It would be possible to defer the UEA conference to 2014, in which case we need to check is that Nottingham would be comfortable with hosting the joint conference. The IAAS/BAASPG would be the conference that would be merged, and a joint conference should be spread over two days. The new PG reps for IAAS will be elected in April, so we would need to decide on the more fundamental parameters of the conference. SC to contact conference organizers to check whether these arrangements are possible.
3. c. a request for funding for a one-day conference being jointly hosted by ISA and LSE Ideas. Circulated separately after the meeting.

1. 9. Publications Subcommittee (GL reporting)

1. BRRAM

Nothing to report

1. Edinburgh University Press (EUP)

Four members of the current JAS Editorial Board come to the end of their first terms this year. All were agreed that they should each be approached to stand for another term: Sue Currell, Brian Ward, Wai Chee Dimmock, Giles Scott Smith.

1. Journal of American Studies (JAS)

Next issue will include a revised version of Joy Porter’s keynote lecture from the Manchester BAAS Conference; Anders Stephanson’s Exeter keynote will follow. The following issue will be a special issue on Art Across Borders. The time from submission to publication is now c. 12 months. John Horne is stepping down as Asst. Editor but a new Asst. Editor (Zalfa Feghali) is now in place. The Sub-com wished to minute their thanks for the hard work that JH put in. The Journal of American Studies website now includes 4 – 5000 word thought pieces.

OPEN ACCESS: The Sub-Com discussed a number of recent position papers produced by journal editors and Learned Societies. None were in favour of the haste with which Government is pursuing Open Access, and had real concerns over the only two models under discussion (“Gold” or “Green”). Where “Green” has been reluctantly preferred, it is with a longer embargo period than Government plans, i.e. 36 months in the case of the editors of a collection of UK-based History Journals. IB noted concerns about the ways in which Universities may use Open Access changes as a way of increasing research selectivity. GL noted the Royal Historical Society’s concerns  about Open Access especially in relation to the REF 2020 and also pointed to widespread concerns from learned societies. GL proposed that BAAS should add its voice to these debates. MH noted upcoming meeting of A-HUG. He further noted English Association and CCUE concerns and forthcoming statement. MH suggested that BAAS adds its name to the A-HUG document.

1. American Studies in Britain (ASIB)

Nothing to report. 

1. US Studies Online

Nothing to report.

1. Website (MJC reporting)
   

Nothing to report.

(g)              BAAS Mailbase

Nothing to report

(h)  AOB

(i)         GL proposed establishing the post of Communications Officer. SC noted that a similar

suggestion had been discussed at the Development Sub-Com i.e. a publicity / information post which SC thought might best be situated in Publications. MH noted that there are two ways forward either (a) nominating an ordinary member of the exec into the post, (b) changing the constitution. To be considered again at the April Exec.

10. Conference Subcommittee (TRS reporting)

Birmingham (2014): PGW reported on buildings, accommodation, the keynote lecture theatre etc. Sara Wood is considering a mixture of on-campus and hotel accommodation. The Exec raised concerns about the proposal to provide only one night’s dinner (Sat banquet) and would strongly prefer catered meal on Thursday evening even if only a buffet with reception.

Exeter (2013): PGW noted that we would like to post programme to web asap. PGW asked for volunteer Chairs.

Northumbria (2015): Reported to be on track. Joe Street should join June BAAS Sub-Com (JG to issue invitation). Northumbria will be a 3-day conference.

The possibility of BAAS moving to a two-day conference model in future will be discussed under AOB at the April AGM.

For 2017; Sussex or Leeds were raised as possible venues? Formal applications/bids would be needed by Jan 2014. SC raised problem of clash of dates with semesterised universities such as Sussex. These and various other options will be discussed in June.

11. Awards Subcommittee (IB reporting)

GTAs: JG, MB, IFAB interviewed for GTA scheme and appointed two excellent candidates; Linsey Ford (Glasgow) to go to New Hampshire; Robin Posniak (Hull) to go to Wyoming. MB to confirm details with the applicants. JG to invite them to the Exeter conference and awards dinner.

Barringer Fellowship = Tim Watts has been awarded the Barringer Fellowship. IB will write to him.

There was some further discussion about the requirement for membership of BAAS to become eligible for BAAS’s awards (excl. Eccles Centre). The Exec agreed that this should be mandatory in future.

GL noted that some of the books submitted for BAAS Book Prize ought to have been submitted to Arthur Miller (First Book) Prize; GL to clarify with Geoff Plank (UEA) whether books have already been submitted to both. GL will also discuss with him the possibility of moving the Arthur Miller deadline slightly earlier in future.

PG Essay Prize / Ambassadors’ Award – JG to extend deadline to 14^th Feb. In future, deadline for these prizes will be 31^st Jan.

12. Libraries and Resources Committee

The Exec had received notice from DE that he intends to step down from his role as Chair of BLARS in April. SC will liaise with DE to ascertain his and the rest of BLARS’s thoughts about future developments and will report back in April. JG to provide details of BLARS secretary to SC.

13. EAAS (TS reporting) 

The deadline is 15^th March 2013 for workshop panels for the EAAS Conference in The Hague, April 3 – 6 2014. The chair and co-chair of any such panels have to be from separate Associations. The conference theme is: America – Justice, Conflict, War. Travel grants are available for PG students. TS will forward info for circulation on the mailing list and website.

14. UKCASA / Academy of Social Sciences

JG will circulate reports from BB (UKCASA) and NB (Academy Soc Sci). MH suggested UKCASA as another possible route for BAAS in terms of Open Access.

15. Any Other Business

Fund-raising / TS will run Great North Run on behalf of BAAS and will set up and circulate details of a “Just-giving” sponsorship page.

16. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Association for American Studies will be held at the University of Exeter on the morning of Thurs 18^th April 2013.

The following meeting will take place in June / July 2013 venue TBC and thereafter in Sept 2013 venue TBC. JG reminded the Exec to book travel in advance in order to take advantage of cheaper fares.

or jo.gill@baas.ac.uk / Office Phone: (01392) 264256; Mobile: 07963 940742.

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][dt_gap height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]MA Graduate Teaching Assistantship in Southern Studies, University of Mississippi

Applications are invited for a the BAAS Graduate Teaching Assistantship in Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi, starting in August 2018 for two years. Candidates will normally be final-year undergraduates in American Studies and related fields and disciplines at a British university, but applications will also be accepted from recent graduates.

The BAAS-Mississippi Graduate Teaching Assistantship consists of the award for two years of a GTA, part of which will be devoted to university teaching. The Assistantship provides an income sufficient to cover living expenses, plus remission of tuition fees while the recipient of the award pursues graduate study for an MA in Southern Studies based in the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. GTA duties take up approximately half of the working time of an Assistant. During the two years the GTA could expect to assist in the teaching of two courses per year (leading discussions, marking essays and exams, etc.), conduct research in support of a faculty member’s project, and participate in Center for the Study of Southern Culture projects.

Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture began in 1978 under the directorship of William Ferris and has since helped the University of Mississippi to become internationally recognized as a leader in the examination and study of the South. A National Endowment for the Humanities curriculum grant led to the creation of a Bachelor of Arts program in Southern Studies, which now enrolls 40 undergraduate majors, and in 1986 the University established the Master of Arts program, which enrolls 30 students from across the nation and around the world. Documentary Studies has long been a particular strength of the Center, as well as Southern history, literature, music, sociology and cultural anthropology. Center projects and partners include the New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, the Southern Foodways Alliance, Living Blues Magazine, the University’s Media and Documentary Projects Center, and several annual conferences. The current Director is Professor Ted Ownby, a long-time faculty member in the Southern Studies and History departments at the University. The Center for the Study of Southern Culture continues to build on its history in helping to chart ways into the South’s future, as documented in the newsletter Southern Register which chronicles the history and activities of the Center.

Procedure

Applications will be received by a BAAS panel, which will draw up a shortlist for an interview in mid-January. The recommendation of the panel needs to be ratified by the University of Mississippi. The successful candidate would begin his/her studies at the University of Mississippi in August 2018 for the two years, 2018-2020.

Please send your application (details below) by e-mail to awards@baas.ac.uk. Please indicate the name of the award in the subject line.

Your letter of application should include the following information:

(1)  a curriculum vitae

(2)  transcript of undergraduate work

(3)  reason for applying in no more than 250 words

(4)  two letters of recommendation (emailed by referees directly to awards@baas.ac.uk)

BAAS members are asked to encourage applications for the BAAS Graduate Assistantships from suitably qualified students.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][dt_gap height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

We are now inviting applications. Deadline: December 15, 2017

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British Association for American Studies

Minutes 271st

Minutes of the 271st Meeting of the Executive Committee, held at the University of Leicester on 8^th June 2012 at 1pm.

1. Present: M Halliwell (Chair), S Currell (Vice Chair), J Gill (Secretary), S Ellis (Treasurer), G Lewis, M Collins, J Ward, R McLennan, B Bennett, M Bibler, I Bell, N Bowles

Apologies:    T Ruys Smith, C Bernier, S Lucas, Theresa Saxon, G Hughes, R Ellis

In attendance: J Gill

2.  Minutes of the Previous Meeting and of AGM

These were accepted as true records and will now go on the website.

3.  Matters Arising

None

1. Action List Review

The Secretary asked the Exec to comment on the status of their Action List duties. All Action List duties will be addressed under the relevant section below.

4.  Chair’s Business (MH reporting)

a. Announcements

i. BAAS Exec Announcements

Sue Currell moves to Chair of BAAS Development Sub-Com taking over from John Fagg and has also been elected by the Exec to the position of BAAS Vice-Chair. Bridget Bennett will represent BAAS on UKCASA. Nigel Bowles will represent BAAS on the Academy of Social Sciences. Michael Bibler joins Awards Sub-Com with a particular brief for the GTA scheme, as does Rachael McLennan.  Michael Collins will carry on with the website and will train Jo Gill and Michael Bibler to undertake routine updates. MH expressed thanks to all.

ii. Promotions and Grants

Dr Daniel Kane has been appointed to a Readership in English and American Literature at Sussex University

Dr Michael Bibler and Dr Randall Stevens have been appointed to Readerships in American Studies at Northumbria University

Dr Andrew Johnstone (Leicester) has been awarded an AHRC Early Career Fellowship for the project ‘Internationalism, Ideology, and the debate over US entry into World War II, 1937-41’ worth £32,893.

Professor Matthew Jones (Nottingham) has been awarded an AHRC Fellowship entitled ‘”Supreme National Interests”: The Official History of Britain’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent and the Chevaline Programme, 1962-1982’ worth £112,000

Dr Stephanie Lewthwaite (Nottingham) has been awarded an AHRC Fellowship for a project entitled ‘Remaking Modernism: Cross-Cultural Encounters in Hispano Art, 1930-1960’, worth £48,000

iii. Institutions

Institute of the Americas / Institute of the Study of the Americas

MH reminded colleagues of a note in his previous report indicating that staff from the current Institute of the Study of the Americas (ISA) at the School of Advanced Studies, University of London will be moving to form a slightly renamed Institute of the Americas at University College London in July 2012. It is not clear whether the current ISA will continue to feature US Studies, despite a new part-time Chair, Professor Linda Newson, a specialist in colonial Latin America from King’s being appointed as the new ISA director.

University of Canterbury, New Zealand

In April MH wrote (with input from JG and SC) in support of the continuation of American Studies at the University of Canterbury. This is currently the only stand-alone American Studies programme in New Zealand and is under threat from restructuring, compounded by the recent earthquakes in Canterbury and the more general threat of downsizing humanities in favour of STEM subjects from New Zealand’s Minister for Tertiary Education.

2. Invitations

MH has been elected to the International American Studies Council, succeeding Professor Douglas Tallack in the capacity of the British representative on the Council.

MH attended a meeting at the British Academy on 2 May, entitled ‘How will the government’s HE reforms affect the humanities & social sciences?’. A report of the event is available on the University Council for Modern Languages website: http://www.ucml.ac.uk/news/135. MH thanked the British Academy Chair, Nigel Vincent, for the joint position statement with the UCML entitled ‘Valuing the Year Abroad’ on the importance of the undergraduate study abroad opportunities. The meeting was soon followed by an announcement by HEFCE that year abroad fees should be limited to 15% of the maximum yearly fee: see http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/name,72835,en.html 

3. Correspondence and Meetings

MH has sent condolences and BAAS’s offer of support to Dr Steve Hewitt, Chair of the British Association for Canadian Studies, which has had its core funding removed by the Canadian High Commission.

The Chair has had further correspondence with Dr Philip McGowan, Chair of the Irish Association for American Studies, about Queen’s Belfast hosting the 2016 BAAS Conference.

John Fagg and MH have continued correspondence with the BAAS Intern Richard Martin to complete the ‘BAAS American Studies, 2000-2010’ Project and will now distribute the final report and arrange for its presence on the website in PDF form in July. MH will also make 120 properly printed versions of this to send to Heads of Department, Vice Chancellors and other stakeholders. MH/JG to write to Richard Martin to thank him for his work.

4. AOB

The following two items refer to matters arising in the Chair’s two previous reports and were opened to discussion:

i. Providing reciprocal bursaries for the BAAS PG or Early Career Scholar to attend the IAAS main and postgraduate conference each year, as discussed in January.

ii. An update on the ‘American Studies in Britain’ Impact brochure to be launched at the 2013 conference showcasing range of research projects from across the BAAS community with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, impact case studies, and knowledge exchange.

iii. We also need a volunteer to represent BAAS at the next AHRC Subject Association meeting in London on 20 June. SC agreed to attend.

5.  Secretary’s Business (JG reporting)

JG reported that she has arranged the printing of new membership leaflets and has distributed copies for inclusion in conference packs at 4 events supported by BAAS. She has also arranged for reprinting and redistribution of Awards certificates with wrong dates from last conference.

She has made provisional arrangements for Richard Huish College, Taunton, to host one of the Spring 2013 Schools’ Events.

She has updated trustees’ details with the Charity Commission.

JG dealt with routine correspondence and liaised with Graeme Thompson and MC with regard to mailing list and website updates.

6.  Treasurer’s Business (SE reporting)

SE reported that there have been some delays at the Bank’s end in setting up online banking etc hence figures are provisional for this report.

1. Membership

Fully paid-up: 311 members (106 PGs) / No changes to Standing Orders: 413 (127 PGs).

Slightly down on a year ago i.e. Fully paid (June 2011): 321 (115 PGs) / No changes to S/O: 441 (129 PG).

SE will be continuing to chase members who haven’t updated S/Os. SE and Awards will keep an eye on members / eligibility.

2. Charity Commission

Nothing to report.

3. Other

SE will liaise with the US Embassy in securing funding for next year’s Ambassador’s Awards.

SE followed up the previous treasurer’s advice about the importance of controlling costs, particularly with respect (1) to Exec members own expenses incurred in attending meetings, etc, and (2) to the expenditure of the Development Sub-Com on conferences and other applications. The Exec discussed the possibility of the Development Sub-Com devising clear criteria for eligibility for conference / event funding. As regards, for example, the BLARS Sub-Com (which meets outside the main Exec), the Exec discussed either setting an annual budget or asking them to make a case for the ongoing need to meet 3 times a year.

SE raised question of how we might try to raise more funds e.g. for travel awards. JG will endeavour to identify a list of previous recipients over 10 / 15 years to whom we might write in order to invite donations to support future work to the benefit of the next generation of Americanists. SE and MJC are working with Clear & Creative to set up a PayPal button on the website. Association for American Historians sends an annual e-mail asking for Donations. MJC suggested liaising with particular libraries / institutions for joint awards. SE/JG/RM to liaise over the summer.

1. 7. Development Subcommittee (SC reporting)

1. Conference Funding

SC noted that it was clear that greater regulation of the allocation of conference support funds was needed (this was raised as a concern in the Sept. 2011 minutes and the 2012 AGM report) and was obviously an ongoing issue that needed resolution.

After discussion on ways to make the budget for conference funding more sustainable the committee agreed to request the exec to approve a restricted criteria where all events needed to show:

• How they would use the funds to support pg attendance, so that funding will normally come in the form of pg support (or schools/student).
• In the case of repeat applications we would agree to fund BAAS pg members to attend, so the recipients of the pg stipends would have to be BAAS pg members.
• Clearly, if there are excess funds, we can revisit this and discuss with the exec committee if there needs to be an exception made to this criteria.
• All conference organisers should also show more fully how they will promote BAAS at their conference.
• All successful applicants will be sent the new BAAS leaflet to distribute as well as redesigned logo for posters well in advance of event.
• All funds should be dependant on receiving a final report for possible publication in ASIB – final reports should be sent with receipts/claims.

SC will redraft the conference application form to clarify that BAAS will prioritise funding for postgraduate attendance and will request plans for promotion of BAAS at the event. She will also add a membership box – to ensure that applicants check their membership status. SE will send SC the current membership list so that it can be cross-checked against applications received.

As and when the budget is spent, it will be necessary to decline subsequent applications and / or to invite candidates to reapply. This will free up Development Sub-Com time for strategy, fund-raising etc. Guiding principle will be: how will money be used by applicants for the furtherance of the interests of BAAS members and the organisation’s aims?

EAAS: SC has not yet received reports from this year’s attendees.

2. Schools Liaison (GH submitted a written report)

i. Conferences for 2013

North:  Grammar School at Leeds have offered a few dates: March 8th looks the best for the schools in the area after liaison with those schools who attended the Pocklington event. GH has asked the school to hold that open pending a firm decision.

South:  Richard Huish College in Taunton:  initial discussion stage.  Ideally would be within a week of the North one to make planning easier.  This was a contact through Jo Gill.  The location would be great but we have struck a difficulty: the college may have a problem with hosting on any day but a Saturday.  In both cases, GH advised that we need to confirm dates, themes, and arrangements by the end of July latest.

Several other schools have also offered facilities or expressed an interest in being involved. The BAAS discussed the need to ensure that outreach / schools work such as this is as far-reaching and inclusive as possible. JG will circulate information  re Robert Peston’s “Speakers for Schools” project and of the Sutton Trust / Fulbright Access Project.

GH has asked two Heads of English to draw up what an ‘ideal’ English themed conference would look like for them.  The difficulty in the subject is the variety of books studied across the secondary sector which tends to hamper conferences for the subject.  However, there may be common themes at GCSE level. GH will report back on this ASAP.

GH recommends the retention of the politics theme for the north due to the established school network.  GSAL offered their facilities based upon this premise as did Richard Huish. GH thus recommends running two politics conferences in 2013, gathering the feedback from the two English reports then gauging interest from the schools who sign up for the politics conferences as to whether they would also be interested in attending an English conference at some point in the future.  If interest is there, then BAAS could introduce this in 2014.

History themed conferences: the market is pretty saturated on this front across the country.  Conferences are already held on civil rights and/or the cold war (the two most obvious USA A-Level topics) at London, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.  Therefore, GH would recommend no movement into this market currently.

ii. Requests for speakers through the website.

GH raised the question of BAAS’s role in offering speakers through the website. JG will liaise with GH and Development Sub-Com to update the list held by BAAS.

iii. Future plans

GH’s written report raised a number of other suggestions each of which will be held over for discussion in his presence at the next Exec. Are there other ways in which BAAS could be involved further in school work/links?  For example, A Level focused periodicals (extremely popular – largely dominated by the Pearson/Edexcel group currently) and perhaps available online via the website (one or two editions per year)? More online presence (twitter/Facebook)?

1. 8. Postgraduate Business (JW reporting)

Jon Ward reported on the progress of the organization of the PG conference and queries re budget forthcoming from Robert Jones. Posters have been designed and the CFP has been circulated. There are plans afoot for a Jan 2014 IAAS / BAAS joint PG Conference. This would be a 2-day joint conference instead of the Nov 2013 BAAS PG Conference

1. 9. Publications Subcommittee (GL reporting)

GL reported on the question of whether American Studies Today should be linked to via the BAAS Website but the Subcom took the view that it is primarily an organ of the Liverpool John Moores Centre and therefore it wouldn’t be appropriate to link to it formally.

a.   BRRAM

b.   Edinburgh University Press (EUP)

Nothing to report.

c. Journal of American Studies (JAS)

Joyce Chaplin is in the process of preparing her Manchester keynote for publication. There is currently 15 month gap between acceptance and publication (a slight rise probably due to REF). Questions were raised about the JAS (and CUP’s) strategy with respect to Open Access especially in the light of recent national and international debates in this area. GL to write to Martine Walsh to suggest putting Open Access on the agenda for the next JAS board meeting. BB raised issue of intellectual copyright.

d. American Studies in Britain (ASIB)

Kalim has been to an Open Access training event.

e. US Studies Online

Spring issue is online. Call to follow on mail base for potential editors for US Studies Online.

f.  Website (MJC reporting)

MJC has suggested that we sign up for Google Analytics in order to trace traffic. Sub-com agreed to proceed.

g.  BAAS Mailbase

Nothing to report.

10. Conference Subcommittee (IFAB reporting in TR-S’s absence)

The Sub-Com expressed its thanks to Ian Scott and the Manchester organising team and looks forward to receiving his written report.

Future conferences are as follows: Exeter (2013); Birmingham (2014); Northumbria (2015). Queens University, Belfast and the Irish Association for American Studies have expressed an interest in hosting the 2016 conference, and the University of Plymouth are provisionally interested in 2020. Further expressions of interest and / or formal proposals are invited as appropriate.

GL raised the possibility of rethinking elements of the conference particularly in respect of costs and timings. Would it be possible, in due course, to move to a 2-day / 2-night event i.e. one that opened on a Thursday morning / lunchtime with panels commencing that afternoon, and that ran through all day Friday and Saturday to a Saturday late pm close? This might be more attractive in terms of the cost and the time for academic staff with increasing workloads and decreasing research allowances? On the other hand, this might restrict the number of papers allowable and would make it difficult to squeeze in keynotes, AGM and Awards evening? To be discussed again in due course. BB suggested holding a PG / Early Career Training Event at some earlier point in the year; this would be a developmental opportunity rather than a separate conference.

MB suggested providing a “comments” box at the next conference (Exeter) inviting suggestions about the future direction of the conferences. In the meantime, Exec members are invited to send any suggestions to TR-S. The matter will be revisited at the next sub-com.

11. Awards Subcommittee (IB reporting)

IFAB thanked Louise Cunningham, JG and SE for their help in overseeing the 2011-12 Awards process. He noted success and popularity of Awards scheme and summarised various plans for improving timings and publicity for next year viz. more clearly signalling distinctiveness of Ambassadors’ Awards and rationalising some of the different deadlines. JG will send yellow publicity overview to the BAAS PG Conference.

12. Libraries and Resources Committee (DE)

Nothing to report.

13. EAAS (TS submitted a written report)

TS reported that the next EAAS Conference is in 2014 in The Hague. More details to follow.

14. UKCASA / Academy of Social Sciences (BB and NB)

Nothing to report (meetings pending).

15. Any Other Business

All Exec to check website over the summer and advise MJC of corrections / updates.

16. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Association for American Studies will be held at the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford on Sat 22^nd Sept at 10 am. (TBC) JG to liaise with Sara Wood re Birmingham dates (Jan).

or jo.gill@baas.ac.uk / Office Phone: (01392) 264256

British Association for American Studies

Annual General Meeting 2012

 The 2012 AGM of BAAS was held on Friday 13 April at the University of Manchester at 4.00pm.

Elections:

Treasurer            Dr Sylvia Ellis (to 2015)

Committee            Dr. Michael Collins (to 2015) *

Dr. Bridget Bennett (to 2015)

Dr. Rachael McLennan (to 2015)

Dr. Michael P. Bibler (to 2014) #

EAAS Rep            Dr Theresa Saxon (to 2017)

PG Rep                        Mr John Ward (to 2012)

* Previously elected 2010-12 to an unexpired post; re-elected 2012 for three years.

# Elected for two years to an unexpired post (vacated by Dr Sylvia Ellis)

Amendment to the Constitution:

The Secretary asked the membership to consider the proposal raised in the AGM 2012 Notice (published in the Spring issue of American Studies in Britain) regarding the addition of a post on the BAAS Executive for early career scholars:

To add a 2-year post to the BAAS Executive for early career scholars with an institutional affiliation working on any aspect of American Studies. To be eligible candidates must be within three years of successfully completing their PhD and must be members of BAAS. Former BAAS Postgraduate Representatives are eligible for election, but all candidates must have submitted the final post-viva version of their PhD at least two weeks before the BAAS AGM in order to stand. This Early Career Scholar position is a single non-renewal term; the individual would be eligible to stand for a full 3-year BAAS Executive position at the end of their second year.

This entails a change to the BAAS Constitution (section 6) which as per section 13 must be approved by the membership at the AGM. The Secretary (JG) explained that this change was proposed in order (a) to ensure that the experiences and concerns of early career colleagues were represented on the Exec and (b) that the Exec was able to encourage continuing involvement on the part of graduate students and their constituency as they proceeded through into post-doctoral careers. JG (Exeter) proposed the motion; Dick Ellis (Birmingham) seconded it, and it was carried unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report:

The Treasurer circulated copies of the Trustees’ Report and the draft audited accounts, which she asked the AGM to approve. Dick Ellis (Birmingham) proposed that the accounts be approved; Heidi Macpherson (De Montfort) seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

TS reported that fully Paid up as members as at April 2012 currently stand at 304 (102 postgraduate). This is a slight overall increase on last year (302 / 104). If one includes members who have not yet changed their Standing Orders, the numbers stand at 406 (123 postgrad) as compared to 2011 where with no change to SO, the figures were: 424 (130 postgrad). TS reminded the AGM, again, of the need to update Standing Orders. Members with out-of-date SOs have already been written to; TS noted that membership needs continual monitoring as SOs sometimes get cancelled without reference to the database administrator and we run the risk of sending out Journals to cancelled members.

In terms of the Accounts, TS noted a deficit of £2,222.

Chair’s Report:

The Chair offered a comprehensive verbal report in which he reflected on recent events. He noted that the opening three and a half months of 2012 have been strange ones, particularly from a US perspective: the good news is that economic recovery looks like it is on the way with American jobs increasing month on month since December, but it is unclear whether this is down to the Obama administration’s policy, a temporary recovery engineered for election year, or part of the cyclical nature of recession and recovery. He observed that interested parties have been treated to – or have had to endure, depending on your perspective – a lengthy series of Republican primaries with three candidates trying to stay in touch with Mitt Romney, accusing him of not being Republican enough, having a health care plan not dissimilar to Obama’s, and waiting for him to make the next gaff.He noted the campaign to rewrite the mangled ‘drum major’ inscription on the recently-opened Martin Luther King Jr statue on Washington’s Mall, a HBO film of Sarah Palin’s VP campaign of 2008, Obama singing Al Green and ‘Sweet Home Chicago’, and David Cameron praising the President for his ‘moral leadership’. Although Andy Rudalevige from Dickinson College has recently lectured in Leicester and Copenhagen on the ‘snarly sort of politics’ that is already emerging in the 2012 election, it is more of a weird sort of political potion that will intoxicate some, poison others, and no doubt leave us all gripped until November.

In Britain the political picture could be seen as the same old cronyism, cabinet ministers yet again escaping blame, the threat of strikes, students trying to make their voices heard, and some Vice-Chancellors turning their hand at being government advisors. On these last two points, he noted fissures in the HE sector opening up. If the higher fees are not enough to divide the 2011 and 2012 generation of students and those universities who can charge fees of £9000 a year and those that can’t, then the government’s uneven attempt to both regulate parts of the sector and deregulate others has injected turbulence into the sector, with four 1994 Group universities recently joining the Russell Group and the suspicion that the government would not be unhappy if a handful of other institutions closed.

MH noted that the key issues this year for American Studies have been undergraduate recruitment patterns and the issue of year abroad fees. Along with other Area Studies and Modern Language subjects, there has been an overall decline in the number of American Studies applicants, with a slight increase in those applying for three-year degrees, but the good news is that the decline isn’t as marked as 2006 when undergraduate fees last rose. BAAS’s attempt to lobby the government and vice-chancellors to keep year abroad fees down has been partially successful, at least in the short term, but there is still the distinct possibility that four-year degrees will look too expensive for many school leavers and that more traditional degree subjects will be encouraged by school teachers, HE advisors and parents alike. MH welcomed the British Academy and the University Council of Modern Languages joint statement on the value of year abroad, but added that we must ensure that the American Studies year abroad component does not fade into the background with the emphasis firmly on language acquisition as part of Modern Language degrees. He noted that there is also the spectre of postgraduate fees looming – a topic to which MH will return in future.

MH reported that one BAAS initiative this year was to start an annual schools’ conference focusing on a particular American topic, with the plan to move the conference around UK’s regions. This commenced in February with a day conference on ‘US Politics and Government’ at Pocklington School, York, which featured some well-known speakers:  John Dumbrell, Iwan Morgan and Scott Lucas, and a curriculum session by Tom Virender from Silcoates School, Wakefield. The day was a huge success and MH extended his thanks to the BAAS Teachers’ Liaison Representative, Gareth Hughes, for his work in organizing the event, Pocklington School for hosting it, and the US Embassy for providing sponsorship. MH reported that the Exec seeks a suitable school elsewhere in the country to hold the 2013 schools’ conference and invited members with suggestions of good schools in their areas that could host a similar event to please contact Gareth or MH in the next couple of months.

Also on the positive side, MH observed that there had been some fantastic submissions this year for the range of awards sponsored by BAAS, the US Embassy and the Eccles Centre at the British Library (which remain two of BAAS’s most important external partners); some really strong published scholarship; a new biennial joint initiative with the Irish Association for American Studies to hold a joint Postgraduate & Early Careers Conference (the first of which was held in Dublin this January); and a range of grants awarded by research councils and charities, including:

• Dr James Russell (De Montfort) has been awarded £98,000 by the Leverhulme Trust for his two-year project ‘Hollywood and the Baby Boom, A Social History’.
• Joy Porter (formerly at Swansea and now at Hull) has received an AHRC Research Fellowship worth £51,417 for her project ‘The American Indian Poet of the First World War: Modernism and the Indian Identity of Frank “Toronto” Prewett’ and a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship for the project ‘The American Presidency and Tribal Diplomacy in the 20th Century’ (£113,950).
• Dr Faye Hammill (Strathclyde) has been awarded £236,000 from the AHRC for the collaborative project ‘Magazines, Travel and Middlebrow Culture in Canada’.
• Professor Don MacRaild (Northumbria) has won an AHRC grant of £285,000 for the project ‘Locating the Hidden Diaspora: The English in North America in Transatlantic Perspective, 1760-1950’.
• Dr Robin Vandome (Nottingham) has been awarded a $60,000 Mellon Foundation fellowship at the New York Historical Society for 2012-13.
• Professor Bridget Bennett and Dr Hamilton Carroll (Leeds) have been awarded £37,000 from the AHRC for a project entitled ‘Imagining the Place of Home’.
• Dr Vivien Miller (Nottingham) is the PI of an AHRC research network grant in the Translating Culture stream entitled ‘Translating Penal Cultures’, worth £23,315.

There have been really encouraging initiatives at the University of Northumbria, including six new appointments and plans to start a new American Studies undergraduate degree in 2013, and at the Institute for the Study of Americas, the current staff of which will be joining University College London in July to form the Institute of the Americas, at which point Professor Iwan Morgan will take up the position of Professor of US Studies at UCL. (The ISA at the School of Advanced Studies will continue, at least in the short-term, although it is not yet clear to what extent the United States will feature in its portfolio). There have been new permanent appointments at other institutions including the Universities of Hull, Leicester, UEA, Exeter, and Kent.

MH also noted that the community can celebrate a number of promotions and appointments in American Studies including, to Chairs, Nick Selby and Sarah Churchwell (University of East Anglia), Alan Rice (University of Central Lancashire), Celeste-Marie Bernier (University of Nottingham), Faye Hammill (Strathclyde University) and Clive Webb (University of Sussex). We congratulate Brian Ward on his appointment as Research Professor in American Studies at Northumbria University from August and, MH’s predecessor as BAAS Chair, Professor Heidi Macpherson (De Montfort University) for her appointment to the position of Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, a position Heidi will take up in July. Congratulations to all.

MH noted that colleagues on the BAAS Executive will be reporting on some of the other work done this year, but wanted to mention particularly the 2011-12 BAAS project, entitled ‘American Studies in the UK, 2000-2010’. He offered particular thanks for the work of BAAS intern Richard Martin (reporting later in the meeting), John Fagg (the Development Chair), the Fulbright Commission, and all colleagues who have participated through interviews or by providing data. The plan is to publish this as an open-access report in June via the BAAS website as a snapshot of how American Studies has developed as a discipline in the early 21st century and as a resources for future scholars.

Finally, MH expressed thanks to BAAS Executive colleagues for a really productive year, particularly Jo Gill (the BAAS Secretary) who joined the Executive last year, her predecessor Catherine Morley who had ensured a smooth change-over, and colleagues who have finished their term of office: Iwan Morgan (who has been our representative at the Academy of Social Sciences), John Fagg (the Chair of the Development Subcommittee), Zalfa Feghali (our Postgraduate Representative), and former BAAS Chair Philip Davies, who steps down as the European Association for American Studies representative after five years in the role. The excellent news for BAAS, is that Phil has been recently elected to the full role of President of EAAS for the next four years, which MH observed will really help to boost the profile of BAAS in and beyond Europe. Many congratulations Phil.

MH’s last word was for BAAS’s outgoing Treasurer, Theresa Saxon. Theresa has been in the role of Treasurer for four years and was a valuable BAAS Executive member before that. MH confirmed that all Exec members have enjoyed working with Theresa immensely and commended her on the professionalism, good sense and glamour that she has brought to the really important role of BAAS Treasurer. Thank you, Theresa.

Conferences:

1. 57^th BAAS Conference / Manchester

Tom Ruys Smith began by thanking Ian Scott, Brian Ward, Hannah Mansell and the rest of the Manchester conference team for all their many efforts over the past months and years to get us all to this point. He observed that the conference had been a great success so far and that there was much more still to come on the programme.

2. 58^th BAAS Conference / Exeter (2013)

TRS noted that the BAAS Exec had already visited Exeter to view facilities for next year’s conference (18 to 21^st April 2012) and observed that arrangements are already in a state of great readiness. He noted that the call for papers was available in conference packs and urged members to start planning papers and panels in good time for the submission deadline of November 1st. He drew members’ attention to the three exciting keynote speakers who have already been confirmed.

3. Future conferences

TRS confirmed that in 2014 BAAS will be heading to the University of Birmingham, and in 2015 to Northumbria University. He noted that BAAS are still looking to finalise a venue for BAAS 2016 and asked interested parties to contact him for information about the process.

4. Conference Subcommittee

Finally, TRS offered sincere thanks to Theresa Saxon for all of her work on the Conference Sub-Committee.

Development:

John Fagg noted that two further reports on areas that fall under the Development Subcommittee remit – Libraries and Resources and EAAS – would follow later in the meeting. In addition, as announced at last year’s AGM, during 2011-12 BAAS in association with the Fulbright commission have employed Richard Martin to write a report mapping the development of American Studies in the UK between 2000 and 2010. With the support of many members of the American Studies community who have contributed written statements, given interviews or offered information and suggestions, Richard has produced a rich, detailed, stimulating piece of work. RM’s summary of the project is below; the draft of his report will then go out for wider consultation. JF noted that RM has reported to the subcommittee throughout the year – and that the subcommittee provided advice and steers – but that on the whole, their role has been watching RM progress in a diligent, efficient, intelligent and independent manner – while also completing getting his PhD and doing large amounts of teaching. JF offered his congratulations!

1. Allocation of Conference Grants

In his final Annual report as Chair of the subcommittee, Will Kaufman, raised concerns about the BAAS’s financial ability to continue to support conference funding applications, with specific regard to annual and bi-annual events held by organizations with specific disciplinary or period focus within the American Studies field. The subcommittee has discussed this at length over the past year and has agreed – with certain caveats regarding the way money is spent and the way that BAAS support is signposted – to continue to support such activities where possible.

A second, related, concern regarding Conference Funding is the year-on-year escalation in funding requested and allocated:

2009-10: £3370

2010-11: £4195

2011-12: £4640

The 2011-12 figure includes funding for significant new events in the PG BAAS calendar (addressed below). Increasing professionalization (or other factors) mean that the subcommittee is receiving applications for events significantly ahead of time – some of the funding agreed in September 2011 is for events to be held in summer 2012 so the year-on-year comparison is slightly skewed. Nonetheless – the increase in applications does require careful attention and the subcommittee will institute new procedures over the next year to ensure that our levels of funding allocation remain sustainable.

The good news side of this story is that the number and range of strong applications for funds to support one-day symposiums, annual conferences, outreach events and a Film and Cultural Festival is evidence of the health and vibrant research culture of American Studies.

Over the last 12 months the subcommittee has allocated funding to 3 one-off events that have now taken place:

“American Imagetext” (UEA); “Orality and Literacy” (a Transatlantic themed meeting of the London Nineteenth-Century Seminar Series at Birkbeck); “Ranking American Presidents” (Northumbria).

And funding to 5 further one-off activities that are ‘coming soon’:

“Transnational Networks and Nineteenth-Century Periodical Culture” (Birmingham); “Markets, Law, and Ethics, 1400-1800” (Sheffield); “The First International Djuna Barnes Conference” (Birkbeck); “Audre Lorde’s Legacy” (Kent), and “Melville and Americanness” (UEA).

Support has also been given to:

The APG/BAAS Colloquium and the Congress to Campus event at the Eccles Centre; the 13^th Scottish Association for the Study of America Conference at the University of Glasgow and “American Frontiers” (BAAS Postgraduate Conference 2011) at Birmingham.

Funds have also been allocated to forthcoming standing events:

“Joining Places, Joining People” the British Group in Early American History Annual Conference to be held at St Andrews.

2. Postgraduate

The BAAS Postgraduate Conference “American Frontiers” at Birmingham, organised by John Horne, Rebecca Isaacs and Katie Barnett, was a real success with a Keynote from Liam Kennedy, 9 panel sessions and 80+ delegates. The conference organisers also built an excellent website and were engaged in publicising and building sustainable research networks.

Conf organisers were supported by Zalfa Feghali in her final year as BAAS PG rep – Zalfa’s other major achievement in this role this year has been to establish and co-organise the first joint Irish Association for American Studies (IAAS) and BAAS Postgraduate and Early Career conference. Zalfa worked with Louise Walsh and Katie Kirwan, her IAAS counterparts to organise a very successful event that took place on January 13-14 at Trinity College, Dublin with the theme “Transgressive and Transgression” and plenary lectures from Martin Halliwell and IAAS Chair Philip McGowan of Queen’s University Belfast. This event accounted for the significant new allocation mentioned earlier as BAAS matched IAAS’s contribution and provided £600 to support the event. The plan is for this to become a biennial event with the next conference to be held in the UK.

Finally, on PG activity, the Development Subcommittee instigated and administered a new bursary to support Postgraduate Students who give papers at the EAAS Conference. Rachael Williams (Nottingham) and Kristin Brill (Cambridge) both received £200 towards travel and accommodation for the Conference in Izmir, Turkey (see EAAS Report below).

3. Schools Liaison

JF noted that BAAS were fortunate to welcome Gareth Hughes from Pocklington School in Yorkshire to the Exec this year. Gareth has brought energy and initiative to the role of Schools’ Liaison. The most significant area of activity has been the BAAS American Government and Politics Student Conference held at Pocklington School on February 6^th . Recognising the success of similar events pitched at A Level students and held (almost exclusively) in London, Gareth instigated an event covering topics in American Politics for Sixth Forms in the North of England. With financial support from the American Embassy, the day included talks by John Dumbrell, Iwan Morgan, Scott Lucas and Tom Verinder as well as an introduction to BAAS from Martin Halliwell and a roundtable session to close the day.

Conceived as a ‘pilot’ and the first of a series, this event and those planned for the future as designed as a means of engaging sixth form students with the discipline and expanding BAAS’s outreach network.

4. Special Report: “American Studies in the UK 2000-2010.”

Richard Martin delivered the following report:

Report to the BAAS AGM, 13 April 2012

Media coverage of American Studies in the UK during the decade 2000 to 2010 often focused, in rather simplistic terms, on the subject’s perceived decline, a decline which was habitually read as a reaction to American foreign policy in the period. In this regard, Polly Toynbee’s 2004 article in The Guardian has become notorious.

However, a detailed analysis of the development of American Studies in the early twenty-first century produces a much more complex picture. Consider, as a starting-point, the following four statements by leading members of the American Studies community in the UK and beyond, all of which were made in response to this project:

• Firstly, from Simon Newman, former BAAS Chair: “My experience of research and teaching in American Studies over the past decade has been very positive. Institutional and national policy and structural changes have, in the end, meant very little.”

• Secondly, from an international perspective, Shelley Fisher Fishkin from Stanford University, who has served as the President of the American Studies Association in the United States: “I have the highest admiration for American Studies in the UK. The kinds of questions British scholars of American Studies are asking, and the approaches they take to answering them, are strikingly fresh and interesting.”

• Thirdly, Iwan Morgan, from the ISA in London: “Interest in America amongst students has increased. Interest in American Studies amongst students has declined.”

• Lastly, Judie Newman, another former BAAS Chair: “People say the problem with American Studies was Bush, but we’d had Nixon and Reagan in the past.”

It is clear, then, that a range of factors must all be taken into account when assessing the undoubted changes seen in American Studies in the UK between 2000 and 2010 – including intellectual trends, economic fluctuations, changes in higher education policy, shifting institutional priorities, and personal experiences. Furthermore, a variety of issues must all be assessed to gain a broad understanding of the health of the discipline – including the number of undergraduates enrolled on degree courses, the vibrancy of postgraduate study, the development of new research centres and organisations, and the strengths and weaknesses of British scholarship.

Utilising 14 new interviews, 16 written submissions, and a range of additional data and commentary, this report endeavours to examine both how American Studies was reconsidered intellectually in the last decade and how its leading institutions, organisations and publications changed, too. I want to thank all of those people who agreed to be interviewed, who submitted written contributions and who sent me information. My report doesn’t seek to be a comprehensive account of all these issues; rather, its objective is to contribute to a wider debate about the historical and institutional development of the discipline in the UK and to provide a resource document for future researchers.

The final version of the report will be published as an open-access document on the BAAS website in June; we’ll be inviting comments on a draft version in May.

Today, though, I want to very briefly highlight some of the report’s key findings:

• To begin with, throughout the last decade, there’s been a great deal of concern over the number of students entering American Studies degree programmes. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) indicates that there was a 19.7% increase in the number of students enrolled on American Studies courses between 1996/1997 and 2001/2002. This was followed by a 36.7% reduction in student numbers between 2002/2003 and 2010/2011. These numbers include both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These figures are analysed and explained in detail in the report, particularly in the context of tuition fees and any potential impact from the decade’s political events. 

• In terms of political impact, one theory, often anecdotally expressed, is that American Studies enjoyed an ‘Obama bounce’ in the wake of the 2008 Presidential election. On first glance, UCAS figures seem to support this idea. Two years of substantial decline in American Studies applications in 2007 and 2008 were followed in 2009 by an increase of 21.6%. However, this trend must be seen in the context of other increases in related subjects and in overall university applications. For example, consider the following table, which compares the application figures for American Studies with those for English, History and Politics. In 2008, applications to all four disciplines, as well as overall applications to all degree courses in the UK, were in decline, though American Studies suffered the most prominent dip. Subsequently, applications to all four disciplines, as well as overall applications to all degree courses, then rose substantially in 2009, though again the movement was much more pronounced in American Studies. Application figures for 2010 onwards also suggest a consolidation of the discipline after a lean period earlier in the decade, a trend supported by admissions data from individual departments.

• In terms of institutional developments, the report notes how the number of departments offering American Studies degree courses has fallen in recent years. There has been particular concern over the progress of American Studies in post-1992 universities. At the same time, the report acknowledges that American modules in other departments remain popular and important new research and teaching centres have opened. Here, there is particular discussion about the opening of the Rothermere American Institute in Oxford in 2001, and the merger that created the Institute for the Study of the Americas in 2004.

• The report includes a summary of how definitions of American Studies and the composition of attendant degree programmes have changed during the last decade. Indeed, the very idea of a single, coherent definition of American Studies is not something that seems to appeal to many members of the community, though there is also concern about more fragmented disciplinary models. In particular, the report observes how transnationalism has become a key critical term, though again it also examines how its impact and importance remain the subject of debate. The question of language, especially knowledge of Spanish, remains for the most part an unresolved question in this debate.

• It might not strike you as a surprise to hear that the report’s investigation into  the RAE assessments of 2001 and 2008 concludes that national mechanisms for measuring research quality have failed to fully account for the work produced by British scholars in American Studies.

• In terms of American Studies organisations, the report examines how BAAS has broadened its activities and reshaped its priorities. It also looks at the significant growth in the last decade of other organisations focused on specific areas of American Studies – organisations such as HOTCUS and the Society for the History of Women in the Americas.

• Finally, one worrying finding to emerge from the report is a distinct gender imbalance in some aspects of American Studies scholarship. For example, over two-thirds of articles published in the Journal of American Studies between 2000 and 2010 were written by men. It should be noted the gender imbalance seen in the published articles in JAS closely follows the gender imbalance in submissions. By contrast, US Studies Online – the BAAS postgraduate journal – had an almost 50/50 gender ratio in its articles published during the last decade.

Awards:

Speaking on behalf of Ian Bell (who was absent due to ill health) and Sylvia Ellis (who was involved with arrangements for the BAAS elections), JG began her report by thanking all those involved in judging the various prizes given this year. She also thanked Louise Cunningham (Keele) for her tireless work in administering the awards. JG noted that BAAS works with partners at the Eccles Centre (British Library), the Arthur Miller Centre (UEA) and the American Embassy in funding and administering the awards, and expressed BAAS’s gratitude for their continuing support.

This year, again, BAAS will award substantial number of awards. JG reported that, for 2012-14, the new GTA Award in Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi had been won by Jodie Free (UEA) and that the GTA Award at Virginia has been won by Myles Oldershaw (also UEA). Both would be in attendance at the Gala Dinner the following evening, as would Ted Ownby (Mississippi) to present the award.

JG noted that early information about Awards available for 2012-13 was in the Conference pack.

Publications:

George Lewis began his verbal report by reporting on some of the highlights of the year in relation to the Publications subcommittee.

1. ASIB

The latest edition of ASIB had carried the first of the planned series of BAAS Fellows’ interviews, with Professor Helen Taylor. Two other BAAS Fellows have already confirmed their willingness to be interviewed for future editions.

2. U.S. Studies Online

The new web address for USSO has been confirmed as usstudiesonline.com. Issue 20, the post-graduate conference issue, will help to launch that site when it goes live at the end of April. Three of the four journal articles for Issue 20 have been received and edited; the fourth is due on 20 April.

3. Journal of American Studies

GL reported on recent developments at the Journal of American Studies, now under the editorship of Professors Celeste Marie Bernier and Scott Lucas. These include changes of editorial emphasis and of submission and review processes. This year JAS has moved to an average page length of 280 pp. per issue, supplemented by extra features (such as reviews) available in the online version. Other innovations include the introduction of “Round Table” debates on particular issues. Martine Walsh at CUP has confirmed that two of the five board members whose terms expire at the end of this year, Marjorie Spruill and Richard Crockatt, have agreed to serve for another term. GL and the editorial team agreed to seek replacements for the three others with specialists in similar fields.

Libraries and Resources:

Dick Ellis reported on the Libraries and Resources subcommittee’s continuing work in auditing the position of American Studies in libraries to assess the possibility of sharing resources on a regional basis and noted that several universities (including Cambridge and Birmingham) had expressed an interest in collaborating on a consortium bid to ProQuest in order to acquire access to their Twentieth-Century Newspapers archive). Discussions are ongoing. He also reported on the departure of BLARS members (including Donald Tait and Kevin Halliwell) and their replacement by Jane Rawson (RAI, Oxford) and Susan Reid (Dundee). BLARs had hosted, as usual, the opening session of the conference (this time on intellectual copyright). At Exeter in 2012, BLARS will contribute to the opening session on Impact, Public Engagement and Knowledge Transfer.

EAAS:

PD reported on the success of the recent EAAS biannual conference in Izmir, Turkey and congratulated Martin Halliwell for his excellent plenary lecture, sponsored by the Eccles Centre. Numbers were down on recent years, possibly reflecting the non-central location and tightening academic budgets, but the international turnout was still good and the quality of workshops was high. Conferees seemed pleased with the conference (and the pleasant weather, picturesque location and fine sea food of Izmir may all have helped).

The Rob Kroes prize winner was announced (Frank Mehring) and the ASN Book Prize winner (Brigitte Dawes). The EAAS Board confirmed Jenel Virden (Hull) as joint Senior Editor of the European Journal of American Studies and John Dumbrell (Durham) as an associate editor. The Association for American Studies in South East Europe was accepted as a new member of EAAS. Adina Ciugureana (Romania) was elected Treasurer, and Philip Davies (BAAS) elected President, both for four year terms. The next conference of EAAS will be held in The Hague from Friday 4th to Monday 7th April 2014. The call for workshop proposals will be made later this year.

AOB:

Jenel Virden (Hull) reminded members of the European Journal of American Studies and encouraged them to submit articles.

The AGM concluded at 5.30pm.