BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: June 15, 2007

Minutes of the 251st meeting of the Executive Committee, held at Rothermere American Institute, Oxford on June 15, 2007.

1. Present

H Macpherson (Chair), J Davies (Vice Chair) C Morley (Secretary) G Thompson (Treasurer), I Bell, R Crockatt, W Kaufman, G Lewis, I Ralston, T Saxon, I Scott,

Apologies

S Castillo, P Davies, M Halliwell, S MacLachlan, J Metcalf

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

After minor corrections, these were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

Action List Review

UCLAN 2010: TS confirmed support of hosting BAAS annual conference;
RC has sent out message to members via the BAAS mailbase regarding funding opportunities and BAAS awards;
On the issue of Eccles funding GT has invoiced PD for Eccles Awards money and is awaiting a cheque;
HM noted that action regarding the naming of Teaching Assistantships was to be carried over.

4. Chair’s Business

HM formally welcomed all new members to the Executive Committee.

(a) Announcements
HM noted that Dr Robert Harrison (University of Wales, Aberystwyth) died on Sunday 6 May 2007. Dr Harrison had been a member of the Department of History and Welsh History at UWA for almost forty years. He specialised in American history, particularly the 20th Century, publishing two monographs, entitled Congress, Progressive Reform, and the new American State (CUP 2004), and State and Society in Twentieth-Century America (1997). He was responsible for organising and hosting the first UWA BAAS conference in the late 60s/early 70s. Always a firm advocate for American Studies in our country and abroad, he will be sorely missed in UWA and by his BAAS colleagues.

Promotions/Awards: Mark Phythian has been appointed as Chair of Politics in the field of international security & global foreign policy at the University of Leicester. Dr. Rebecca Earle has been promoted to a Readership at Warwick. Professor Margaret Walsh (Nottingham), has been awarded a Leverhulme Emeritus Professorship. Dick Ellis has been promoted to a Professorship at Birmingham. Congratulations are extended to them all.

HM was informed by Professor Judie Newman that one of Nottingham’s second year students received the Institute for Study of the Americas essay prize

(b) Correspondence received
HM was asked to respond on behalf of BAAS to the HEFCE review of specialist library funding.
HM offered hanks to all members of the executive who helped to draft the response (circulated in the meeting).

(c) Correspondence written
HM wrote to Michael McDonnell, one-time BAAS exec member to congratulate him on the birth of daughter Carys.
HM reported that SN wrote to the conference organizers to thank them for their hard work as his last official duty as outgoing BAAS chair.

(d) Invitations
HM was invited to attend an event at the Rothermere to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan. “The Marshall Plan: remembering the past, looking to the future” by Robert H. Tuttle, US Ambassador, on 5th June. She had to decline the invitation.
HM has been invited to a luncheon with former President Jimmy Carter on 21 June at the Rothermere American Institute and she will attend on behalf of BAAS.
HM will also meet with Penny Egan, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission next month in Leicester.
HM is attending the AHRC summer event in London next week.

(e) Other Actions Taken
HM introduced herself via the Heads of American Studies email list and keep them up to date regularly, noting the postgraduate conference, and the CD project in particular.
HM spoke on Flag Day with the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire programme ‘Stars and Stripes’

(f) Student numbers UG/PG
SN reported to HM that he had attended the AHRC PG funding launch event at the Foundling Hospital at the end of May on BAAS’s behalf. [HM has seen the AHRC’s summary of positions, and they have taken a very positive view of the consultations, noting that most institutions approved or were neutral about the idea; in relation to subject associations, however, the picture was significantly more mixed, though again a very positive spin was put on it as latest figures were for 80% block grants for PG awards!].
Guy Thomson (Warwick) informed HM that from October 2008, Warwick’s BA degree, Comparative American Studies, will be renamed History, Literature and Cultures of the Americas. The content will remain the same.
HM noted Alisdair Spark’s summary analysis of AS figures nationally which he presented to a conference in Exeter, using UCAS numbers as the basis for his work. This issue is raised in full under Development Subcommittee Business.

(g) New Group
HM reported the development of new groups, in particular the Historians of 20th Century America who will be setting up a new committee. The group will hold an inaugural 2-day conference in mid-to late June 2008 (to become annual). Eventually they hope to seek charitable status. HM and other Exec officers expressed concern that an unintended consequence of this would be that fewer 20th century historians would attend the annual BAAS conference, which would run counter to our concerted efforts over the last two years to reach back out to this group of scholars. GL reported that he’d had positive feedback on the representation of history in the BAAS conference. There is a real chance here for BAAS to build on GL’s work at Leicester to incorporate twentieth-century history. IS attended this meeting and raised the issues of concern and invited the HTCA group to play a large part in BAAS.
IS spoke with Axel Schafer who said the group was very keen to maintain links to BAAS and perhaps have an organised panel or remit at the conference. GL queried whether someone from the BAAS Exec might be on the HTCA committee. HM considered inviting them to come and have a meeting at the BAAS conference (like the TSA model in the past). HM will write officially to the HTCA and encourage them to maintain strong links with BAAS.

(h) HM was approached by Christine Heckman from Syracuse University who is putting together an event to commemorate the Putney Events and is hoping that BAAS might be involved and has requested the names of people who might be contacted for speaking. HM will continue to liaise on BAAS’s behalf and offer some names.

5. Secretary’s Business

(a) The Secretary noted that she had no items to distribute this quarter which hadn’t already been circulated by email.

(b) CM reported that she had been in very regular contact with the previous Secretary regarding the transition, and acclimatising to the new role. She has updated all the BAAS exec lists, phone numbers, contact details, etc. These were also passed on to GT for the website (now updated). She has welcomed new members to the Exec and directed them to the Charities Commission website to check their responsibilities. She also updated lists with the US Embassy.

(c) CM noted that her main role revolved around information flow. She helped direct people with research and grant queries to the appropriate sources; directed potential PhD candidates to appropriate members of the subject community; liaised with Ralph Willet about some Abu Ghraib papers which have been directed to interested BAAS researchers; updated the BAAS Externals List; liaised with John Canning regarding the LLAS survey.

(d) CM wrote to the Journal of American Studies with our recommended nominees for the Editorial Board as well as informing them of the new BAAS officers and Chair of Publications Sub-Committee.
(e) CM reported that she had attended an event at the Rothermere to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan: “The Marshall Plan: Remembering the Past, Looking to the Future” by Robert H. Tuttle, US Ambassador, 5th June. She has also been invited to a luncheon with former President Jimmy Carter on 21 June at the Rothermere American Institute and she will, along with HM and MH, attend on behalf of BAAS.

6. Treasurer’s Business

(a) The Treasurer circulated a report to the committee noting that the bank accounts (as at 15/6/07) are as follows: General Deposit, £25,914.11; Short Term Awards, £11,409.47; Current, £3,079.79; Library and Resources, £727.87; Education and Dev, £5,011.07; Conference, £969.96; making a total of £47,112.27. In addition the RBS Jersey has £14,973.10 and the US Dollar Account has $5,647.27,

(b) Gift Aid money of £4699.45 went into the Bank Account last week. The plan is to do a mailshot over the summer and submit another claim. It is hoped that this claim will bring us to date and then we can submit annual claims.

(c) GT had a query with the accountants over the split between Governance and Support Costs which they split 75% and 25%. This has been changed to 50/50 in the final accounts.

(d) GT reported that current membership figures for 2007 for fully paid up members stand at 462 members including 163 postgraduates. This compares favourably to the position last year on this date, which was 407 members (138 of which were postgraduates). When those who haven’t so far updated their Standing Orders are included, the numbers rise to 531 (with183 postgraduates. Again, this compares favourably with the June 2006 numbers of 492 members (of which 161 are postgraduates). The highest possible membership figure (taking into account the above and those who have yet to renew for 2007) is 609 (with 219 postgraduates). This time last year the numbers stood at 592 (including 211 postgraduates).

(e) HM questioned how membership compared with April. GT responded that it was more-or-less the same as most people had joined just before the conference.

(f) The conference Account is down to £969.96 – this is because the PG supplement has been taken out and given to Leicester. The float, however, is to return once the Leicester accounts are finalised.

7. Development Subcommittee (RC reporting)

(a) RC attended the advisory board of the LLAS last week, (noting that it did not seem to be attended by many people in Area Studies, which was an area of concern).

(b) The recruitment CD is to go ahead and Dick Ellis has confirmed that it will be completed by the Autumn. The Development subcommittee discussed how BAAS would purchase the CDs and how they would be distributed. A suggestion was made that guidelines would be provided on how they were to be used when they were distributed. Thus, there is a need for BAAS to engage directly with Schools. The specific recommendation is to purchase at least 5,000 copies (maybe even 10,000). The expected shelf life of the CD is five years. The cost will be btw 33-50p/unit (+VAT). For 10,000 at the lower end of the price spectrum this would amount to approx £3,300, exclusive of VAT. For 5,000, this figure is halved. GL queried the possibility of making multiple orders. IS suggested tapping into the Embassy’s Area Studies budget and the Embassy’s listserv and Jean Petrovic’s list and John Moores’s list. RC will go ahead and speak to Dick about ordering a maximum of 10,000 copies (not the recommended 20,000 copies). However, it was unanimously felt that we need to see the BAAS CDs before they are purchased.

(c) HM said that BAAS should also include a cover letter with details of the organisation when we distribute the American Studies CD.

(d) Request for funding from IR to finance annual schools conference in National Maritime Museum for £200. Agreed.

(e) On the issue of liaising with schools, RC stressed the need for consistent contact. RC circulated a mail from a Mr Low in Scotland who contacted BAAS looking for American Studies materials to include on his curriculum. RC has offered to visit Mr Low, if BAAS thought it was a good idea. BAAS agreed to fund this.

(f) GT suggested a space for schools on the BAAS website. There is already a list of universities offering AmStuds degree courses on the LINKS section of the website. But, GT suggested some generic links about what actually constitutes American Studies: ‘Why Study American Studies?’ Perhaps include blurbs from graduates and teachers to include (information from the American Studies survey conducted by Martin Padgett and Will Kaufman). WK to send materials from survey to RC and then RC to organise and prepare for the website.

8. Postgraduate Business (RC reporting on behalf of JM)

(a) BAAS Postgraduate Conference
Everyone should have received a poster both by email, to individual departments, and by post. JM expressed concern that Manchester has not received many paper proposals despite the deadline being 30 June. The Exec was asked to encourage any PGs to consider submitting a proposal (250 words) or at least consider attending. Details are on both BAAS and University of Manchester websites. Not many proposals just yet so please encourage PGs to apply.

(b) Report from Postgraduate meeting in Leicester
JM noted a good attendance of PGs at the meeting, and thanked GL for kindly organising a lunch. The group spoke about the BAAS PG conference. Claire Elliott discussed the listserv, of which quite a few PGs were unaware. The group also discussed BAAS awards and again quite a few PGs were not aware of their existence or hadn’t applied as had assumed they were immensely popular. There were many questions about criteria for the awards etc. – therefore this meeting proved a good opportunity to promote the awards.

(c) Leicester & Suggestions for Edinburgh
JM spoke with a few postgraduates who didn’t know anyone else attending the Leicester conference, and who were slightly overwhelmed by it all despite saying everyone was very friendly etc. JM wondered if next year the Edinburgh organisers might provide:
a list of postgraduate names & universities to be put in the conference packs for postgraduates;
a note in the schedule mentioning that the PG lunch is compulsory or at least ‘strongly encouraged’. Here, the Exec felt ‘compulsory’ too strong but would ‘strongly encourage.’
a specific postgraduate table at the banquet dinner where PGs can all sit together. JM mentioned the difficulties with this in terms of potentially isolating PGs from the main conference. The Exec felt that a separate list would be appropriate but not a separate table at dinner.

9. Publications Subcommittee (CM reporting on behalf of MH)

BRRAM
Papers tabled by KM in advance of the meeting.

(a) Advertising for Special Editors in the ‘publishing opportunities’ column of the BAAS newsletter has been fruitful, with a project idea from Natalie Zacek being actively pursued (see below).

(b) Dr Vassie and KM visited the Surrey History Centre, Woking, in February 2007 to discuss the microfilming of Jamaican material in the Goulburn Collection. Contracts have been signed and the filming is scheduled for December 2007. KM will be the Special Editor for this project. Filming will not take place until December as the only room high enough for the camera is not available until December. TS suggested a film of the filming process might be useful for marketing purposes.

(c) The Darien material at the National Library of Scotland (18 reels) has now been released, with an introduction by Dr Vassie.

(d) Microform Academic Publishers have confirmed a model agreement with Liverpool City Council in order to publish materials from their record office. Dr Vassie and KM visited Liverpool in August 2006 to discuss a filming project on “Records relating to Liverpool Merchants and the Slave Trade in the Liverpool Record Office.” KM will be the Special Editor for this title. KM and RV anticipate that the filming should be completed by August 2007. A model agreement text is in place.

(e) Arrangements have been confirmed for a BRRAM title on “The American Correspondence of Arthur C. Murray with Franklin D. Roosevelt.” These manuscripts are deposited at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. MAP has signed a publishing agreement with the NLS and filming has been carried out. The Special Editor will be Dr Tony McCulloch, Head of History and American Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University, and he intends to submit his introduction before Christmas 2007. The sub-committee considered Dr McCulloch’s CV (it was circulated electronically in advance) and all are very happy for him to go ahead as Special Editor. KM is awaiting the ‘Introduction’ by Dr McCulloch who promises to have it ready by December. KM and RV has filmed all the correspondence of Murray, which offers insights into his friendships with the Roosevelts.

(f)Following on from details mentioned in KM’s last report, a BRRAM on “The Canadian Papers of the 4th Earl of Minto” will be published at the NLS. Dr McCulloch will serve as Special Editor for this title. KM and RV are awaiting a definitive list of documents for filming. Dr McCulloch will travel to Edinburgh later this month to finalise what exactly needs to be filmed. This is expected to appear midway through 2008.

(g) Dr Natalie Zacek (Lecturer in American History, University of Manchester) has made a proposal for a BRRAM on the Papers of Samuel Martin, an eighteenth-century Antiguan sugar planter. Martin’s Papers are deposited at the British Library. This project will proceed subject to confirmation of a publishing agreement between MAP and the BL. It looks quite promising with 6/7 volumes of letters and accounts between Martin and his manager. This may be completed by the end of the year.

(h) In May 2007 RV visited the University of Nottingham and looked at some papers among the collections of the Dukes of Newcastle-under-Lyme and of Portland on the American War of Independence. We hope to produce selections from these manuscripts as a BRRAM title. The University of Nottingham holds the copyright for these Papers, so a publishing agreement between the university and MAP should proceed smoothly. RV visited their special collections this month and has been in touch with a specialist historian and there seems to be a lot of information on the American War of Independence. RV is still in contact, trying to finalise an agreement to publish. RV and CM suggested that this could be listed as a potential project in the next edition of ASIB.

(i) Discussions over the publication of the USPG remaining Canadian papers now held at Rhodes House Library, Oxford, are on-going but, despite appearing positive, have been slow due to the relocation of the USPG’s HQ. RV will go Rhodes House on 15 June 2007 to pursue.

(j) Other potential projects include the Melville Papers (with Dr David Brown, National Archives of Scotland, as likely Editor) which is a likely project for next year. Other possible projects might include the Lady Liston Papers 1796-1800, the Nisbett Papers (1756-1792), the papers of Alexander Houston and Co. (1776-81) with the suggestion of Douglas Hamilton (Hull) as Editor, and the journal of Lady Liston which document her travels in North America.

(k) RV has contacted Sue Manning at Scottish Transatlantic Research (STAR) but has yet to have a response. He will pursue the contact.

(l) HM congratulated KM and RV for their work here.

Edinburgh University Press (EUP) (CM reporting on behalf of CS and SN)
(a) CS and SN have written to the Secretary to confirm that on most occasions the BAAS/EUP series report can be transmitted by email, and thus save BAAS their expenses.

(b) As it is so soon after the conference there is little to report. CS, SN and Nicky Ramsey met on the final day to discuss books nearing completion, others that will soon be submitted, and ideas for new titles. Since then CS, SN and Nicky Ramsey have contacted various people, but have not had not got any firm proposals in yet.

(c) Finally, Nicky Ramsey and EUP were delighted with the conference, as they sold more books there than ever before.

Journal of American Studies
(a) Since the last meeting, CM has written to JAS with the nominations for the Editorial Board which were welcomed with the assurance that all the nominees would be contacted. CM also wrote to informed JAS of the new officers and the new Publications Sub-Committee Chair.

American Studies in Britain (ASIB)
(a) The advertisement for a new Editor went online immediately after the conference. There was quite a lot of interest in the post, and CM received inquires from more than 10 different people. Some excellent applications were received. A shortlist has been drawn up and MH will contact the new Editor when the whole committee has finalised. This needs to go to the main Exec for ratification first.

(b) Deadline for next edition is 11 August.

US Studies Online
(a) Nothing to report since the last report from Elizabeth Boyle.

BAAS Website
(a) The advert for a new Webster went online but GT has received no expressions of interest in
the post. TS suggested canvassing graduates at the BAAS PG conference, who might have the relevant IT skills and could perhaps work closely with GT on this. HM suggested that we contact people who might be likely or willing candidates (informal network).

(b) GT noted that the BAAS web host was taken over recently and this has caused some problems as the facility offered by new host is not a good as the last one. In the past we’ve had discussions about message boards and public forums and the potential of a BAAS Wiki opens up those discussions again. Until a new web host, capable of hosting a Wiki, is found then discussion of this issue will have to be put on hold. Hopefully the new web host will be arranged over the summer.

(c) All details of the new Exec have gone online. Colleagues should check to ensure that details are accurate and inform the Secretary if details change.

10. Conference Subcommittee (GT reporting on behalf of SM)

(a) GL has put all useful conference organisation details on to a CD to pass on to RM at Edinburgh as well as a list of costings. GL has received very positive feedback from about 60 people about conference, mainly praising the History pathway that could be traced throughout the conference.

(b) An issue came up about PGs who signed up and claimed reduced PG rate but who were not BAAS members. These (about 12) were chased and all but 2 paid the outstanding amount immediately. BAAS needs to think about a system for checking this. Also, there is a problem with people signing up without being members of BAAS. HM noted that ASA members can have BAAS member rate. GL suggested the assignment of a membership number to each BAAS member. The Exec agreed the implementation of membership numbers with the incorporation of membership status into the number (e.g. PG/R/U, etc.).

(c) As a matter of course from here on, the conference organisers will need to incorporate a BAAS registration form on the conference registration form.

(d) Another Leicester issue was that of Banquet attendance and the possibility of finalising this in advance. GT suggested building in the number of prize-winners into banquet numbers.

(e) On the issue of the conference AGM it was unanimously agreed to continue with Friday given the success and large attendance at the meeting in Leicester.

(f) Next year BAAS will trial the subsidised retired members (subject to availability) conference rate.

(g) RM has contacted a poster designer and the BAAS conference poster should be ready by early September (currently working out designs). RM has done a provisional costing for the conference. It seems likely that that cost will be approximately £300 for BAAS member with en-suite accommodation. There is a slight problem with the rooms, insofar as RM is unsure how many rooms available in each of the locations. This will be clarified by the next meeting. Standard and en-suite accommodation will be available.

(h) The Conference subcommittee discussed the issue of Sunday conference events. RM suggested not providing a formal lunch as people leave on Sunday. Lunch will be available but people will have to pay for this themselves. There is a room cost cut-off for noon also. This was accepted and agreed by the Exec.

(i) Postgraduate support team will be organised in September, although one postgraduate student – Kirsten Phimister – is already helping RM. RM is putting together a programme committee over the summer.

(j) Alex Salmond is to be invited to the conference with the hope that he might offer an address.

(k) RM raised the issue of an Early American History symposium on Thursday. RM was asked to provide more details on the logistics of this and to find someone else to organise it rather than take it on himself.

(l) On the issue of Nottingham 2009 GT confirmed that contracts had been signed and CMB will make the next meeting.
On the subject of the 2010 conference at UEA, SM has contacted Chris Bigsby who is definitely interested, SM is awaiting details on hotels and other practicalities. UCLAN might be on board for 2011.

11. Awards Subcommittee (IS reporting)

(a) IS discussed spending money for publicity in 2008: at the high end the amount could be £1200. However, the subcommittee would be happy to spend half that on particular awards like Schools, Essays, Ambassadors, BAAS PG Essay, etc.

(b) Awards development was discussed in general terms: SN is in the process of developing further Teaching Assistantships (PG and hopefully research) and an English MA Teaching Assistantship at New Hampshire is in development. There is a slight problem at New Hampshire, regarding the wording and agreement of what is offer at New Hampshire. IS to continue dialogue on this regarding what precisely is on offer.

(c) IS mentioned that he will be writing a full draft of rules and regulations for entering into the various awards categories. Applicants for STAs should ensure that references need to be submitted in sealed envelopes. Electronic submissions need to be amended in this regard and the onus is on the applicant to make sure the referee delivers their entry.

(d) IS called for volunteers for judging panels (adding that we should encourage non-Exec colleagues).

(e) Abraham Lincoln STA has now been advertised online.

(f) GT suggested not making Honourable Mentions for those who are not present at the conference (it was agreed that perhaps the best way forward is to list Honourable Mentions on the programme).

(g) IS noted that it has not been the protocol of Awards Committee to write to all non-successful applicants of awards (other than STAs). The Exec discussed whether it was best to keep a disclaimer at the top of the Award application outlining that unsuccessful applicants would not be contacted. IB suggested asking the Chairs of each judging panel to write. IS to consider this further before next meeting.

12. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee (IR reporting)

(a) IR mentioned potential problems regarding funding in his last report but happily notes that a grant from the Embassy has recently been confirmed. Additional funding is to come from Eurospan inserts into the BLARs journal which will be circulated to members with the next edition of ASIB.

(b) As a result of the success of the Wiki session at the Leicester conference: IR spoke to James McKay about the potential of holding two sessions (one involving Internet research and Internet for teaching) at the Edinburgh conference.

(c) IR wondered about co-opting James Mckay on to the Libraries sub-committee and will bring it up as an issue at BLARs meeting on the 26 June.

(d) Another issue arising from the Leicester session was how universities prepare students to make use of electronic resources. BLARs is to put forward a position paper with suggestions for good practice on the use of electronic resources. This will be submitted to committee for further discussion on how to distribute to universities,

(e) IR feels that the Wiki on Special Collections has been successful and could perhaps be transferred to the BAAS site but only if there might be some way to restrict alteration. IR feels that placement on the BAAS website will offer heavier academic weight than its current Wikipedia position.

(f) IR noted that he was very pleased by response to his report at the AGM. Numerous people have put themselves forward. New Chair of Libraries will be Dick Ellis. Jo Gill will replace CM on BLARs and George Conyne will replace David Forster. Dick Ellis’s details are to be added to the Exec list and posted to the website. IR will happily help out with Schools work, etc.

(g) HM, on behalf of the Exec and BAAS, offered thanks to IR for all his hard work.

13. EAAS

(a) PD has been very proactive in updating details and his report is to follow.

14. Any Other Business

(a) HM noted that it was time to consider the Schools Liaison Co-optation. HM to write to HL to ask if she is happy to re-stand.

(b) WK has suggested the possibility of a different Schools Liaison Officer for each American Studies strand. However, the Standing Orders (checked by CM and HM) do not allow for this.

(c) The Exec discussed difficulties in getting Schools on board given the problems with timetabling, etc. IR suggested Paul Blackburn (recipient) be co-opted as an additional co-optee. IR said two main areas at A- and AS-levels are History and Politics. IR stressed the need for dialogue with Schools-liaison person. HM to contact Paul Blackburn as possible replacement for HL if the latter is unwilling to re-stand as Schools Liaison Officer.

(d) JD noted that the AGM of Academy of Social sciences has been moved to Tuesday 19 June. Given the late notice of this and the unavailability of the officers, BAAS will send apologies.

15. Date of next meeting

Saturday 29th September in Leicester at De Monfort University, Subcommittees to begin at 10.30am.

Dr. Catherine Morley
email: catherinemorley@brookes.ac.uk
Office Phone: (01865) 484977

BAAS 2007 Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the 2007 Annual General Meeting, held at University of Leicester on April 20, 2007.

Elections:

Chair: Heidi Macpherson (to 2010)
Secretary: Catherine Morley (to 2008)†
Committee: Ian Bell (to 2010), George Lewis (to 2010), Sarah MacLachlan (to 2010)*
EAAS Rep: Philip Davies(to 2012)*

*Not eligible for re-election
†Fulfilling an unexpired term due to a resignation from the office.

The Treasurer circulated copies of the draft audited accounts, which he asked the AGM to approve. He informed the AGM that the format of the accounts was different this year; the Trustees’ Report, which used to consist of the Chair’s address to the AGM, is now a longer document to take into account the new regulations (the Charities Act of 2006 and The Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities [SORP] 2005). The purpose of the new format report is to allow the Charity Commission to see what the charity is doing and its plans for the future, and to make sure that it is fulfilling its public benefit requirements. BAAS has no difficulty in fulfilling the charity definition of public benefit given its focus on education. One of the effects of the new reporting requirements is that the accountant’s bill has gone up. GT drew the membership’s attention to particular sections of the Report:

On p. 11, conference funding appears to be down substantially this year, but this is related to the extra money received the previous year for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.

There is a substantial amount of new money coming into BAAS for the Eccles Centre fellowships. This is restricted income.

Subscriptions are up by £2700 and membership is up 51; the rise in membership may partly be accounted for by the new ability to pay via PayPal. Since July 2006, BAAS has generated over £1700 from PayPal subscriptions.

BAAS currently holds a surplus of £4515 compared to £2402 in 2005.

GT also reported on membership figures; there are currently 435 fully paid up members, which compares to 384 at this time last year.

Dick Ellis proposed that the accounts be approved; George Conyne seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

GT reported on progress made on Gift Aid, which has been an ongoing issue over the last few years. Since 2000, membership subscriptions and donations have been eligible for Gift Aid, and BAAS can claim back 22/78th for those who have signed legitimate Gift Aid declarations. However, the audit trail has been uneven for this and as a result, GT sent out letters earlier this year with the new template for Gift Aid declarations. On the basis of the forms back, he has now submitted a claim to the Inland Revenue for £4466.84 plus interest, which is based on the return of 78 forms. GT estimated that if three quarters of BAAS members to sign the form, we can generate approximately £4500 each year. GT will now work on covering all the back years and will send a further mailshot out later this year. In response to a question from the floor, GT acknowledged that you cannot sign a declaration form if you do not pay income tax.

The Chair offered a comprehensive verbal report in which he noted that in the run up to the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the research culture of the UK’s American Studies subject community is in a very healthy state. American Studies experts continue to secure a whole range of awards, fellowships and prizes, are selected to serve on AHRC peer review panels, and are promoted within their home universities.

Congratulations were extended to the following BAAS members in relation to appointments, promotions, and awards:

Kevern Verney has been appointed to a chair in American History at Edge Hill University; Peter Rawlings has been appointed to a chair in American Literature at the University of the West of England; John Howard has been appointed to a chair in American Studies at King’s College London; Jude Davies has been promoted to Reader at the University of Winchester; Trevor Burnard has been appointed to a Chair in American History at the University of Warwick; and Susan-Mary Grant has been appointed to a Chair in American History at the University of Newcastle. In addition, Heidi Macpherson has been appointed Professor and Dean of Humanities at De Montfort University; and Janet Beer has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University.

The Chair noted that the officers and members of the Executive Committee of BAAS continue to work extremely hard to protect and enhance American Studies in the UK, spending an ever-increasing amount of time attending meetings, responding to consultation documents, and ensuring that the voice of American Studies is heard as universities, funding bodies and the government make their decisions. Over the past year, BAAS Committee members have undertaken the following work on behalf of BAAS. They have:

attended AHRC consultations on reform of postgraduate funding and written formal responses to these proposals;

participated in a special meeting on American Studies at the AHRC headquarters in Bristol;

responded to the AHRC consultation on its strategic plan;

responded to the QAA on its new benchmark statements for English and History (with BAAS member Alex Waddan responding on behalf of BAAS in relation to the Politics benchmark; thanks were extended to him);

responded to the Department for Education and Skills consultation document on reform of research assessment;

responded to an ESRC consultation on their 3+1 postgraduate funding scheme;

responded to the RCUK consultation on academic peer review;

responded to HEFCE on its review of funding for the Institute for the Study of the America;

attended a variety of other HEFCE, AHRC, British Academy, and Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences events;

worked on an American Studies alumni questionnaire in order to furnish information for the American Studies recruitment CD-ROM currently under development;

developed new prizes and fellowships for the American Studies community;

and attended inaugural lectures and social events in order to represent the American Studies subject community.

This work, whilst not always high profile, is essential in ensuring that the American Studies voice is heard nationally, particularly at a time when the public profile of American Studies is of a subject under threat. News reports in the Times Higher Education Supplement and the Education supplement of the Guardian have indicated a significant decline in undergraduate student enrolments; American Studies departments and programmes are under threat as universities reorganize administration and undergraduate teaching; and the number of American Studies Units of Assessment that will be submitted for RAE 2008 is likely to be lower than 2001. However, as the Chair reported, there is a dissonance between these trends and his direct and first hand experience of the healthy and in many ways very successful teaching and research culture of American Studies in the UK. Even in places where departments have been closed, the courses that constitute American Studies usually remain popular, albeit now under the rubric of other departments. Research and publications remain at the very highest quality, with members of the UK American Studies community winning the Abraham Lincoln Prize, being short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize, and winning the last two biennial EAAS Network book prizes. And more than anything else, the work presented at and the conversations occurring within this conference illustrated the health of the disciplines. American Studies remains strong, but a great deal of work is required to ensure that this is recognized.

The Chair concluded by thanking the members of the BAAS Executive Committee, including Susan Castillo, Richard Crockatt, Jude Davies, Martin Halliwell, Will Kaufman, Hannah Lowe, Sarah MacLachlan, Catherine Morley, Ken Morgan, Ian Ralston, Theresa Saxon, Ian Scott, Jenel Virden and the BAAS officers, Heidi Macpherson, Graham Thompson and Carol Smith. Thanks were also extended to Michelle Smith at the University of Manchester for helping to administer the Awards Committee, to the previous chairs, Philip Davies and Judie Newman for their wise counsel, and to Ambassador Robert Tuttle, Sue Wedlake, Michael Macy and Sarah-Jane Mayhew at the Embassy of the United States, for their support of American Studies in Britain. Final thanks were extended to George Lewis and his colleagues at Leicester, for organizing such an excellent conference.

Conferences

Sarah MacLachlan began her report by acknowledging what a huge success the Leicester conference had been so far, and offering public congratulations to George Lewis, Martin Halliwell, and their team of postgraduates for the hard work they had put in before and during the conference. SM noted that this year, she had visited the 2008 conference site in Edinburgh with Robert Mason, the 2008 Conference Organizer. The conference will be based in the Pollock Hall area of Edinburgh, 27-30 March. She noted that a call for papers would be distributed shortly, and members were asked to consider submitting proposals early to allow for planning.

The 2009 conference will be held at the University of Nottingham 16-19 April, organized by Celeste-Marie Bernier. SM reported that negotiations were underway for the 2010 conference and that the successful applicant would be announced shortly. She also announced that the University of Central Lancashire had submitted a bid for the 2011 conference, and that Manchester had expressed interested in hosting the 2012 conference. SM then invited suggestions for future conferences.

Finally, SM noted the Committee had agreed a new subsidized conference rate for retired members for the Edinburgh Conference, in line with the postgraduate fees.

Publications

Carol Smith began her verbal report by reminding the AGM that minutes of all meetings are published on the website, so that individuals may keep updated about current activities that way. She then reported on some of the highlights of the year in relation to the Publication Subcommittee. In relation to BRRAM, the long awaited release of the Edward Long papers and the Bolton Whitman papers were both released. Ken Morgan continued to negotiate with various sources, in particular the Darien scheme papers from the National Library of Scotland. Future plans included records relating to Liverpool merchants and the slave trade in the Liverpool Record Office. KM is also interested in the recruitment of additional Special Editors. A call was sent out in ASIB and anyone who is interested should contact KM at Brunel.

In relation to the BAAS EUP series, CS noted that it continued to be a vibrant, well used and well read series; there were currently two forthcoming publications: Hulthsether’s Religion, Culture and Politics in 20 Century North America which will be published May 2007, and for which a US co-publication has already been agreed, and Tillet’s Native American Literature, to be published in November 2007. SN and CS as editors are always happy to discuss ideas and proposals and ask that interested parties approach them directly.

CS noted apologies from the JAS editor, Susan Castillo, who could not attend the conference, and she reported that the main business of the subcommittee this year in relation to JAS was nominating the editor (Prof. Castillo) and associate editor (Prof. Scott Lucas). The latest issue of JAS was the first under their editorial control though due to a misprint, the former editor was listed on the inside cover. The following individuals were appointed to the Board: Prof. Ian Bell, Prof. Sabine Brock and Dr. Marina Moskowitz. Other appointments will be announced shortly. Thanks were extended all those who continue to serve for the benefit of the community and as reviewers, for the future health of the subject.

In relation to other publications, the latest issue of ASIB was produced earlier in the spring, with the deadline for the autumn issue being 11 August. ASIB had been fortunate to have an excellent editor in Catherine Morley. Elizabeth Boyle continues to refine the process of submission and refereeing for the postgraduate journal, US Studies Online and CS is pleased announce that they are moving to three issues a year with deadlines of April (the postgraduate conference issue), August and December.

Because of his role as Treasurer, GT had announced that he wanted to step down as webster, and the officers agreed that this was a good time to advertise for a joint webster and mail base co-ordinator. AGM members were asked to note that the position had been advertised on the web with a deadline of 1June 2007. CS formally thanked GT and Clare Elliot for their hard work.

CS noted that this was her last report as Publications subcommittee chair, and she thanked all members of the subcommittee for the work that they did.

Development

Richard Crockatt was unable to attend the AGM and sent his apologies. A written report was read out on his behalf by the Vice Chair. As announced at the last AGM, the subcommittee structure changed this past year, with the awards business of the old Development subcommittee given to a new Awards Subcommittee, in recognition of the substantial growth in awards business. In relation to the awards that the Development Subcommittee continued to oversee, for conference support, there had been a downturn in applications, with only 2 successful applications this year; these were for the development of the South West American Studies Forum (May 2007) and for the annual postgraduate conference. In the absence of any other requests made during the year, RC plans to establish whether the availability of funds for such purposes is publicized well enough. It is expected that the bid form will be put on the website for easier access.

In relation to postgraduate business, the postgraduate representative, Josephine Metcalf, had been involved in forging closer links amongst European postgraduates; JM acquired a list of postgraduate representatives in continental European countries and gained permission to display this list on the EAAS website. The November 2006 BAAS postgraduate conference in Nottingham was reported to have been very successful. The venue for the 2007 conference is to be Manchester University. On a less happy note, concern has arisen about the success rate of postgraduate applications to the AHRC and it appears that none from American Studies departments were successful in the 2006 round.

Schools’ Liaison remains an important aspect of the work of the Development subcommittee. A teachers’ lunch was to be held at the conference. In addition, the teachers’ representative, Hannah Lowe, wrote a report, “Issues Affecting the City and Islington Student Recruitment to American Studies Undergraduate Degree Courses”. The findings of the report received wider circulation with the publication of HL’s summary of the report in the first 2007 issue of ASIB. HL was congratulated by the Committee on the high quality and usefulness of the report. There was general agreement that the “widening participation” work between King’s College, London and the City and Islington Sixth Form was a good model for getting the message out about American Studies. In the coming year the subcommittee intends to seek ways of building on the conclusions of HL’s report.

The Subcommittee was also looking at ways to ensure closer links with the LLAS. One LLAS project was the “Why Study American Studies?” CD project which had funding from the US Embassy. At this point, Sarah Wood (Birmingham) gave a short presentation on the CD roms. She noted that the project coordinators (including Dick Ellis) were grateful to BAAS for their support and contacts, their help in setting up filming opportunities, and for writing short essays for the CD rom. Thanks were also extended to the US Embassy. SW distributed a handout with contact details for anyone who wanted to contribute to the CD. She particularly wished to solicit photographs of the USA; the plan was for the CD to be visually dynamic. The coordinators had identified employability as a key issue and one of the crucial resources used was the BAAS survey of career destinations. Thanks were extended to Will Kaufman for his help in soliciting short introductory essays.

All the members of the subcommittee were thanked for their contributions during the year.

Awards

IS began his report by thanking the anonymous judges who contributed to the successful business of the Awards subcommittee. IS noted the new awards of the Wyoming Teaching Assistantship in American Studies and the new Eccles Fellowships. He also reported that SN had visited the US this spring and had set up a number of other exciting opportunities for links between institutions; thanks were offered to him for his efforts. Thanks were also extended to Philip Davies for his backing of the Eccles awards. IS noted that BAAS would distribute 29 awards (not including honorable mentions) for 2007, encompassing awards to A level students and established scholars, worth approximately £29,000 (excluding the Teaching Assistantship award). The US Embassy was thanked for their support, as were individual members of BAAS who donate funds to support the Short Term Travel Awards.

Libraries and Resources

IR reported that the subcommittee had dealt with three main items over the past year. The first was the new journal, Resources for American Studies, which was for the first time distributed with ASIB in 2006. Thanks were offered to everyone who had helped to make that possible. The feedback on the new journal was highly positive and this publication can now claim to be making an informed and valuable contribution to the study and resourcing of American Studies in the UK. Members were invited to consider how they could make contributions to the journal’s content, with reviews of new resources or details of special collections. Thanks were offered to Matthew Shaw at the British Library for his work as editor (matthew.shaw@bl.ac.uk) and to all those who had contributed to the content or advertising revenue through contacting publishers.

IR reported that the second major business for the subcommittee was the special collections database project. The intention is to collect information on special collections, which will then be set up on the BAAS website. The request, via email shots to BAAS members, to identify special collections or new long-term projects sadly received little response, though the subcommittee is still committed to the project. A decision was taken to establish American Studies in Britain pages on Wikipedia to present an open forum to which members could contribute. There was considerable debate about the proposal, but the subcommittee agreed to proceed on the understanding that it was clear that these pages did not constitute an official BAAS or BLARS site. The pages can be view and be added to at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Studies_in_Britain. BAAS members are encouraged to contribute to these pages in order to make them as fully representative of the work done in American Studies in the UK as possible. IR and Matthew Shaw (who organized the pages) would like to be informed if members add things to the site.

IR reported that the final item of major business for the year was the membership of the subcommittee. At the moment, there are only three academics on the subcommittee. There will be three vacancies at the end of this academic year, including the position of Chair (IR is stepping down after 4 years). In order to maintain closer links between the academic community and the library resourcing community, IR noted that he would like to see these vacancies taken up by academic staff, especially the chair of this subcommittee. Members who wanted to get involved in the subcommittee were asked to contact IR at the conference or afterwards.

Thanks were extended to all members of the subcommittee, the US Embassy for support in publishing the journal, and colleagues on the Executive Committee.

EAAS

JV reported that she had just returned from the EAAS board meeting in Wittenberg on Monday. The current membership of EAAS is 3972 from all the various constituent national associations. She also reported that the new EAAS website is www.eaas.eu. She noted that the major item for the meeting was selecting the workshop proposals and parallel lecture proposals. As Secretary General, JV was in charge of this process. There were 68 workshop proposals and 17 parallel lecture proposals. BAAS members who had successfully applied to chair workshops were Dick Ellis (Birmingham), Theresa Saxon (Central Lancashire), Carol Smith (Winchester), and Jude Davies (Winchester); Robert Lewis (Birmingham) was offered a parallel lecture slot.

JV reported that the Oslo conference organizer visited the board meeting and has already produced a tentative schedule, which includes a Mayor’s reception at the City Hall, followed by a reception the next night at the US Ambassador’s residence, which may be a garden party (weather permitting). On the 3rd night, a sightseeing coach will take delegates around the city, and this will be followed by a cruise banquet. The organizer has been able to negotiate hotel prices of 50-100 euros per night. There are budget airlines which fly to Oslo (ie from Stansted for BAAS members). Another option is an overnight ferry from Copenhagen. JV is going to Oslo to visit the venue in January or February 2008. Workshop chairs will shortly send out CFPs. One request is that PowerPoint presentations are kept to a minimum.

JV reported that the next two board meetings have been arranged: the 2008 board meeting will be in Oslo before the conference, and 2009 meeting will be held in Zürich. The next conference venues have been confirmed as well: Dublin in 2010 and Halle in Germany in 2012.

JV noted that the first official issue of the online journal European Journal of American Studies (EJAS) came out recently. It has 6 articles (4 literature/culture articles and 2 history/political science articles). Two more articles are coming on line in the next few weeks. There will be two issues a year. There is an active editorial committee but they are looking for more people who will peer review, since every article is double peer reviewed. For more information, members should look on the EAAS website and contact the journal editors directly.

JV reported that there is one new member of EAAS: Bulgaria. Their association’s acronym is BASA. JV reported that the board is still considering how to organize the EAAS board membership into “clusters” since the board is becoming very large. At present the plan is to ask for voluntary mergers, and this will be revisited next year.

JV noted that the American Studies network book prize is being advertised now. Eligible texts are monographs (not edited collections) that have been published in 2006 or 2007. The author has to be a European-based scholar and a member of EAAS through membership of his or her national association. The deadline is 1 November 2007. Information on where to send books is available on the web.

Finally, JV noted that this was her last report as EAAS representative, but that she would continue to work with EAAS as Secretary General; thus BAAS has 2 voices on the board. Thanks were extended to Committee members and individual BAAS members for their help over the years in ensuring that BAAS had a strong voice in EAAS.

AOB

There was no any other business.

The AGM concluded at 5.45pm.

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: April 19, 2007

Minutes of the 250th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at University of Leicester on April 19, 2007.

1. Present

S Newman (Chair), C Smith (Vice Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), M Halliwell, W Kaufman, S MacLachlan, J Metcalf, I Scott, J Virden, T Saxon

Apologies

S Castillo, R Crockatt, J Davies, H Lowe, C Morley, I Ralston

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

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

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

4. Chair’s Business

a) The Chair began his report by announcing that, sadly, the former BAAS chair Maldwyn Jones had recently died.
b) The Chair then announced the following promotions, appointments and awards: Heidi Macpherson has been appointed Professor and Dean of Humanities at De Montfort University; Jude Davies has been promoted to Reader at the University of Winchester; Trevor Burnard has been appointed to a Chair in American Studies at the University of Warwick; Susan-Mary Grant has been promoted to a Chair in American History at the University of Newcastle; and Ian Scott has secured an AHRC Research Leave Award. In addition, the Chair was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society for the Arts, as were JV, WK, MH and HM. Congratulations were extended to them all.
c) SN reported that on BAAS’s behalf, he had attended a number of events this quarter, which included the following: in January, he attended the House of Lords lunch sponsored by the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences, as had SC, RC, JV and MH. In February, SN attended John Howard’s inaugural lecture at King’s College London, which was a very well attended event. In March, he attended the annual conference of the Organization of American Historians in Minneapolis.
d) SN reported that he had spoken with Kevin Sullivan, the London-based Co-Bureau Chief of the Washington Post, regarding the teaching of American History in British schools and he had plans to discuss this with HL. GT mentioned that Kevin Sullivan had also been in touch with him.
e) SN noted that he had drafted and submitted the BAAS response to HEFCE on the Institute for the Study of the Americas, as part of their regular review of HEFCE’s dedicated funding of the research institutes in London. His comments were broadly supportive, and he also made some recommendations for future directions and events for the ISA.
f) SN reported that, following the circulation of RC’s email concerning cross-referral for the RAE, the Chair had received emails from heads and members of a number of American Studies departments and programmes, and indications that several HEI’s are considering cross-referral to the American Studies panel. The Chair sent a copy of Professor Crockatt’s memo to Americanists on various RAE panels, and received positive responses from several of them.
g) SN reported that he had travelled to Bristol in February for a meeting with Tony McEnery (Director of Research) and Emma Wakelin (Associate Director for Postgraduate Affairs) at the AHRC, regarding the proposed reforms of postgraduate funding. The Block Grant Proposal (BGP) system will go ahead, but the AHRC do appear to be aware of the problems of disciplinary-based assessment, and of the need to protect interdisciplinary and area studies research, and are willing to highlight these in their guide to institutions for funding applications. More worrying is the rethinking of peer review that appears underway, and the likely weakening of the current peer review panels for all AHRC competitions. Following the meeting, SN wrote a follow-up letter to Professor McEnery before the final AHRC meeting on reform of postgraduate funding. According to Full Economic Costings, it costs more to give out the awards than they actually award. The AHRC has released their list of research leave awards: of the 99 awards were made, only 2 were American Studies awards: to M. Newman at Edinburgh and I. Scott at Manchester. This is far fewer than usual. Members were reminded to attend Tony McEnery’s talk later in the day on the AHRC and American Studies.
h) With the aid of a US Embassy grant and some support from BAAS, the Chair visited several universities in the US in order to work on the development of further exchange schemes. The Chair visited the University of Southern California; the Huntington Library; California State University, Fresno; the University of Wyoming; the University of Virginia, and the University of New Hampshire. New and possible new schemes include the following:
1. Targeted BAAS fellowships at the Huntington Library.
2. A biennial BAAS TAship in US History at California State University, Fresno.
3. A biennial BAAS TAship in American Studies at the University of Wyoming (SN reminded the Executive that we would be awarding the first Wyoming TAship at this conference). SN noted that Wyoming has a large endowment and have spent most of it on the library collections; it also had a very strong AS programme, making this an excellent place to do a Master’s Degree.
4. Regular BAAS-sponsored/fostered academic teaching exchanges between Wyoming staff (in American Studies, History and English) and any BAAS members (research facilities at American Heritage Center)—BAAS will advertise the potential, and the BAAS member would signal their interest. Individuals would continue to receive their home institution salary but would exchange teaching responsibilities.
5. Targeted BAAS fellowship for academic staff at the International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello to go alongside the current teacher’s award.
6. Making both of the annual Monticello teacher’s fellowships eligible for the Monticello/Stratford Hall Program (ie 3 week seminar for teachers, rather than 2 week independent research).
7. A biennial BAAS TAship in American Literature at the University of New Hampshire where we already have a History TA.
All of these TA positions would work on the same time track at the existing ones, thus we would have 2 History and 2 Literature TAs available at the same time, so could choose from the same applicant pool. SN reported that he had visited the current students on the BAAS TAships and they are doing very well. The Committee approved of all of these new ventures and noted that such opportunities may offer a good incentive for individuals to become members of BAAS. SN is to follow up on these opportunities and send the information on to the new Chair as appropriate.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary noted that, unusually, she had no items to distribute this quarter which hadn’t already been circulated by email.
b) HM reported on actions taken as Secretary, noting that her main role revolved around information flow. She helped direct people with research and grant queries to the appropriate sources; liaised with the archivist at Bath about some American Studies papers and was in touch with the Head of History at Rodean about setting up connections with US teachers; distributed calls for papers, conferences, new employment opportunities, etc., through the listserv; updated the BAAS Externals List; responded to the British Academy’s call for consultation on languages learning and referred the contact person to various other organizations; sent out notices of the AGM and elections on the mailbase; and gathered information for the HEFCE review of the Institute for the Study of the Americas.
c) Along with the other officers, HM offered details to the Treasurer to help him write the annual Trustees’ Report.
d) HM liaised with publishers in Germany who wished to quote from the American Dream BAAS pamphlet and gave them permission to do so, as long as appropriate citations were offered. She also contacted Matthew Shaw, editor of Resources for American Studies, after another permissions request came in to allow an individual author to post a copy of his article on his website; this was agreed.
e) HM reported that BAAS’s nominations to the Academy of Social Sciences had all been successful; the new academicians are Iwan Morgan, Susan Castillo, and Jude Davies. Congratulations were extended to them.
f) HM reported that she had attended a reception for Americans working in the UK at Buckingham Palace on 27 March. JV, WK and SC were also in attendance.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer’s report focused on the annual accounts and progress on Gift Aid. GT noted that the Trustees’ Report has changed from previous years. It used to be the Chair’s report to the AGM, but it is now a formal part of the accounts. GT had to write a report which justifies our public benefit as a charity, with new sections on governance and management. GT drew the Committee’s attention to an article in The Guardian this week about university presses which are also charities but which deal in much higher figures than we do. The new fuller report is a summary of what we do and the awards we give out, and has a section on future plans. HM noted that the constitution was amended in 2002 but that the governing document was listed as the constitution of 1990. GT is to check with the accountants on this.
b) GT drew the Committee’s attention to particular sections of the Report, including p. 11, under Incoming Resources, which indicates that conference funding is down by over £10k from £21,200 in 2005 to £8911 in 2006, but this is accounted for by the extra money we had had for the 50th anniversary conference. GT also explained why the money listed under the Eccles Centre (a new entry) was “restricted funds”: it can only be used for the Eccles Fellowship and was paid in advance. Subscriptions are up by approximately £2700. The ability to pay subscriptions via PayPal may have helped, particularly for overseas members. Between July and April, £1700 worth of subscriptions came through by PayPal and there are now 51 more fully paid up members. GT also noted that travel expenses have gone down marginally this past year. There followed some discussion about the rise in postage costs; this is accounted for by the fact that CM is required to reimburse the Rothermere for postage for ASIB whereas previously, editors have sometimes been able to have that cost absorbed by their universities.
c) GT noted that the accountant has split expenses 50/50 between Governance and Support costs, but he feels that it may be more accurate to have the split be 75/25, and he will raise this with the accountant.
d) The accounts currently show a surplus of £4515 as opposed to a previous surplus of £2402.
e) GT reported that he had been able to put in a Gift Aid Claim form. He reminded the Committee that the original Gift Aid declaration forms that people had signed didn’t match the forms that the Inland Revenue required. Thus he sent out 125 letters to individuals who had signed GA declarations and received, to date, 78 back; on that basis, the claim is for £4466.84, plus interest. With interest, it is likely to be nearly £5000. The next step is to get forms photocopied for the conference so that others can sign them and clear all the back years and then claim annually. GT estimates that if we get ¾ of our subscribers to sign the forms, this would generate approximately £4500 a year. He plans to do another mailshot, too, to all members, and notes that the claim form is now paired with membership forms.
f) The Treasurer reported that current membership figures stand at 435 fully paid-up members, including 107 postgraduates. This compares to 384 for April 2006. When those who haven’t so far updated their Standing Orders are included, the number rises to 505 (including 163 postgraduates). The highest possible membership figure (taking into account the above and those who have yet to renew for 2007) is 594 (including 206 postgraduates). All the figures are up compared to April last year.
g) Balances on 23/04/07 are as follows: Current account: £6,236.34, Conference £6,832.96, Lib. Res. £727.87, Ed. Development: £4,993.64, STA: £12,772.57, Deposit £30,889.69, making a total of £62453.07. In addition, the RBS Jersey has £14,973.10, and US dollar account has $5647.27.

7. Development Subcommittee (IS and HM reporting on RC’s behalf)

a) RC was unexpectedly detained and unable to make the meeting. In his absence, IS and HM offered reports based on his written AGM report and on other information available; anything not covered will be addressed in the summer meeting. In relation to the American Studies CD rom, WK reported that Dick Ellis was planning to make an address to the AGM regarding the project, with a demo CD. IS reported that Sara Wood and Dick Ellis are arranging for a series of interviews in Manchester soon. WK noted that individual 750-word essays on various topics still needed to be commissioned, and the Committee offered suggestions of individual names for WK to contact at the conference.
b) HM read through RC’s report to the AGM, noting in particular the issues to do with closer links to the LLAS and also schools; HL’s report on City and Islington College had provoked a good response, and a version of it was published in the ASIB.
c) RC’s report noted the relative lack of applications for funding from BAAS this year; it was suggested that the conference funding form be put on the web for easier access, and that RC investigate how we can increase the publicity of our awards.
d) There was one request for funding, from JM for the annual BAAS postgraduate conference to be held in Manchester. The Committee agreed to award £300 to the conference organizers to help support postgraduates.
e) JM noted that there would be a postgraduate meeting on Saturday, designed in part to encourage members to join, but also to showcase awards, etc. Committee members were asked to encourage their postgraduates to attend.

8. Publications Subcommittee (CS reporting)

a) CS noted that there was nothing further to report on BRRAM since the last meeting. She noted that in her address to the AGM, she will suggest that people look at the minutes on the website to get a fuller view of the activities of the subcommittee.
b) CS noted that she and SN have a meeting about EUP with Nicky Ramsey at the conference. There are two texts shortly to be published: Hulthsether’s Religion Culture and Politics in 20 Century North America, which will be published in May 2007, and Tillet’s Native American Literature, to be published in November. A report on sales figures was distributed and lodged with the Secretary.
c) Following discussions with the officers, the current editor and associate editor, and CUP, it was agreed that CS would formally ask the Executive Committee to limit the term of the JAS editor and associate editor to 3 years. CUP’s agreement with the editors is not time limited, so although historically it has been a 5-year appointment, this can be altered. CS felt that whether it was 3 or 5 years, it should be written into the contracts for clarity. The reason for the move is primarily that, if the associate editor becomes the editor, a 10 year period is a long time to commit, both by the individual and by the subject community. A shorter term of editorship would allow more individuals from the community to be involved in this important work and would allow for a range of disciplines to be represented in a shorter timeframe. This has been agreed with all parties: CUP, editors, officers. The Executive agreed this move. CS will inform SC and SL as soon as possible.
d) CS also brought forward to the meeting recommendations to the JAS editorial board. CS distributed CVs and noted the reasons for asking for these particular nominations. CS proposed the re-nomination of Judie Newman and the nominations of Simon Newman (Glasgow) to cover early American History; Christopher Davis McKenna (Said Business School, Oxford) to establish more active links with globalization, business, etc.; and Carol Smith (Winchester) for popular culture and gender (replacing Rachel Bowlby). CS reported that she had withdrawn from the discussion of her own nomination, but that it had been predicated on her experience in terms of editing. A short discussion of the candidates ensued, and the Committee unanimously approved these nominations. The new Secretary will write to the CUP contact Martine Walsh with the recommendations to be put forward to the Syndics.
e) CS noted that for the next round, there are still 2-3 vacancies that we would be looking to fill, particularly in the areas of popular culture, gender debates, film and the twentieth century broadly speaking.
f) CS drew the Committee’s attention to a misprint in the last issue of JAS, which still listed Jay Kleinberg as the editor and SC as the associate editor; this was a mistake and has been pointed out to CUP who will rectify it for the next issue.
g) CS reminded the Executive about the JAS/CUP lecture, to be offered by Linda Kerber; Scott Lucas will do the introduction.
h) CS noted that the last issue of ASIB had come out since the last meeting and was again a very professional production. The next deadline will be 11 August.
i) In relation to US Studies Online, there is a need for more people to sit on the editorial board itself, especially now that it is moving to 3 issues a year. The current editor, Elizabeth Boyle, is in the process of devising a form for the refereeing process.
j) CS reported that the joint webster/mailbase coordinator position has been advertised with a 1 June 2007 deadline, to commence 1 September. Thanks were formally extended to GT and Clare Elliott for their hard work over the last few years.
k) CS reported that the website continues to run smoothly. IR and Matthew Shaw (BL) contacted GT about setting up a wiki on the website. This has been done, but more discussion is needed about how to make this work in practice.

9. Conference Subcommittee (SM reporting)

a) SM reported that everything is running smoothly for the Edinburgh conference for 2008. The Nottingham conference organizer, Celeste-Marie Bernier, has confirmed the dates of the 2009 conference: 16-19 April 2009. GT reported that the contract will be signed next week and noted that individuals will be required to sign out by 9am on Sunday, but that there will be somewhere to store bags.
b) There followed a discussion about a subsidized conference fee for retired members in order to encourage their attendance at the conference. Issues were raised as to where the funds would come from (postgraduate fees are subsidized in part by the US Embassy). After a long discussion, which included discussions about funding it from the GiftAid monies, it was agreed to trial this for one year at Edinburgh, and that such a rate would be “subject to availability”, ie, we could cap the numbers if necessary.
c) SM noted that she would coordinate early with Robert Mason, Philip Davies (Eccles Centre) and Susan Castillo (JAS/CUP) regarding who to invite as visiting speakers next year.
d) MH gave an update on the Leicester conference. There were two main issues: banquet attendance and the additional activity at the Space Centre. Because the banquet was being held off campus, at Athena, the conference organizers had to confirm numbers a week early, but some awards information was received late, and therefore there was a last minute negotiation trying to change the numbers, which had not been easy. MH asked that awards information be supplied much earlier in the cycle next year. This was agreed, though IS noted that there had been a number of special circumstances this year which had led to the difficulties, including the late confirmation of prizes in some cases. MH also noted that organizing the Space Centre event had been time consuming, with a smaller take up rate than had been hoped (though the numbers were supplemented by the general public). A discussion ensued regarding the amount of effort such an event took, and it was agreed that in the future, a smaller event might be just as useful as a large one. Conference organizers needed to be aware of the fact that additional events could sometimes entail excessive planning.

10. Awards Subcommittee (IS reporting)

a) IS circulated a report for the Committee, which he had previously circulated via email, regarding the Awards subcommittee, on its first year of existence. As had been noted, there is a huge expansion in the number of awards that BAAS is responsible for or helps to judge. IS felt that he underestimated the amount of time and organization that the whole awards structure would take, as well as the amount of administrative support needed. IS noted that Manchester had provided computer access, printing costs, an office, and technical support, which was much appreciated. BAAS had provided the administrator, Michelle Smith, with a BAAS email address which had helped with communication, but IS noted that sometimes, there were up to 200 emails a week to which to respond, and that MS was on a steep learning curve. A long discussion ensued regarding ways to improve the process, including the compilation of an FAQ page for the website, which may help. IS is to work with the Awards subcommittee and the administrator on this, and members were asked to come to the summer meeting with ideas. There was also an extended discussion about whether the administrator was being remunerated sufficiently for her work and/or whether an expansion of her role to cover other areas would be advisable. In the end, it was agreed that this was not warranted, but that an additional honorarium of £500 be allocated to MS this year in recognition of the amount of work she had done to set up the awards administration. It is likely that next year, it will be easier to administer the awards because systems will have been tried and tested.
b) Regarding the structure of the awards, IS acknowledged that the Wyoming TA award had been taken on very late, and this was problematic in relation to the banquet. This would not happen in subsequent years. However, he also noted that even if the awards timetable was re-jigged somewhat, there is still a lot of reading for judges to do, which may cause delays; for example, the BAAS postgraduate essay prize received 21 entries of 5000 words each and judging this award was therefore necessarily time-consuming.
c) IS confirmed that this year, there were 29 awards given worth approximately £29,000 pounds, plus honourable mentions (see attached list of winners). There were, overall, more than 250 applications for all various awards that we offer.
d) GT raised the issue of the amount of the Eccles Awards offered being slightly out of line with the funding that had been promised; IS and GT are to raise this with PD, who had agreed to fund additional awards once the pool of applicants was shown to be so strong.
e) HM raised the issue of requiring references from applicants. Some applications did not include references this year, since applicants relied on their referees to submit them. Many judges felt that these applications should be therefore disqualified, and noted that even if they were not, they offered less information to go on and were therefore disadvantaged. It was agreed that no applications without references would be accepted in the future, and that a new protocol would be set up; either applicants would include signed references with signatures over seals, or referees would be responsible for passing on the application in its entirety as happens with many other competitions. IS is to pursue this and change the information on the web accordingly.
f) The Chair agreed to send MS a formal note of thanks for her efforts. Thanks were also extended to the judges, who worked anonymously (apart from the Book Prize Judges who this year were Catherine Morley, Carol Smith and Richard Follett, a former winner). IS is to construct a list of judges for reserved business; he has thanked them all formally. It was also noted that ASIB will have a call for judges for next year, and that such a call will also be noted at the AGM.

11. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee (HM reported on IR’s behalf)

a) HM noted that IR had offered a written report, which she read to the Committee and which was subsequently discussed. IR apologized for not being able to attend the Executive meeting but noted that he would be available during the conference to discuss any matters arising.
b) It was noted that at the last meeting of the subcommittee, the subcommittee agreed to reverse the earlier decision regarding the role of the Treasurer of BLARS and the separate bank account. David Forster (BLARS Treasurer) has come to agree with the points GT has made regarding the duplication of procedures.
c) It was noted that the preparation for the next edition of Resources for American Studies is well under way, but that the external funding that had been promised for it may not be forthcoming. Therefore IR requested a temporary grant from BAAS for £300 to cover outstanding costs of publication. This was agreed. Some advertising revenue has yet to be generated.
d) It was reported that there will be significant changes in the make up of the subcommittee next year. David Forster will be retiring, although he will be staying on as Web Manager of the American Studies Resources Centre on a part time basis. IR will also be standing down from his position as Chair and member of the subcommittee after 4 years. He formally proposed that the new chair be an academic with close ties to BAAS and suggested an active call for a new chair at the AGM. This was agreed. Thanks were formally extended to IR in his absence for his hard work on behalf of the subcommittee.

12. EAAS (JV reporting)

a) JV reported that she had just returned from the EAAS board meeting in Wittenberg on Monday. The current membership of EAAS is 3972 from all the various constituent national associations. She also reported that the new EAAS website is www.eaas.eu.
b) JV reported that the major item for the meeting was the sorting out of the workshop proposals and parallel lecture proposals. As Secretary General, JV was in charge of this process. There were 68 workshop proposals and 17 parallel lecture proposals. BAAS has had some success with Dick Ellis, Theresa Saxon, Carol Smith, and Jude Davies having their proposals accepted, as well as one parallel lecture accepted by Robert Lewis.
c) JV reported that the board is still considering how to organize the EAAS board membership into “clusters” since the board is becoming very large. At present the plan is to ask for voluntary mergers, and this will be revisited next year.
d) JV noted that the Nicosia proceedings have been edited and are in the process of being produced; a new publisher has been located who will do the proceedings as part of a sub-series.
e) JV reported that the next newsletter is coming out in May. The Vice President is ready to set it up but Committee members should let JV’s successor know about anything that members want to include from BAAS.
f) JV reported that the Oslo conference organizer visited the Board and has already produced a tentative schedule, which includes a Mayor’s reception at the City Hall, followed by a reception the next night at the US Ambassador’s residence, which will be a garden party if the weather is nice. On the 3rd night, a sightseeing coach will take delegates around the city, and this will be followed by a cruise banquet. It is Pentecostal weekend, and before the tourist season, so the organizer has been able to negotiate hotel costs of 50-100 euros per night. They also note that there are budget airlines which fly to Oslo (ie from Stansted for BAAS members). Another option is an overnight ferry from Copenhagen. One request is that PowerPoint presentations are kept to a minimum. JV is going to Oslo to visit the venue in January or February 2008.
g) JV reported that the next two board meetings have been arranged: the 2008 board meeting will be in Oslo before the conference, and 2009 meeting will be held in Zürich. The next conference venues have been confirmed as well: Dublin in 2010 and Halle in Germany in 2012.
h) JV noted that the first official issue of the online journal European Journal of American Studies (EJAS) came out 2 weeks ago. It has 6 articles (4 literature/culture articles and, 2 history/political science articles). Two more are coming on line in the next few weeks. There will be two issues a year. There is an active editorial committee but they are looking for more people who will peer review, since every article is double peer reviewed. For more information, Committee members should look on the EAAS website and contact the journal editors directly.
i) There is one new member of EAAS: Bulgaria. Their association’s acronym is BASA.
j) JV noted that the American Studies network book prize is being advertised now. Eligible texts are monographs (not edited collections) that have been published in 2006 or 2007. The author has to be a European-based scholar and a member of EAAS through membership of his or her national association. The deadline is Nov. 1 2007. Information on where to send books is available on the web.

13. Any Other Business

a) Thanks were offered to outgoing Committee members and officers: JV, CS, CM, SM and SN. The Committee then presented SN with a gift of thanks for his service to BAAS as Chair over the last three years.

14. Date of next meeting

Saturday 16 June 2007. Rothermere American Institute. Venue to be confirmed.

Prof. Heidi Macpherson, Outgoing Secretary.
Dr. Catherine Morley has been elected Secretary and her contact details are below:
email: catherinemorley@brookes.ac.uk
Office Phone: (01865) 484977

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: Janury 12, 2007

Minutes of the 249th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at Manchester Metropolitan University on Janury 12, 2007.

1. Present

S Newman (Chair), C Smith (Vice Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), S Castillo, R Crockatt, J Davies, M Halliwell, W Kaufman, S MacLachlan, J Metcalf, C Morley, I Scott, J Virden, T Saxon

Apologies H Lowe, I Ralston

In Attendance

G Lewis

2. Minutes of the Previous Meetings

After the correction of minor typographical errors, these minutes were accepted as a true record and will now be posted on the website.

3. Matters Arising and Review of Action List

There were no matters arising that do not come up elsewhere on the agenda.

4. Chair’s Business

a) The Chair noted the following promotions and appointments: Kevern Verney has been appointed to a chair in American History at Edge Hill University; Peter Rawlings has been appointed to a chair in American Literature at the University of the West of England; John Howard has been appointed to a chair in American Studies at King’s College London; and Heidi Macpherson has been appointed to a chair in American Literature at the University of Central Lancashire. Professor Martin Halliwell has been appointed onto the AHRC Postgraduate Panel for English Language and Literature. Congratulations were extended to each of these members.

b) SN reported that in October, he had attended Professor Linda Kerber’s Caroline Robbins Lecture, an annual lecture formerly sponsored by the Institute of United States Studies, and now jointly sponsored by the Institute for the Study of the Americas and the British Group of Early American Historians. In November the Chair gave a lecture at the Rothermere American Institute on the changing face of American history and American Studies in Britain.

c) SN reported that he had drafted and submitted several reports for various consultations. He submitted a response to the report of Research Councils UK (RCUK) on the efficiency and effectiveness of peer review. He also drafted and submitted a response to the AHRC Review of Postgraduate Funding with help from the officers and suggestions from the Executive. On the basis of that response, the Chair has been invited to Bristol to discuss the issue with Dr. Emma Wakelin (Associate Director for Post Graduate Affairs) and Professor Tony McEnery (Director of Research). This is a positive move and suggests that they are willing to listen to BAAS’s concerns regarding block grants. SN elicited responses from the Executive about what he should say for BAAS. The discussion focused on ring fencing and the need for an interdisciplinary bid panel. GT asked if there were other organizations making the case for interdisciplinary studies. SN noted that UKCASA was doing so; SN is to contact Philip Davies and Dick Ellis to share ideas. CS noted that the strongest point made is that institutions’ own internal priorities may mean that national agendas are overlooked, and this should be of concern for a national funding body. It was suggested that BAAS offers itself as a case study/test case, to assess the health of the subject, comparing interdisciplinary American Studies projects’ success against single discipline American History or American Literature projects, for example. This was agreed. SN asked for members to email him with other ideas before 7 February meeting.

d) The Chair reported that HM, JV and Alex Waddan (Leicester) had responded on behalf of BAAS and the American Studies community to the Quality Assurance Agency with feedback on the revised benchmark statements for English, History and Politics respectively. Thanks were extended to them.

e) SN has been in dialogue with Sue Wedlake and Michael Macy at the US Embassy, who are keen to sponsor some sort of launch event for the American Studies component of the Area Studies boxes under development for use in schools. Discussions are ongoing. The US Embassy is also helping to fund some travel by the Chair in the United States later this spring. The Chair will meet with colleagues at the Universities of New Hampshire and Virginia, as well as the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, to discuss existing agreements with BAAS, and possible expansion. The Chair will also visit other universities (perhaps including Minnesota, Wyoming, and California State Fresno) in order to discuss possible American Studies postgraduate studentships, faculty exchanges, and other collaborative ventures with BAAS.

f) SN confirmed that the Treasury has announced that RAE 2008 will go ahead as planned, with funding being determined by the results for several years thereafter.

g) The Chair noted that the Times Higher Education Supplement reported on 27 October 2006 a 25.6% drop in the number of students accepted onto American Studies courses. While numbers are indeed dropping, and not just for American Studies, the figures are misleading, and the Treasurer wrote a letter to the THES responding to the inaccuracies. Thanks were extended to GT for his efforts. The numbers for this year are looking more encouraging.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary circulated correspondence received, including information on legacies, but noted that, as before, most of the items she receives now come electronically and are thus distributed as she receives them (i.e., the Charity Commission Newsletter). SN is to contact Peter Thompson to pursue the issue of legacies further.

b) HM reported on actions taken as Secretary since September. She has organized the nominations from BAAS to the Academy of Social Sciences. We will hear the results in a month or so. She has also helped direct people with research and grant queries to the appropriate sources; distributed calls for papers, conferences, new employment opportunities, etc., through the listserv; updated the BAAS leaflet and ensured that the Postgraduate Conference had copies; wrote BAAS’s response to the revised QAA benchmark statement for English; worked with SN and other officers on various consultation documents (postgraduate funding, etc.); liaised with Rose Harding, the events coordinator at Southwark Cathedral regarding the Queen’s visit on 22 November to the unveiling of a memorial stone to a Mohican chieftain. HM supplied the names of leading Americanists to attend the unveiling. HM was invited but unable to attend.

c) HM noted that she had written a notice for ASIB regarding the AGM, noting the change of date and the offices that will fall vacant. HM noted that elections at the AGM will include Chair, 3 Committee members, and the EAAS representative. CS, having served two terms, is coming to the end of her time on the Committee, and thanks were extended to her, particularly for her work on the Publications subcommittee and as Vice Chair. JV’s term is also non-renewable, and thanks were extended to her. However, as agreed previously, she will continue on the Committee as an ex-officio member during her term as EAAS Secretary General. Two other current executive members are eligible for re-election.

d) HM attended the Town Meeting on Metrics in September and reported back electronically. Since then there has been the announcement that peer review will still remain an important part of research funding in the arts and humanities.

e) HM noted that she was responsible for organizing the BAAS representatives for the Academy of Social Sciences Presidential Lunch, to be held at the House of Lords, 31 January 2007. Representatives currently include RC, SN, JV, HM, and MH. SC asked to be included. HM will contact Caroline Bucklow to confirm numbers and names this weekend. Wherever possible, it was agreed that individual institutions should bear the cost of this event.

f) HM reported that, on behalf of BAAS, she had liaised with BBC Radio 5 Live after the November elections about the role of US women politicians.

g) HM discussed the next meeting, at Leicester, and asked individuals to let her know if they needed overnight accommodation on the Wednesday night. She will liaise with GL about organizing this.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer distributed a report to the Committee, noting that balances on 12.01.07 are as follows: Deposit, £40,370.64;STA, £17,179.14; Current account, £427.84; Conference, £6,832.96; Lib. Res., £2.76; Ed. Development, £4,977.47; making a total of £69790.81. In addition, the RBS Jersey account has £14,906.57, and US dollar account has $5636.10. There is another £1000 in the PayPal account.

b) GT reported that current membership figures for fully paid up members stand at 351 members, including 107 postgraduates. This compares favourably to the position last year on this date, which was 287 members. When those who haven’t so far updated their Standing Orders are included, the numbers rise to 423 (128 postgraduates). The highest possible membership figure (taking into account the above and those who have yet to renew for 2007) is 541 (including 186 postgraduates). Given the above information, the number of members declared for EAAS is 423. For CUP, membership including JAS is 323 (351-29: student, retired, or unwaged members who elect not to take the journal). This number is likely to rise, since the list is not sent off until March.

c) GT reported that he had received a bank transfer for £15,000 from the British Library to cover the 2007 Eccles Centre Fellowships (currently in the general deposit account). He has also received $1500 from the International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello, for the 2006 Barringer Fellowship and reported that there had been some confusion over how this Fellowship was to be paid. Apparently, if it is paid by Monticello, the Fellow has to apply for a J1 visa, which can be a lengthy process for such a short visit. Monticello has no problem reimbursing expenses, but in future, the money for the Fellowship will need to be paid directly to BAAS and then onto the Fellow.

d) GT reported that he had paid out £200 for the Congress to Campus speakers (as agreed at a previous meeting), £50 for each speaker.

e) GT reported that PayPal is now a substantial source of membership income, with approximately £1000 of membership fees paid for this way. This seems to be a successful way of ensuring that overseas members can renew membership or become new members easily. Thanks were extended to GT for his efforts in this area.

f) GT reported on the progress of the Gift Aid claim. At the last meeting, GT had identified income to BAAS of £14,334 eligible for a Gift Aid claim. This figure now stands at £18,309, but there remain difficulties in establishing a clear audit trail. BAAS can claim 28% back on this money, so it is important to ensure that the amount is correctly assessed. Some of the Gift Aid declarations only state that the member wanted BAAS to claim Gift Aid on their donation to the STAs. The wording as it stands on all the Gift Aid declarations does not match the suggested wording by the Inland Revenue and as such, GT reported that he is reluctant to go forward with the claim as it currently stands. One of the other problems is that the declarations are not held in a single place, but distributed across several years of membership forms as part of the member subscription. GT suggested that the best solution to these problems is to ask the 165 members for whom he has money identified for a Gift Aid claim to complete a new Gift Aid declaration that meets IR approval. This means not only do we have a proper form of words, but that we also have all the forms in one place. GT reported that he could post this out in the next couple of weeks, ask for a reply by the end of February and hopefully get a claim submitted before the AGM. This was agreed. GT also noted that BAAS can always claim later for members who don’t return the forms on time, or for other members who sign the forms subsequently. It was agreed that all members should be given an opportunity to support Gift Aid, and to that end, a mailshot to all members will be sent out shortly, possibly with ASIB, or with a stamped addressed envelope for ease of return. GT is to follow this up. He will also ensure that forms are available at the conference.

7. Development Subcommittee (RC reporting)

a) RC reported that there were four items under discussion in the morning meeting. The first of these was the production of a CD to promote American Studies, entitled “Why American Studies?” which follows on from a similar project for Languages, “Why study Languages?” As previously noted, £19k was given to produce it, £10k of which went to the individual producing the pack, with the remainder to be given to the LLAS for distribution costs. BAAS needs to make a decision as to how many to purchase for distribution to individual American Studies programmes. The cost is estimated to be 33-50p per item. Thus if BAAS ordered 10,000, the cost could be anywhere from £3333, for example. RC noted that the Subcommittee’s recommendation was that it was worthwhile for us to spend this money as a one-off cost because the admissions situation is serious at present. In principle the Executive agreed to go ahead, but postpone the decision on actual numbers to purchase until the April meeting, which would also allow us to see the prototype before committing fully. RC reported that he was impressed by the Languages pack and its usability. He will be going to LLAS committee meeting next week and will be able to clarify costs. There was some discussion that ensued regarding how “national versus institutional” such a CD would be, and it was agreed that BAAS would support a national CD, not one that would need to be altered by individual departments. The finished article will be ready this summer, so it is hoped that it will have an impact on 2008 admissions figures. The Committee agreed that it is crucial for BAAS to be proactive in supporting and defending AS. SN also lent his support strongly.

b) RC noted that as previously circulated, the library subcommittee has begun to develop a wikipedia entry on American Studies in the UK and asked for feedback from BAAS on it. There was considerable discussion about the merits of such an entry, with some colleagues suggesting that it could be a valuable tool in PR terms, though as a research resource, it is like other wikipedia entries and not subject to strict quality control. RC asked committee members to look at it again, and will contact Phil Davies at the BL regarding it as well. The site can be viewed and changed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Studies_in_Britain.

c) RC reported that the most pressing postgraduate business was the site for the next conference. The organizers of the Nottingham conference have written a letter to BAAS thanking them for funding.

d) RC reported that the majority of the subcommittee’s time was spent discussing a valuable and interesting report by Hannah Lowe on schools liaison, particularly recruitment to American Studies at City and Islington Sixth Form, focusing on why students with working class backgrounds tend not to follow AS. A discussion ensued regarding various ways of trying to remedy the situation. RC will contact HL to ask her to write up a short report in ASIB perhaps for the next issue. RC plans to talk to people who have lists of schools (PD, IR) to see if we can make visits, talk to students, etc. And will report back at the next meeting. HL’s report showed that when academics visited schools (rather than vice versa), this made more difference than anything else. It was acknowledged that this is a labour intensive activity. RC is to email Heads of AS departments to explore how they recruit, whether they focus on A Level reading days, with taster sessions, or admissions fairs, or visits to schools and colleges.

e) RC reported that, unusually, there were no funding requests this quarter.

8. Publications Subcommittee (CS reporting)
a) CS reported that there will be a full report from BRRAM editor K Morgan shortly. Dr. Roderick Vassie, commissioning editor, attended the morning subcommittee, and reported that the BRRAM series investigating relevant material in Scottish archives. One particular area of interest is the papers of Sir Esme Howard, Ambassador to Washington.

b) CS noted that EUP remains very pleased with continued health of the BAAS paperbacks series. Two new titles are shortly to be published: Religion, Culture and Politics in the Twentieth-Century United States by Mark Hulsether will be coming out in May, and Contemporary Native American Literature by Rebecca Tillett will be published in October 2007. Thanks were offered to SN for editing the former book quickly. CS will put out a new call for proposals structured around thematic ideas or single author studies shortly.

c) CS officially welcomed the new JAS Editor and Associate Editor, Susan Castillo and Scott Lucas. SC is now a member of the BAAS Committee as a result of her appointment. The editors have discussed whether it would be advisable to consider altering the term of office for the editor and associate editor (currently set at 5 years). One reason for considering a shorter term is that it would therefore allow a variety of individuals the opportunity to take on this major responsibility. CS reported that discussions with CUP and the editor have now begun, and she will report back to the next meeting. This would change our written agreement with CUP.

d) CS also reported that Scott Lucas and SC have carefully demarcated jobs and responsibilities; one area of further discussion is how to deal with book reviews. John Matlin, the editorial assistant, has noticed a larger number of books coming up for review, and proposed a screening process to select books of greater impact which might be reviewed first. CS reported that the subcommittee had some concerns over this process, and felt that further discussions were required. One concern is who is on the selection committee and whether there is a sufficient range of expertise. The subcommittee acknowledged that there is a pragmatic problem with the number of books to be reviewed, so it does need to be addressed in some way.

e) CS reminded the Committee that the JAS lecturer at Leicester will be Linda Kerber and SL will be doing the introduction; if for some reason, he is unable to do so, Janet Beer has agreed to step in. CS also noted that at the April meeting, new names for editorial board will come forward and the Committee was reminded of the appointments procedure. There are five places.

f) CS reported that the next ASIB deadline has been extended slightly, but all relevant items are needed within the next fortnight.

g) CS noted that the new editor of US Studies Online proposed that there be 3 issues a year instead of 2: April, August and December. The subcommittee recommended that this was tried for one year and if successful, would continue. This was agreed. The editor also proposed that the journal include book reviews and that BAAS therefore appoints a book reviews editor. This was not supported.

h) CS reported that the website continues to be an important source of information, and that GT had been an excellent webster for us. However, given his extra responsibilities as Treasurer, he now wished to step down. Thanks were offered to GT for his development of the website and his sterling work as webster. He has agreed to help advertise the post. In the first instance, names should be put forward to GT and CS and the position is likely to be advertised on the mailbase.

9. Conference Subcommittee (SM reporting)
a) SM reported that the planning for Leicester is well underway. The subcommittee suggested minor changes to the programme. For example, it was agreed that the AGM will come before the plenary and dinner on Friday, with a short break built in. GL has made a few other minor changes with timing and with regard to panel constitution which will be revised on line. JV suggested that chairs of the panels before the AGM should make an announcement about the importance of attending the AGM. This was agreed. Michael Neufeld, of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (Washington DC) is to take part in a roundtable discussion on Sputnik and has been invited to the banquet. There followed some discussion of the guest list for the banquet, and it was confirmed that SM and GL administer this list and any suggestions for names should go via them. Committee members were reminded that if they want to attend the planetarium event at the end of the conference, they need to confirm this with GL because of limited space.

b) The programme for the conference looks very good, and GL was commended on this. He would like volunteers for chairs from the executive.

c) There was a general discussion about the constituency of the conference. For example, a number of people have suggested that they only want to come for one day, and the reasons for this were explored. Some concerns were expressed over the relatively low numbers of senior members offering to present papers at BAAS. This led to a discussion about encouraging panel submissions as opposed to individual papers, which could be solicited from senior academics (though of course they would still be subject to peer review, as with all proposals). There was also some discussion about retired members having access to a cheaper rate. This was not resolved but will be reviewed at the next meeting, as it is too late to put in place for Leicester’s conference anyway.

d) SM confirmed that the Abstracts OnLine project will be up and running soon.

e) SM reported that there had been further discussions over the dates for the Edinburgh conference (27-30 March) because these dates clash with the Organisation of American Historians (OAH) conference. It was decided in the end not to change the dates as they had already been published and accommodation had been secured. SM visited Edinburgh in late November and everything looks good: there is good accommodation available (with two levels offered), which is very close to the buildings where the sessions will take place. The price is likely to be just over £300. Civic venues are being investigated. SM noted that she had checked the protocol for inviting both Consulate and Embassy personnel, and reported that Sue Wedlake responded by saying that people from both places could be invited and should be. Thus Lisa Vickers (Consul) and the usual Embassy guests will have invitations extended to them. SM mentioned that the Ambassador is unable to attend the Leicester conference, but Michael Macy and Sue Wedlake will attend on behalf of the Embassy. SM reported that the Nottingham dates have yet to be confirmed, but plans are very advanced there already. Celeste-Marie Bernier will be the conference organizer and the costs are looking reasonable.

10. Awards Subcommittee (IS reporting)

a) IS reported that the awards cycle is well underway for this year. The STA competitions have now closed and there are almost the name number of applications this year as last. Panels have been organized for judging these awards. The awards panels for the Ambassador Awards (deadline end of Jan.) and PG essay prize (deadline mid-Feb.) are currently being constituted. The Book Prize competition has now closed and the panel is almost ready to be confirmed.

b) IS asked Executive members to ensure that these awards are well advertised in their departments. It was also confirmed that postgraduates could enter the same essay for both postgraduate competitions. IS intends to send several reminders about deadlines over the mailbase until the deadlines pass.

c) IS announced that there is another interesting initiative for funding school teachers being developed by the Embassy in conjunction with the Fulbright Commission. It is likely to focus on research for teachers at secondary level into American Studies topics/subjects. Built into the award may be funding for things like attendance at BAAS conference. The amount available is not clear just yet, nor how many people could/would be funded. Yet to be confirmed would be BAAS’s role, if any, in the award judging. IS and SN have been in contact with SW about this. In principle the Committee supports developments in this area.

d) IS reported that the subcommittee had discussed the awards ceremony, the look of the certificates, and ensuring further publicity after the events, such as a feature in ASIB showing the winners.

e) IS noted that the subcommittee had discussed the sums of money available for each award, and would henceforth do so annually. It was agreed that the award amounts, having been raised last year, should stay the same for the moment.

f) IS publicly thanked the awards administrator, Michelle Smith, who is based at Manchester, for her invaluable help. The funding for this post will need to be reviewed annually, as it is currently linked partially to the Eccles Centre awards.

g) It was agreed that the Awards subcommittee will always meet separately in January since this is the period of time where the most business occurs, but that it may meet with Development for the other two meetings of the year, depending on need.

h) IS reported that the Embassy is interested in pursuing a prize every two years, similar to the Franklin Prize. Discussions about this are ongoing. It was also agreed that recipients of awards should only get some of the money up front, in order to ensure compliance with the requirements stipulated.

i) CM noted that she doesn’t get all the STA reports for ASIB; it was agreed that we should reinstate the former procedure, whereby reports go to the Treasurer, who passes them on. CM asked for a list of recent winners so that she could ensure that this year, the reports were made. This was agreed. IS is to forward CM the latest list with contact details.

j) IS reported that BAAS had received Embassy funding of £6050. This is broken down to the Ambassadors awards and publicity: £2350 for 2007; Conference costs: £3700, including Admin and publicity costs, £2000, plus 5 teacher bursaries worth £1700 total. HM queried the fact that there was no support for STAs in this bid. IS is to look into this for future bids, as in previous years, the Embassy has supported STAs as well. Last year BAAS received a total of around £14,000 from the Embassy, but that had been a particularly generous amount to mark the 50th anniversary of BAAS.

k) JV requested that attempts were made to tally up the amount that BAAS awards every year to announce at the conference. Although there are some difficulties with this, it was agreed in principle since it shows members the value of the work that BAAS undertakes. It was also agreed that, where possible, photographs of the awards ceremony should be put on the website.

l) SN queried the progress on the Monticello fellowships. Subsequent to the meeting, BAAS was notified that this fellowship was still being supported and should continue. IS is to liaise with SN and the US contacts about this award.

11. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee (CM reporting on behalf of IR)

a) In the absence of IR, CM offered a verbal report of the Library and Resources subcommittee’s activities over the last quarter. She noted that that the subcommittee’s standing orders had been approved and agreed. Kevin Halliwell had raised the issue of institutional membership. This was discussed at length, and GT agreed to look into the possibility, but with clear stipulations on what this would entail. No decision could be taken at this time since BAAS would need to check with CUP about whether this was possible (if JAS were to be included). Another way forward would be to exclude JAS and only allow one representative to attend the conference at members’ rates.

b) CM noted that the subcommittee felt it was beneficial to have a separate treasurer and account, though GT had questioned the need for a separate account given the small amounts involved. CM reported that though the final figure was low, there was a great deal of movement in the account. A £1,400 grant from the US Embassy had been received, in addition to £200 advertising revenue. Eurospan still owes £400 for advertising, and the bill for printing Resources for American Studies (RAS) has not yet been received. Printing costs are expected to be £1,300. There will be a small royalty fee for images supplied by Aberdeen University. Given this information, it was agreed that the status quo would remain.

c) CM reported that the subcommittee had, as requested, been offered a slot at the Leicester conference, but a similar panel from the BL had also been accepted, and so the subcommittee relinquished their slot.

12. EAAS (JV reporting)
a) JV reported that the latest EAAS newsletter, number 57, came out in October 2006. The new editor, Vice President Martin Heusser, has taken over, and it is hoped that the newsletter will be more timely with the introduction of new software. This version of the newsletter contains workshop reports from the 2006 Cyprus conference, Board minutes and minutes from the hand-over meeting in Paris.

b) JV noted that EAAS President Marc Chénetier has continued to work on his two latest initiatives: the European Journal of American Studies (EJAS) and the European library of American Studies. The EAAS Board is currently reviewing the editorial board membership for the EJAS and will discuss this in Wittenberg in April. The (virtual) European library focuses on promoting the work of European scholars of America who have published in English. Because our members publish overwhelmingly in English, BAAS has opted out of this initiative.

c) JV reported that EAAS also helped to sponsor, in conjunction with the German Association, an inaugural meeting of the European Study Group for 19th Century American Literature in Poland in October, which was attended by 20 scholars from throughout Europe and the US. The Study Group hopes to consolidate its initial venture by having more study group meetings in future years. If anyone is interested in joining or learning more about this, they should consult the EAAS newsletter. It is meant primarily for early career scholars.

d) JV has booked her travel for the next meeting of the Board in Wittenberg from 12-14 April, the week before the BAAS conference. The cost to BAAS has been minimal at £167 for air fare.

e) JV reminded the Executive that the deadline for the submission of workshop proposals for the Oslo conference (May 2008) is 31 January 2007. JV as Secretary General is coordinating this. Currently there are only 8 workshop proposals and only one parallel lecture. The EAAS Board is keen to select workshops that conform to the theme.

f) JV noted that the EAAS Treasurer Hans-Jürgen Grabbe has acquired a new domain for the EAAS website: www.eaas.eu. The current site will continue to work for the next few months until the transition is complete.

g) JV reported on an initiative by Marc Chénetier to secure funds from member associations (starting with the French Association) outside of the dues normally paid to EAAS to fund specific initiatives. A full discussion of this proposal ensued. It was agreed that if a specific proposal was put forward, it should go through the regular funding procedure administered by the Development subcommittee and each initiative would be looked at on an individual basis.

h) JV was happy to report that the EAAS Postgraduate Forum has taken off due to JM’s involvement and initiative. The first stage includes a webpage with the details of all postgraduate representatives in Europe. It is not yet clear who will be responsible for maintaining the website, which will post announcements, advertisements, etc.

i) JV has compiled a list of prior EAAS representatives, with the help of Mick Gidley. It is sadly incomplete (see below) but calls for further information did not elicit additional information.

EAAS Reps
Jenel Virden (Hull) (2002-2007)
Mick Gidley (Leeds)
David Adams (Keele)
Bob Burchell (Man U and Eccles Centre)
Mark Leaf (Durham) [deceased]
Harry Allen (UEA) [deceased]

13. Any Other Business

a) There was no other business.

14. Date of next meeting
19 April 2007 at Leicester at 11am

Prof. Heidi Macpherson, Secretary.
Phone (office): (01772) 893039 or 893040
Fax: (01772) 892970
email: hrsmacpherson@uclan.ac.uk

BAAS 2006 Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the 2006 Annual General Meeting, held at University of Kent on April 22, 2006.

Elections:
Treasurer Graham Thompson (to 2009)
Committee Martin Halliwell (to 2009)
Theresa Saxon (to 2009)
Ian Scott (to 2009)*
Postgraduate Rep Josephine Metcalfe (to 2008)*

*Not eligible for re-election

The Treasurer reported that there was a successful handover meeting in June 2005 when he received the full set of documents from Nick Selby, the previous Treasurer. However, getting bank details changed caused some unnecessary delays. GT reported that the 2004 accounts have been submitted as required to the Charity Commission.

GT reported on membership figures; there were 575 members at end of 2005, including 202 postgraduates; current numbers are somewhat lower because individuals do not always renew at the beginning of the year. Including those who have yet to update their standing orders, membership stands at 470; however, individuals who have not updated their standing orders to the correct amount will not receive JAS and are technically not eligible for BAAS rates of conference, nor are they eligible to vote in the elections. GT will shortly write to all individuals who are currently in this position to remind them to update their SOs.

GT then circulated copies of the draft audited accounts, which he asked the AGM to approve. He noted in particular the following changes:

1) Last year was the first year of distributing hard copy of JAS to members and this had an impact on the accounts in terms of outgoings.

2) The 50 th anniversary conference was more expensive than previous conferences, but a lot of the increase in costs was covered by incoming money from the US Embassy. BAAS had paid conference fees for visiting students from Virginia and New Hampshire last year to offer evidence of our ongoing relationship with these universities; we have BAAS Teaching Assistantships there. GT also noted that there had been an increase in support for a variety of conferences in order to encourage the growth and sustenance of American Studies in the UK.

3) GT also noted that in previous years, the accountant had expressed some concern about the fact that our outgoings were not as high as our balances; however, due to the proactive nature of the Committee this year in funding special initiatives, this was no longer seen to be an issue.

Richard Crockatt proposed that the accounts be approved; George Conyne seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

GT reported that the Committee had proposed to raise the amount of STAs to £750 next year to take into consideration rising costs of flights to US. This was welcomed.

GT noted two further issues. First, overseas scholars who wished to be members of BAAS sometimes found it hard to secure US dollar or sterling cheques. Thus from this year, an electronic payment system will be set up as an optional way of paying; individuals choosing to pay their subscriptions this way will face a small additional charge. GT also noted that he was in the process of claiming back GiftAid; BAAS had purchased a software system to accumulate the correct information to allow us to make a claim this year.

The Chair was unable to attend in person, but Carol Smith, the Vice Chair, read out Simon Newman’s report. The report noted that the 50 th year of BAAS had been a good year. In the run-up to the Research Assessment Exercise in 2008, BAAS members have secured a large number and wide variety of research awards; been appointed to new academic posts; and have published monographs, essays and articles with an impressive array of international presses. Congratulations were extended to the following BAAS members in relation to appointments, promotions, and awards.

1) Martin Halliwell, who was appointed to a chair in American Studies at Leicester; Brian Ward (currently at Florida) to a chair in American Studies at the University of Manchester; Peter Ling and Sharon Monteith to chairs in American Studies at Nottingham; Bridget Bennet to a chair in American Literature at Leeds; and Susan Castillo to a chair in American Studies at King’s College, London.

2) David Seed of the University of Liverpool was appointed to the AHRC Postgraduate Panel for English Language and Literature; Martin Halliwell, Heidi Macpherson, Richard Crockatt, and Sharon Monteith were appointed members of the AHRC Peer Review College; and Jay Kleinberg was appointed a member of the International Board of the American Studies Association.

3) Peter Ling at Nottingham has received a large AHRC grant for his project on “Social Capital and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference”, which will include two PhD studentships and a postdoctoral research assistantship. In fact, BAAS members have secured support for their research from virtually every major British grant-giving institution, including AHRC Research Leave Awards and research grants; British Academy Small and Larger Research Grants; and awards from the Leverhulme Trust, the Nuffield Foundation, the Carnegie Trust. Further afield BAAS members have secured fellowships and research awards from such major institutions as the Library of Congress, the John Carter Brown Library, and Harvard University.

The report noted that although relatively few American Studies departments will be entered for RAE 2008 under American Studies and Anglophone Area Studies, and although interdisciplinary American Studies projects sometimes fall between the disciplinary categories of the British Academy and the AHRC, the large academic and postgraduate membership of Britain’s American Studies community continue to excel in their scholarship. The awards made after the Conference Banquet reflect a tangible way in which BAAS can support and reward excellent work and innovative research: these depend upon the continued support of the BAAS membership.

The BAAS Executive Committee continue to work to support this academic community, and to protect its best interests. This includes a good deal of work with the media, as the public face or voice of British American Studies, and committee members have been interviewed by a range of radio, television and newspaper journalists in the UK and abroad. Committee members represent BAAS and the American Studies community at conferences and events around the world, including the annual conferences of the American Studies Association and the International American Studies Association.

In a variety of ways, BAAS works hard to provide opportunities for members at conferences, through publishing outlets, and through an increasing number of fellowships and awards. BAAS sponsors postgraduate conferences and regional conferences, helping make it possible for postgraduate students to attend and to present what are often their first conference papers. BAAS’s on-line, peer-reviewed postgraduate journal U.S. Studies Online, now edited by Elizabeth Rosen, has emerged as an excellent academic journal, and editor Jay Kleinberg and Associate Editor Susan Castillo continue to confirm the status of the Journal of American Studies as a world-leading publication. The BAAS paperbacks series published by Edinburgh University Press and edited by Carol Smith and Simon Newman is expanding, with healthy sales of a wide variety of books.

Furthermore, members of the BAAS Committee regularly respond to a variety of questionnaires, initiatives and other documents and policies that require responses in order to protect the interests of the American Studies community. Over the past year this has included a good deal of work in communications with the organizers of RAE 2008; with the QAA in regard to subject benchmarking; with the AHRC with regard to doctoral research, nominations for the Peer Review College, and AHRC participation in the ESF European Reference Index for the Humanities.

The Executive Committee enjoys an excellent working relationship with the staff of the US Embassy in London, and we were delighted to have Ambassador Tuttle as our guest at yesterday’s banquet, where he was able to give awards supported by the Embassy. Over the past year we have been working closely with Sue Wedlake, Cultural Affairs Assistant at the Embassy, but also with new staff members including Rick Roberts (Minister Counselor for Public Affairs), Michael Macey (Cultural Attaché) and Beth Poisson (Press Counselor). We are fortunate to work with embassy staff who are genuinely interested in academic research and teaching, and who are happy to support a wide range of projects.

On behalf of BAAS, the Chair’s report publicly thanked members of the BAAS Executive Committee and the various sub-committees for all of the hard work done on top of full time academic posts, often with little support from their universities: Heidi Macpherson (Secretary); Graham Thompson (Treasurer); Carol Smith (Vice-Chair and Chair of the Publications Sub-committee); Ian Scott (Chair of the Development Sub-committee); Sarah MacLachlan (Chair of the Conference sub-committee); committee members Kathryn Cooper, Richard Crockatt, Jude Davies, Clare Elliott, Will Kaufman, Jay Kleinberg, Catherine Morley, Martin Padget, Ian Ralston, Jenel Virden, and Tim Woods. Thanks also to ex-officio subcommittee members George Conyne, Martin Halliwell, George Lewis, and Ken Morgan, and the members of the hard-working Libraries and Resources committee under Ian Ralston. The report closed by thanking George Conyne and his colleagues and the support staff at the University of Kent, for all of their hard work in organizing an excellent conference. This annual event continues to be an excellent showcase for Britain’s American Studies community, and the kind of socially enjoyable occasion that makes the intellectual and academic dimensions all the more enjoyable.

The report was followed by a round of applause from the members who were present.

Conferences:
Sarah MacLachlan offered a short report and formally thanked George Conyne for organizing this year’s conference, which had been stimulating, with two excellent plenaries from Michael Zuckerman and Margaret Walsh. She noted that the Executive and the membership were looking forward to Michael Bérubé ‘s plenary address after the AGM. SM reported that next year’s conference dates were 19-22 April and it would be held at the University of Leicester; thanks were extended to the Vice Chancellor for hosting the reception on the first evening of the conference. George Lewis and Martin Halliwell would be acting as Conference Secretaries for the event, and a call for papers would be distributed shortly in addition to the CFP in the conference pack. The 2008 conference will be held at Edinburgh University, 27-30 March, organized by Robert Mason and that the 2009 conference will be held at Nottingham and organized by Graham Thompson. SM reported that negotiations are underway for the 2010 conference and that the successful applicant will be announced shortly. SM then invited suggestions for future conferences.

Publications:
Carol Smith reminded the AGM that minutes of all meetings are published on the website, and so individuals may keep updated about current activities that way. She then reported on some of the highlights of the year in relation to the Publication Subcommittee. In relation to BRRAM, Ken Morgan continued to negotiate with various sources, including the House of Commons and Lords, Beaverbrook and Lloyd F. George; the Edward Long papers will be published shortly. BRRAM and BAAS signed a new contract this year; in exchange for advertisement space in ASIB, BRRAM now offers all BAAS members a 10% discount.

CS noted apologies from the JAS editor, Jay Kleinberg, who could not attend the conference, and she reported that the main business of the subcommittee this year had been the appointment of a new editor and associate editor. Following the normal BAAS and CUP procedures, Prof. Susan Castillo (Kings College London) would take up the editorship on 1 January 2007 and Prof. Scott Lucas (Birmingham) would become Associate Editor. Thanks were extended to the present editorial team (Jay Kleinberg and Susan Castillo) for their continued steering of such a prestigious journal. They received a round of applause. Thanks were also extended to the editorial assistants, Maggie Selby and John Matlin.

CS reported that the EUP series continues to do well, with two books in the series recently published: Niall Palmer’s The Twenties in America and Will Kaufman’s The Civil War in American Culture. CS offered her thanks to those who responded to the call for new books which had been published in various sources, and reported that there are currently discussions ongoing in relation to the following topics: theatre; African-American music; the short story; and science fiction and television. CS and SN remain interested in hearing from anyone with an idea for a new book in the series.

CS reported that Catherine Morley had finished her first year as editor of ASIB, and that the newsletter continued to be an excellent source of information for members. The next deadline is 15 August 2006 if anyone had articles or notices that they wanted to include. Another new editor this year was Elizabeth Rosen, who finished her first year as the editor of U.S. Studies Online, the BAAS postgraduate journal which publishes essays from British and non-UK based postgraduates; this year, a new CFP went out through the UPenn list and the response had been very high. There were some changes to the editorial board this year, with Douglas Tallack resigned as editorial board member and being replaced by Will Kaufman and Jude Davies.

CS reported that the BAAS website goes from strength to strength: 4 April 2006 saw the highest ever number of unique hits in one day, totalling 1596.

As a final note, CS reported that the 2006 BAAS Book Prize had been won by Richard Follett, as announced at the Conference Banquet. CS noted that the book prize was an excellent way to promote American Studies, and she asked that individuals remind their publishers of the strict December deadline for receipt of books, since late material cannot be considered. There had been a strong field this year, and it was likely that next year, as the prize becomes even more well known, there would be another good selection of excellent texts to choose from.

Development:
IS reported on funding opportunities, postgraduate events, Area Studies networks, and planned changes to the subcommittee for the following year. In particular, he noted that BAAS is happy to receive applications for funding. BAAS has a mission to extend our reach and help to all manner of groups and associations. A new funding form will shortly be available from the website to help individuals target their funding applications.

IS thanked Clare Elliott for all of her hard work as postgraduate representative, and noted that the 2005 postgraduate conference, held at Sheffield, was a big success; thanks were extended to Anne Marie Evans and Elizabeth Boyle. IS reported that the next postgraduate conference will be held in Nottingham in November and that information on this conference is already available on the web. IS reported that there were ongoing discussions about extending the postgraduate conference over two days, which speaks to the range and quality of the work currently being done by postgraduates.

IS reported that he sits on the Area Studies subcommittee of the LLAS as the BAAS representative, and he paid tribute to the work done by the Area Studies subcommittee, especially Dick Ellis and Jude Davies who coordinate the work on publicity. There are plans to work with them on publicity materials for teachers.

IS reported that there will be a substantial change this year to the subcommittee structure for BAAS, with a new subcommittee proposed: the Prize Subcommittee. This is work that was originally undertaken by the Development subcommittee, but prizes have become a much bigger part of what BAAS does. This year, there were around 28 awards with a total value of over £30K, as opposed to a few years ago, when BAAS had 6 awards worth about £1400. Thus in order to manage and extend the prizes without detriment to the other work done by the Development subcommittee, it was agreed that there would now be two different subcommittees. Further publicity about the prizes would soon follow. IS thanked the US Embassy, in particular Sue Wedlake, for their help, as well as individuals who had been anonymous judges of the various awards. Thanks were also extended to those BAAS members who offer financial support for the STAs and other awards through voluntary contributions.

Libraries and Resources:
IR reported that the revamped libraries’ newsletter, now the annual journal Resources for American Studies, had been successfully relaunched. This year’s issue of the journal will be distributed to all BAAS members along with the autumn publication of ASIB. The editors welcome feedback and responses; anyone with articles or resource reviews should please send them to the editor, Matthew Shaw, at the British Library. His email address is Matthew.Shaw@bl.uk

The subcommittee is also seeking feedback from members on the next project, to build on success of newspaper database. A request from Kevin Halliwell, the special projects officer, went out on the mailbase regarding what the next database should examine. IR asked members to reply to this call, and noted that it would be reissued. IR also noted that there were two new members of the subcommittee: Donald Tate, from the University of Glasgow Library, and Catherine Morley, from Oxford Brookes. IR offered thanks to all members of the subcommittee, in particular Matthew Shaw, who had put in a phenomenal amount of work as editor of the journal; and Sue Wedlake, the Public Affairs officer at US Embassy, who had been a good friend to the subcommittee.

EAAS:
JV offered a report on EAAS, and noted that she will be contributing to the next issue of ASIB with even more information about EAAS, what it does, and what members can do for it. JV reported that the EAAS Board met at Nicosia in Cyprus during the conference, which was held 6-10 April, 2006. The Treasurer, Hans-Jürgen Grabbe, noted that the accounts remain healthy at about 20,000 euros. JV also reported that there is an Amsterdam trust fund, which generates 6-8,000 a year.

JV noted that the first volume of EJAS is now online, and on behalf of BAAS, she thanked Dick Ellis who wrote the BAAS contribution. The EAAS Board selected a committee of 7 to run on line journal, and the editor will be chosen at the next meeting of the committee, later in April. JV suggested that members continue to consult the updated website, www.eaas.info. She also reported that the American Studies in Europe Newsletter is now fully electronic. The new Vice president, Martin Heusser, will run the newsletter as per normal practice. JV was pleased to report that the EAAS webmaster had commended BAAS’s website.

JV reported that EAAS has received a request from the Bulgaria American Studies Association (BASA) to join EAAS. The EAAS board is now 20 members strong, so it needs to find a way to coordinate new membership, especially as some associations are small. Germany, France and UK are the biggest ones. There have been suggestions for Regional associations like the Nordic Association, but there are some historical and political concerns that need to be worked through for this to become viable. JV will put together a talking point paper for discussion about this at next board meeting.

JV reported on future conferences: the next will be held 9-12 May 2008 in Oslo, hosted by the Nordic Association; the later date is to take account of Scandinavian weather patterns. The theme, yet to be finalized, is “e pluribus unum OR e pluribus plura.” The following conference, in 2010, will be held at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. JV reported that the conference proceedings for both the Bordeaux and the Prague conferences are now out. The latter proceedings, America in the Course of Human Events, include contributions from BAAS members, such as Carol Smith. There is ongoing discussion about the next set of proceedings, including options for ensuring more coherence, and the possibility that a new publisher will be approached.

The Nicosia conference had 220 delegates and a good range of papers and topics. However, it was pointed out that there had not been a single plenary or parallel lecture by a woman delegate. Partly in response to this, a new woman’s caucus will be forming.

JV reported that like BAAS, EAAS also gives out awards and prizes. However, there was a disappointing response rate, with only 5 applications for postgraduate travel grants, and none of them from the UK. JV has agreed to put together a list of postgraduate reps in other EAAS associations, though she noted that many did not have such a representative yet.

Finally, JV reported that elections had taken place, and Martin Heusser (Switzerland) was elected Vice President, and Jenel Virden had been elected Secretary General.

AOB:
Iain Patterson announced that Michael Heale was unwell and unable to attend the conference, the first he has missed in 40 years. Good wishes for a speedy recovery were extended to him, and the Secretary agreed to send a card on behalf of the Association.

The AGM concluded at 3pm.

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: September 16, 2006

Minutes of the 248th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at King’s College London on September 16, 2006.

1. Present

S Newman (Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), R Crockatt, S MacLachlan, J Metcalf, T Saxon, I Scott, J Virden.

Apologies

C Smith (Vice Chair), J Davies, M Halliwell, W Kaufman, J Kleinberg, H Lowe, C Morley, I Ralston

In Attendance

S Castillo, Robert Mason

2. Minutes of the Previous Meetings

After minor typographical corrections, these were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website. It was noted that John Dumbrell is moving to Durham in January (not September as originally reported).

3. Matters Arising and Review of Action List

IS confirmed that the US Embassy had been written to regarding the grant. GT reported that several updates to the web had been completed, including the updating of award deadlines. In addition, there is now more information about JAS on the web. All other matters arising had been completed or would be discussed further down on the agenda.

4. Chair’s Business

a) The Chair attended the Independence Day party hosted by the US Ambassador at Winfield House on 4 July.

b) SN noted that the AHRC and the ESRC used the summer period for subject-wide consultations. SN noted that he had sent three different messages to American Studies heads of departments and programmes: the first asked them to submit information about application and success rates of students applying for AHRC postgraduate funding, the second urged them to respond to a questionnaire issued by the American Studies Association as part of its international initiative, and the third asked for individual responses on RAE reform. SN reported that he had drafted and submitted the BAAS response to the Department for Education and Skills consultation on reform of the Research Assessment Exercise. SN had previously circulated his response to the Committee via email. He also submitted a response to the ESRC survey on their 3+1 postgraduate funding programme, as it relates to Area Studies; it was not clear how much long term effect this would have for BAAS. SN also responded to the AHRC consultation on its Strategic Plan.

c) SN noted correspondence received, including a message from Mary Scott-Fleming of the Monticello-Stratford Hall Program, applauding BAAS’s choice of both teachers, John Siblon and Kath Cooper, noting that they contributed greatly to the teachers’ seminar. IS is exploring the possibility of contacting the TES about this project to boost the profile of American Studies. SN also received a circular from the QAA announcing that drafts of the revised subject benchmarks for various subjects are now available online, including English, History, and Politics and International Relations. Responses are requested by 31 October. Committee members are encouraged to look at the website and report their views to SN for incorporation into the BAAS response.

d) SN reported that HEFCE have announced a “town meeting” for representatives of subject associations on 25 September 2006 at Warwick. He was registered to attend, but is unable to go, so HM will attend on behalf of BAAS. This is likely to be the last chance for input on what will take the place of the RAE after 2008.

e) SN reported that the most recent list of AHRC Research Leave awards shows a decline in the success rate for American Studies, down to three in the last round. The success rate for postgraduate funding shows some cause for concern, given that thus far, no respondents have reported American Studies students securing funding for PhD studies. American Studies has some success in the postgraduate panel on media studies; those applying through the History or English panels, however, are not having much success. Some concern was raised that interdisiciplinarity, despite being a stated goal of the AHRC, was hard to realize in practice, and some discussion ensued about the feasibility or desirability of an interdisciplinary panel, and/or of asking for ring-fenced awards in American Studies. SN noted, for example, how the peer review college training promotes interdisciplinarity and is very good. The AHRC director of research will be at the conference and members will have a chance to talk to him. RC suggested that SN send a letter to the AHRC to ensure that they are aware of the issues we are raising, explaining what we see is the problem and asking for guidance on what they think we should do. Committee members are asked to email SN with ideas about issues they would like to see addressed.

f) SN noted that Ali Fischer has confirmed that all four of the remaining interviews of past chairs of BAAS have now been completed, and he is transcribing the interviews for the BAAS archives at the University of Birmingham. AF will also write a short piece about them for ASIB. SN is to write to AF to remind him to send the Secretary a list of the questions he had asked.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary noted that most of the items she now receives come electronically and are thus distributed to the Committee as she receives them. She also noted that the summer period had been a quieter quarter than usual.

b) HM reported that she had written to Joe Mottershead at CUP to confirm our JAS editorial board member nominations. JM has now left CUP to take up a PGCE and has been replaced by Martine Walsh; the Committee expressed their thanks to JM for his hard work.

c) HM reported on other actions taken as Secretary, which included the following: attending the JAS editorial board meeting on Friday the 15th of September along with the Chair and the Treasurer; writing a notice for the ASIB regarding the AGM, noting the change of date and the offices that will fall vacant; helping direct people with research and grant queries to the appropriate sources; distributing calls for papers, conferences, new employment opportunities, etc., through the listserv; updating our records with national surveys/records especially in relation to the STAs and other awards; forwarding queries about JAS (advertising and submission of manuscripts) to the appropriate individuals. It had been agreed at the last meeting that the website should provide more information about JAS so that individuals are made aware of the relationship between JAS and BAAS, and this has begun to happen. HM noted a need to update the list of editorial board members and the instructions for contributors given the change in editors; she also asked the editor-elect to write a note for inclusion on the web regarding how advertisers could get in touch with her. Details of the appropriate individuals to contact should also be added. SC and GT will continue to liaise about this.

d) The Secretary reported that she had corresponded with Philip Davies (Eccles Centre) who noted that the Eccles Centre still has a large role to play in relation to the Guide to American Studies. For example, the Eccles website will still have a section devoted to the guide. Instead of the current text, the webpage will contain direct links to every taught undergraduate and postgraduate course that they know of in the UK. In addition, the Eccles Centre will distribute printed posters to 4000 secondary schools in the UK advertising the opportunity to take American Studies. HM circulated a copy of the poster as well as a copy of the links pages. The Committee agreed that this was a positive way forward, as more students are likely to hear about American Studies as a result of this poster. Colleagues are reminded to check their university’s details and ensure that they are up to date. See http://www.bl.uk/collections/americas/amstudies.html.

e) HM was interviewed on a BBC Radio Lancashire programme on the 4th of July celebrations.

f) HM asked if the web page could be updated to note specifically that members who change their details should contact the Treasurer. GT agreed to do this.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer circulated a short written report on membership and balances. This report noted that current membership figures for fully paid up members stand at 420 members, including 140 postgraduates. When those who haven’t so far updated their Standing Orders are included, the numbers rise to 497 (161 postgraduates). The highest possible membership figures (taking into account the above and those who have yet to return for 2006) are 597 (including 211 postgraduates).

b) Balances on 31 August were as follows: Deposit, £18,020.14; STA, £16,871.48; Current account, £814.80; Lib. Res., £2.76 (pending transfer of £1400 from General Deposit Account); Education and Development, £4,953.90; Conference, £8,019.96; making a total of £48,963.04. In addition, the RBS Jersey account has £14,876.57, and US dollar account has $4,153.24.

c) GT reported that he had submitted the Charity Commission annual monitoring form.

d) GT noted that he had received a £4000 cheque from the US Embassy for the Benjamin Franklin prize, which was then paid to Matthew Pethers. MP will need to keep a full record of expenditure for accounting purposes. GT also noted the receipt of £1400 pounds for the library resources newsletter from the US Embassy.

e) GT reported that he has not had a good response to his mailing asking members to update their standing orders (of the 90 letters sent out, there were only 10 replies). Thus these individuals will not be considered full members and will not receive JAS nor are they eligible to vote at the AGM.

f) GT reported that three people have subscribed through PayPal; it is likely that this figure will increase when renewals are due in January.

g) GT noted that he had become the contact for the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences and he circulated their report.

h) In relation to Gift Aid, GT reported on progress made. Based on records available, from 2001-02 onwards, the forms and signatures for Gift Aid through to 2005-06 suggest that there is £14,334 which is eligible for us to claim Gift Aid on; if this claim is accepted by the Inland Revenue, BAAS would receive about £4000 back. Other money is still to be identified, so the final total may be closer to £5000. GT will work towards finalizing the figures over the next few months and will submit a claim around the time of the next meeting. GT noted the need to ensure that the wording of the declaration form is correct. Thanks were extended to GT for making progress on this, as it was a complicated procedure and had been ongoing for many years.

7. Development Subcommittee (RC reporting)

a) RC reported that this was his first meeting as Chair and that the Subcommittee is still in transition; because of the number of apologies received, Development met in conjunction with the Awards Subcommittee again this meeting. This is likely to be the last time that the Subcommittees meet together.

b) RC reported that Subcommittee had considered a bid for funding for a southwest regional conference/forum to be held in May next year from Dr. Mark Whalan (Exeter). Funding was sought to support the travel of a key note speaker, Prof. Susan Castillo; the Subcommittee recommended funding the £254.50 requested, to support travel at an economy fare, with the balance going towards postgraduate support. This was approved. It was noted that MW will need to write a one-page report after the event for the records; the Committee was interested, for example, in how the southwest would be defined.

c) RC reported on discussions surrounding the promotion of American Studies. The US Embassy has granted the LLAS £19,000 to look at the recruitment of British students to American Studies/Area Studies. Sarah Wood, a Birmingham postgraduate, is putting material together on the basis of a report by John Canning and Dick Ellis, with assistance by WK who has worked with the BAAS graduate survey. This material will take the form of a CD and a leaflet. SN noted that BAAS’s interest is primarily in the recruitment leaflet; it is in our best interest to have a large number of extra copies distributed to all American Studies departments/centres to send to local students and to have available for open days. It has yet to be decided how many BAAS should request and pay for; SN suggested as many as 2000 per programme. More information is needed before these numbers can be finalized. RC is to make contact with S Wood and will report on progress at the January meeting.

d) RC reported that in the last LLAS minutes, there had been a request for closer relations with BAAS; it was agreed that the Chair of the LLAS Advisory board should be invited to the BAAS conference dinner. RC is to liaise with SN and GL about the invitation, which is likely to be extended after the LLAS board meeting in January. SN will send the official letter.

e) RC reported on behalf of the Awards Committee on the Eccles Centre Fellowship: An initial contract has now been signed for this new award, which will be administered by the Awards Subcommittee and will run until 2008 in the first instance. The programme is more extensive than originally envisioned with £15k per year for up to 9 awards: 1 US fellowship, 3 British fellowships and up to 5 postgraduate awards worth £400 each to use the collections at the British Library. There is £1k allocated for administrative assistance. IS will monitor this carefully to be sure that this is at the correct level. SN noted that administration costs are also part of Embassy funding, and it will be important to keep a strict accounting of this. If the administrative costs rise significantly, it may be possible to renegotiate aspects of the contract at a later date. The awards will be judged by the Director of the Eccles Centre; a Canadianist from the British Association for Canadian Studies; and a member of the British Association for American Studies. It was agreed that in the first year, it would be beneficial to ensure that a member of the Executive Committee was on the panel. It was further agreed that this should be someone from the Awards Subcommittee. HM reminded the Committee that the Subcommittee could co-opt additional members to the Subcommittee as per the Standing Orders.

f) RC noted that Matthew Pethers, the winner of the Ben Franklin Prize, is required as part of the award to offer a presentation to the BAAS Conference in April. IS is to liaise with GL about this.

g) RC reported that JM had offered a full report about postgraduate business. She has now received a list of postgraduate representatives in European countries and is liaising with her counterparts there. JM has also requested updated BAAS flyers about awards/membership for the BAAS postgraduate Conference; IS is to construct a flyer about awards, and HM will send an electronic copy of the updated BAAS flyer to JM and/or to Ceri Gorton who is organizing the conference. It was reported that the US Embassy has generously funded the postgraduate conference, offering £1100. Thanks were extended to them.

h) RC reported that HL has liaised with GL about the possibility of a “teachers day” at the annual conference.

8. Publications Subcommittee (HM reporting on CS’s behalf)

a) In CS’s absence, HM chaired the Subcommittee. She reported that KM had offered a very comprehensive report on BRRAM, highlighting current and future projects as well as opportunities taken to promote the series at relevant conferences. The Edward Long Papers and the Bolton Whitman papers had both been released. New projects include “Records relating to Liverpool merchants and the slave trade in the Liverpool Record Office” and a project on the Darien scheme, a 17th-century Scottish colonisation venture in Central America, using resources of the National Library of Scotland. Work continues on a future title on Anglo-American relations, as well as a project on the Lascelles’ West Indian family papers held in Yorkshire. It was regretfully decided not to pursue a BRRAM title on Liverpool emigrant records of the 19th century because the materials were not as extensive as first thought. The new written agreement between BAAS and MAP is working well, and the latest issue of the ASIB had an advertisement for BRRAM on the back page as per the agreement. A new procedure for agreeing editors with the chair of the Publications Subcommittee was agreed. KM noted the difficulty of securing specialist academic editors for these titles because of the pressures of academic research in relation to the RAE; this was likely to be an outgoing issue. The Subcommittee agreed to liaise with KM about potential editors.

b) The EUP series continues to go well; SN circulated a list of updated figures and titles.

c) HM reported on the JAS editorial board meeting on 15/9/06. It was the last board meeting with JK as editor, who offered a full report on the year’s activities but was unable to attend the Publications Subcommittee meeting. Readership of JAS has increased because of the new relationship between JAS and BAAS, and the journal is also growing in stature and reputation. JK attended a Journal Editors’ Committee meeting at the ASA last year and also attended the British Academy meeting on peer review (in relation to journals). A full report on marketing and statistics was offered at the JAS meeting.

d) HM reported that there continue to be vacancies on the JAS editorial board that will need to be filled, particularly in the areas of art and music, sculpture, and architecture, as well as Asian American and African American literature. At the JAS meeting thanks to Jay were minuted and she was presented with flowers. The BAAS Committee also recorded their thanks.

e) HM reported that the latest ASIB was posted out this past week, and went out with the library and resources journal. There were a lot of new members listed, including teacher members and US members. The printers, Goaters, have been taken over, but this hasn’t affected the printing. The next ASIB deadline is 11 January 2007.

f) HM reported that Elizabeth Boyle (Sheffield) has been appointed to the position of US Studies Online Editor for a term of two years. CS will write to welcome her and to thank Liz Rosen for her hard work as editor.

g) The website continues to be an important resource and averages 910 unique visitors every day. Thanks were extended to GT for his work as webster.

9. Conference Subcommittee (SM reporting)

a) SM reported that the Leicester conference plans continue to run smoothly. The plenary lectures are now finalized: Stephen Whitfield will present a lecture, Richard King will present the Eccles Lecture, and Linda Kerber will present the JAS/CUP Lecture. All of the plenary addresses are listed on the poster, which will be sent out with the final cfp shortly, along with the booking form, which is nearly complete. This booking form will also go out on the BAAS website. Abstracts will be put online as soon as is practical after the deadline for the cfp. Costs have remained virtually unchanged, with the cost for full residential BAAS members set at £280. The accommodation has now been built and catering arrangements have been finalized. Leicester is in touch with the National Space Centre and there is likely to be a Sputnik event with a special guest speaker arranged by the NSC. There has been a good selection of papers received so far, and a postgraduate team is in place to help with the organization.

b) SM reported that GL has produced a valuable document indicating which services were and were not VAT exempt Although this may be slightly different for each institution, it was still good practice and could form part of the conference briefing pack. It was agreed that publishers’ fees could not be set in stone from year to year, but that indicative costs should also be part of the briefing pack for new Conference Organizers. The Subcommittee also discussed a draft timetable for conference organization and this will be revised and included in futre conference briefing packs.

c) SM reported that the Edinburgh Conference dates have been finalized as 27-30 March 2008.

d) SM noted that the members of the Subcommittee will visit Edinburgh by the end of January and are likely to stay in the proposed accommodation at Pollock. This is a 25 minute walk from the city centre, and there will be further discussions about this, including the possibility of transport links. The Subcommittee were provided with maps and lists of preliminary charges and breakdowns of costs. Discussions with STAR are ongoing and more developments are likely in the next few weeks.

e) SM reported that the Nottingham conference (2009) was discussed briefly; at the next School meeting at Nottingham, the name of the Conference Secretary will be finalized. Dates are yet to be decided.

f) SM reported that there are discussions ongoing regarding future conferences, from 2010 onwards.

g) SM noted that she will contact Sue Wedlake this week regarding Embassy/Consulate protocols for the Edinburgh conference.

10. Awards (IS reporting)

a) IS reported that Michelle Smith, the new administrative liaison for the Awards Subcommittee, is now on board. She will have a space to work at Manchester University and a PC. IS will liaise with GT about ensuring that MS has a BAAS email address.

b) IS noted that there were 32 awards to be administered this year.

11. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee

a) In IR’s absence, and given that the next Library and Resources Subcommittee meets after this Executive meeting, there was no report to be offered.

12. EAAS (JV reporting)

a) JV reported that she had written a substantial entry in the ASIB on EAAS; she had also written about BAAS for the EAAS newsletter, which is due out shortly. She noted that her main role was acting as a conduit of information between the organizations. The EAAS newsletter will also have the cfp for the Oslo conference and guidelines for organizing a workshop. This will also be advertised on the EAAS website.

b) The Committee noted that in April, the position of the EAAS representative will be up for election, but that in the meantime, JV had become the Secretary General of EAAS. Thus, it was agreed that, from the summer meeting onwards, JV should be invited to come to the BAAS meetings with ex officio status, in addition to the new EAAS representative.

13. Any Other Business

a) The Secretary raised the issue of attendance at BAAS Executive Committee meetings, and a full discussion ensued about appropriate dates and locations. It was noted that it had been particularly difficult to find a suitable autumn date, but it was hoped that this would not be an issue for the winter meeting. The Northwest continues to be the most cost-efficient location for meetings.

14. Date of next meeting

Friday 12 January at MMU starting at 10am

Prof. Heidi Macpherson, Secretary.
Phone (office): (01772) 893039 or 893040
Fax: (01772) 892924
email: hrsmacpherson@uclan.ac.uk

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: June 30, 2006

Minutes of the 247th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at University of Manchester on June 30, 2006.

1. Present S Newman (Chair), C Smith (Vice Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), J Davies, W Kaufman, H Lowe, J Metcalf, C Morley, I Ralston, T Saxon, I Scott, J Virden.

Apologies
R Crockatt, M Halliwell, J Kleinberg, S MacLachlan

In Attendance
S Castillo, G Lewis

2. Minutes of the Previous Meetings.

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

3. Matters Arising and Review of Action List

In the absence of SM, we could not report on the compilation of a Conference Briefing Sheet, detailing things such as standard charges for publishers and publication of a “conference timeline” on the web (ref 5a of the Minutes of 246), or on the Conference Guidelines (ref 9d of the Minutes of 246), so these items will remain on the action list.

GT confirmed that he had liaised with the US Embassy regarding the Benjamin Franklin fellowship; the Embassy wanted clarification of expenditure. The cheque should be on its way soon.

IS confirmed that the Conference application form is now available on the website.

4. Chair’s Business

a) The Chair noted the following appointment: Prof. John Dumbrell will be moving to Durham in January. Congratulations are extended to him.

b) The Chair attended the following events on behalf of BAAS: on 14^th June, he attended an AHRC consultation meeting for learned societies and subject associations in London, which included a workshop on postgraduate funding. (The Chair had originally signed up for an AHRC meeting on postgraduate funding to be held the following day, but the AHRC cancelled this registration because of over-subscription.) SN circulated information on the funding workshop, which involved a series of small group discussions. It appears that the AHRC is aware of potential academic disquiet about the current process, and so used this meeting—and will use others—to consult with relevant individuals and institutions in order to listen to what academics have to say. There will be other opportunities to provide suggestions and feedback. SN reported that there are currently 6,000 postgraduate applicants, and 1,500 awards are made (half for MAs, half for PhDs). The success rate has dropped from 40% in 2000 to 26% in 2005. In 2005 146 HEIs applied: 3 got 28% of awards; 20 got 65% of awards; 50 got 1-3 awards; 33 got no awards. Broadly speaking, these figures reflect the spread of applications, and this is something that as a Committee, BAAS needs to think about in formulating any responses to suggested reforms. SN noted that BAAS needs to be ready to respond quickly to the consultation process regarding funding; there was a suggestion that the ESRC model might be adopted (ie, block allocation of awards).

c) SN reported that the AHRC will shortly be announcing a major three-year international initiative, focusing on three areas in the world: China, South Asia, and the USA. The USA will be first, and the AHRC will collaborate with a number of US institutions (including the National Science Foundation) in offering jointly-funded, peer reviewed awards for collaborative projects. The AHRC is particularly interested in providing release time for people seeking to work on collaborative projects. Special networks and workshops grants will also be available, with double the usual funding (£30k and £60k respectively): there will be no interdisciplinary requirement for these, nor will 50% of the participants need to be British. It will be peer reviewed (but not on both sides of the Atlantic) and will include the private sector, because the National Endowment of the Arts has less funding than the AHRC. The AHRC is also particularly interested in funding digitization projects under this American initiative, which they see as spurring further research (already happening between the British Library and the Library of Congress). Applications for digitization projects with broad foci (history, film, etc.) will be welcome. While these schemes are intended for scholars in all areas of the arts and humanities, they represent a unique opportunity for the American Studies community. The Chair has invited Professor Tony McEnery, Director of Research at the AHRC, to attend the 2007 BAAS conference, to meet the subject community, and to discuss the American initiative. This could benefit the American Studies community enormously. The formal announcement on this is likely to come in November, with the first round of applications coming shortly after the announcement. There are no set guidelines as of yet, except that the projects must be collaborative.

d) The Chair also attended an event celebrating the first anniversary of the new AHRC, also in London on 14^th June.

e) The Chair wrote to all outgoing members of the Executive Committee, thanking them for their work. He also sent letters to George Conyne, and to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kent, thanking them for hosting the 2006 BAAS conference.

f)   SN announced that the Eccles Centre no longer plans to publish its Eccles Guide to American Studies in the UK, though it may keep it on the web; this decision was greeted with some dismay. IR noted that the guide is available on the web via the American Studies Resource Centre. Subsequent to the meeting, it was confirmed that the Eccles Centre and the ASRC will work in tandem to keep this important resource available. The Eccles Centre will promote the study of AS in the UK and include a page of links to programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including Comparative American Studies and Canadian Studies, and will direct interested parties to the ASRC website for further information.

g) The Chair noted the following correspondence received. He received an email message from Kirsty Baxter, an American Studies graduate currently studying for a PGCE, whose research project concerns the possible introduction of an American Studies A-Level. The Chair wrote to Ms. Baxter expressing interest in her project, and accepting her offer to share a copy of her final project. This will be distributed to the whole committee for discussion at the autumn meeting.

h) The Chair noted that Ali Fisher has completed most of the interviews of past chairs that BAAS commissioned. Thus he has spoken to Bob Burchell, Richard King and Judie Newman, and will shortly be interviewing Philip Davies. AF will provide a template for future use. The Committee thanked him for his endeavours on our behalf. The interviews will be lodged in the archive along with the earlier interviews.

i)   SN updated the Committee on plans for RAE 2008, which will go ahead. However, at the AHRC meeting on 14 June, and in other forums such as the THES, it has become clear that this will be the last such exercise, and that it will be replaced by a different system. The Department for Education and Skills has published a consultation document “Reform of higher education research assessment and funding,” available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1404, and SN asked all Committee members to review the document and feed comments back to him so that BAAS can respond by the deadline of 13 October 2006. The report notes that the there will be a shift to some form of metrics, though the degree to which this will affect the arts and humanities and the social sciences is unclear. However, it is very clear that the government will not accept a system for the arts and humanities that is far more labour intensive and thus expensive than the one for the sciences. The peer review version is very expensive; hence the move to metrics, and it is clear that the academic community must respond with clear proposals for the best ways forward, as failure to engage will not be an option. A long discussion ensued about the journals listing project, the difficulties for area studies, and the fact that citations in humanities may take considerable time to appear. CS notes that consultation is important and does have effects; some of the comments made by the American Studies community in relation to the RAE proposals can be traced in the final documentation. Concerns were expressed over the shadow metrics system, particularly in relation to how RAE panels might be under pressure to conform to these new guidelines/requests. It was agreed that SN would ensure that a message about the consultation document would go out on the mailbase as a single item email and to the head of department list. CM noted that she had attended the Academy’s discussion on this earlier in the week and would disseminate her notes to the Committee after the meeting. CS noted that we need to be clear on responses to the shadow system as well as the new one.

j)   The Chair circulated a memo on an AHRC consultation on their new Strategic Resource Enhancement funding programme. They invite short proposals for resources that should be prioritized for enhancement by 4^th August. All committee members were asked to make a response.

k) In May the Chair met with Professor Richard Dunn, co Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society, and discussed the low application rates for several British Academy fellowships of particular interest to the American Studies community. SN noted that these may not be as well advertised as they might be. These reciprocal awards would allow successful applicants to spend time in a variety of libraries in the US, including the Huntington Library (San Marino, CA), the Newberry library (Chicago), and one for visits to libraries in the Philadelphia area. Further information can be found at http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/guide/intl/usanfa.html and Committee members may wish to ensure that this information is further disseminated.

l)   SN reported that he had been in contact with Marc Chénetier and his colleagues on the EAAS Board, who are concerned about what they perceive as the lack of attention paid by academics in the USA to work produced in Europe by Americanists. They have invited all European associations to submit a list of up to fifty “of the most significant books… published in English by their members on American subjects over the last 25 years.” In addition they welcome submissions to the new European Journal of American Studies, the inaugural issue of which will explore “Reading/Misreading America.” JV added that this issue was discussed in her handover meeting for new EAAS officers in Paris, and that it was primarily aimed at ensuring that the work of non-English speaking people writing in English was given due attention.

m)     The Chair has worked with Professor James Dunkerley of the Institute for the Study of the Americas (ISA) to reinstitute several of the named lectures, including the Caroline Robbins Lecture (previously hosted by the IUSS), which will now be co-sponsored by the ISA and the British Group of Early American Historians (BGEAH) who focus on 18^th century history.

n) The Chair has been in consultation with Martin Padget and Will Kaufman regarding the production of a brochure on American Studies alumni and their career paths. WK noted that MP had collected the responses to surveys of AS graduates; WK is now leading the project on writing a recruitment brochure for the Area Studies box as a means of recruiting school children into AS. WK is now to liaise with HL on this; IR is also involved in the production of the brochure. The brochure will be produced in same format as the one in the Language Box by John Canning (Southampton); the subject centre will produce it. It will also be available electronically. JC has sent helpful list of topics/areas that need to be written about.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary noted that most of the items she now receives come electronically and are thus distributed to the Committee as she receives them (eg, The Charity Commission Newsletter). She also noted that with the help of JD, she had circulated an email to the Committee about the Academy of Learned Societies and nominations to various committees involved. This is now in hand.

b) HM had previously circulated the minutes of the AGM; after minor amendments, these were approved and will now go on the website and in the next issue of ASIB.

c) HM reported that she had updated the Standing Orders (previously circulated) and asked the Committee to approve them. After minor amendments, GT proposed their acceptance, and JV seconded the motion; there was unanimous agreement. This now means that a new subcommittee, Awards, has been established.

d) HM reported on other actions taken as Secretary, which included the following: liaising with new members of the Committee as well as new co-opts to ensure that they had full information; updating our contact information and committee membership information; helping direct people with research and grant queries to the appropriate sources, including the postgraduate representatives responsible for the November conference; distributing calls for papers, conferences, new employment opportunities, etc., through the listserv; forwarding queries about mailing lists to the Treasurer; updating our records with national surveys/records esp. in relation to the STAs and other awards; writing BAAS’s response to the AHRC questionnaire on Modern History (thanks were extended to Committee members who had assisted with this).

e) HM noted that she had, in response to the call for information that had gone out on the mailbase, updated the BAAS Externals list and distributed it to interested parties. She also updated information on it where she was aware of individuals with changed circumstances, though it is clear that unless individuals update it themselves, some entries may be out of date. Nevertheless, it is becoming a much more substantial document. Committee members were reminded that they should consider adding their own details if appropriate. Thanks were extended to CE for her work on the mailbase.

f)   HM noted that in response to yet more queries about the newspaper database, she had liaised with GT, who had helpfully added even more notices about the fact that BAAS does not hold these newspapers.

g) HM reported that she had forwarded queries about JAS (advertising and submission of manuscripts) to the appropriate individuals. It was agreed that the website should provide more information about JAS so that individuals are aware of the relationship between JAS and BAAS. Details of the appropriate individuals to contact should also be added. SC and GT will liaise about this.

h) HM reported that along with CS, she had been presented to Her Majesty the Queen at the official opening of the Princess Margaret Memorial Garden at the Rothermere in May 2006. Also in attendance were the US Ambassador, Committee members JV and CM, and several prominent BAAS members such as Michael Heale and Philip Davies.

i)   HM reported that she had been informed of the serious illness of some BAAS members and had been asked if BAAS offered an organizational response. Past practice is that we note deaths, but for a variety of reasons, including privacy, BAAS has not sought to publicly disseminate information on members’ illnesses. It was agreed that this was an appropriate policy.

j)   HM also noted that she had been approached about establishing a “Lifetime Achievement” award; the Committee debated the pros and cons of such an award. It was agreed that since this was a complex issue, it needed to be referred to the Awards Committee for further discussion at the autumn meeting.

k) A discussion followed on funding for named awards; it was agreed that information on how the named awards came into existence should be part of the next ASIB. SN is to liaise with PD about this. SN is also to liaise with Peter Thompson, who had done some early work on bequests, so that BAAS could formulate a statement about bequests.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer reported that current membership figures for fully paid up members stand at 407 members, including 138 postgraduates. When those who haven’t so far updated their Standing Orders are included, the numbers rise to 492 (161 postgraduates). The highest possible membership figures (taking into account the above and those who have yet to return for 2006) are 592 (including 211 postgraduates).

b) Balances on 30 June are as follows: Current account, £1,406.49; Conference, £8,269.96; Lib. Res., £2.76; Education and Development, £4,953.90; STA, £17,876.48; Deposit, £17,536.26; making a total of £50,045.85. In addition, the RBS Jersey account has £14,876.57, and US dollar account has $3,629.99.

c) GT reported that the mileage allowance has gone up to 40p/mile to bring it into line with other associations and government practice.

d) GT informed the Committee about aspects of the new Charities Bill going through Parliament; it will affect BAAS because it will affect all educational associations. Because of the new accountancy regulations, the accountant’s fee will rise by 10%. In addition, we will now need to submit a trustees’ report which proves that we are providing public benefit in addition to the Chair’s report to the AGM that we currently submit; thus we will be more accountable for how we distribute our funds. GT has downloaded the new proforma about this from the website.

e) GT reported that it is likely that the Kent conference accounts will be closed by the end of the month. Early figures suggest that there will be a small shortfall of a few hundred pounds.

f)   GT noted that he had paid money into the Leicester conference account as per our discussions at the last meeting. This money, £2500, which came from the Manchester conference, has paid for the deposit on the Athena venue amongst other early costs.

g) GT reported that the PayPal system is now set up, for the benefit of international subscribers. As confirmed at the last meeting, a small charge for this service will be passed on to those who seek to pay this way. When the renewals notice goes out in 2007, GT will note the availability if this option; it is already noted on the web.

h) GT reported that work on GiftAid is still on going, but he hopes to be able to make progress on it over the summer and report back to the next meeting. The problems include keeping track of who pays what, and how much, etc. CS asked whether it was worth considering starting claiming from now, and not to make an earlier claim. GT responded that the amount we could receive is actually quite substantial, so it is worth the effort. It is likely that he will make a claim for last year first, and then work backwards. SN suggested that we could pay a postgraduate to help with this since it is worth doing. This was agreed.

7. Development Subcommittee (IS reporting)

a) IS reported that from the next meeting, he would chair the Awards Subcommittee, and Richard Crockatt would take over the leadership of the Development Subcommittee. IS reported on continuing discussions with Philip Davies and the Eccles Centre regarding the proposed fellowships. Further paperwork needs to be done before the fellowships get final approval from the British Library, so it is likely that this will be an agenda item at the autumn meeting. IS reported that he has been able to find an administrative assistant to help coordinate this award, Michelle Smith, a graduate of Manchester University. She would also be able to coordinate some of the other awards work if the Embassy funding bid is successful, since that includes support for administration. It is anticipated that the Eccles Centre will offer £1000 for administrative support.

b) IS noted that he will liaise further with RC on the Embassy application for 2006-07 and funds we hope to receive; it is likely that the outcome of the bids will be known by the next meeting. The Subcommittee considered such issues as advertising, marketing, and online applications.

c) IS reported on provisional dates for next year’s awards: Book Prize, 1 December; STA and Founders, 15 December; Ambassador’s Awards and the Monticello Teachers’ Fellowship, 26 January; postgraduate essay prize, 16 Feb.

d) IS reported that the Subcommittee had considered four grant applications, and they made recommendations as to the amounts to be awarded which they asked the Committee to approve: for the BAAS postgraduate conference in Nottingham to subsidize travel, £300; for the British Group of Early American Historians (BGEAH) conference in the autumn to support postgraduate attendance and travel, submitted by Peter Thompson, £200; for the annual schools’ conference held at Liverpool, submitted by IR, £200, and for the annual Congress to Campus UK tour, submitted by P Davies, £200. The Committee approved these applications.

e) IS noted that as Development Subcommittee Chair, he sat on Area Studies board for the past few years; RC as new chair will now take up this position.

f)   IS reported on postgraduate business, focusing on the new EAAS initiative, organized by JV, to set up a network of contacts with other European associations. JM is taking this forward. It was also agreed that JM would encourage European postgraduates to attend the November postgraduate conference in Nottingham.

g) IS also noted that the subcommittee discussed the PGCE project on A Levels already noted under Chair’s business.

8. Publications Subcommittee (CS reporting)

a) CS reported that KM was unable to attend or supply a BRRAM report, but he will be in a position to do so for the autumn meeting.

b) In relation to the EUP BAAS series, CS noted that two much needed books have been contracted: T Saxon is writing a book on theatre and Kasia Boddy is writing a book on the short story.

c) CS reported that the main business of the subcommittee was in agreeing nominations for the JAS editorial board to put forward to the full committee, and thanking retiring members. The process of selecting editorial board members for the current 8 vacancies was a rigorous one which included the editor, the associate editor (currently the editor elect), and the subcommittee, all of whom reviewed the CVs of potential members. Board members are considered in relation to the need to include academics from different continents, the range of expertise in American Studies and specific subjects and areas of research interest. The Subcommittee proposed that the following current members be asked to serve another term: Prof. Janet Beer, Prof. Eileen Boris, Prof. John Dumbrell, and Prof. Walter W. Hölbling. It was also proposed that Prof. Sacvan Bercovitch remain on the board. These nominations were approved. Thanks were extended to board members who have completed their terms of office, including Christopher Clark, Theo D’haen, and Professor Mick Gidley. We wish Prof. Gidley well on his retirement from Leeds.

d) The following new members of the board were proposed: Prof Ian Bell (Keele), Prof. Sabine Broeck (Bremen), Dr. Marina Moskowitz (Glasgow). These individuals offer a wide range of experience, and have the expertise to comment helpfully on the newest areas of American Studies as well as more traditional aspects. These individuals maintain the high prestige of the JAS board, but also lay seeds for the next generation. A long discussion about these candidates followed, after which the Committee approved these new members. The Secretary will now write to the CUP syndics with our nominations.

e) CS noted that Rachel Bowlby, Judie Newman, and Alan Trachtenberg would be coming to the end of their terms of office at the end of December. In considering replacements, the Committee was asked to email CS with potential nominations in the areas of music, popular culture, visual and contemporary art, and television studies and were reminded that the board included a wide range of eminent scholars; it was noted that it was not a prerequisite that nominations already be professors. Members were also reminded of the protocol of nominations, and that they should not approach anyone directly themselves. It was hoped that some CVs would be available for discussion at the January meeting.

f)   CS noted that Linda Kerber had been invited to give the JAS/CUP lecture at Leicester: She is the former chair of the ASA and the current chair of the American Historical Association. She will hold the Harold Vyvyan Harmsworth Visiting Professorship of American History at Oxford next year and be a fellow of Queen’s College.

g) CS noted that the next ASIB deadline is 13 August. In this issue, there will be an advertisement for BRRAM as per our new contract. It was noted that the ASIB includes a number of flyers, and will be distributed with Resources for American Studies. Currently CM only had one student to help her with the mailing and asked if this could be increased to two, both paid £50 for their assistance. This was agreed.

h) CS reminded the Committee that an advertisement had gone out for the editorship of US Studies Online, to replace Elizabeth Rosen whose term of office is coming to an end. Thanks were extended to ER and we wished her well in her new appointment in Philadelphia. It was agreed that in the future, the post would be of a two-year duration. ER had suggested that instead of a rolling deadline, that two firm deadlines were offered per year: one for the postgraduate conference, and another. It was agreed that this was a good idea. It was also agreed that more should be done to reach out to European postgraduates; JM will liaise with the current and new editor about this.

i)   CS reported that the website continues to attract attention, and that postgraduates had reported it to be particularly useful, especially the links to journals.

9. Conference Subcommittee (JV reporting)

a) In SM’s absence, JV and GT co-chaired the subcommittee. JV reported that the CFP for Leicester has gone out and will go out in various formats. So far, there are 31 proposals from 9 countries, which is very positive, given that the deadline isn’t until the end of October. A final call will go out at the end of September. The conference poster is in preparation and will be produced as soon as the three plenaries are absolutely confirmed.

b) JV reported that the Leicester programme committee is in process of being formed, with the assistance of postgraduates; GL is hoping to set up one day for secondary teachers and invite local teachers for free; the only cost involved for us would be the teachers’ lunch. This was agreed. There are plans to put the abstracts online before the conference; this is likely to help recruitment. Leicester has brand new accommodation going up with all rooms en suite; the accommodation is very close to the places where sessions will be held, and the publishers’ stalls will be in a marquee next to the dining hall. The Saturday banquet will be in Athena, an old art deco cinema; the plan is to have a plenary and then the meal there. The Friday night entertainment will be provided by Will Kaufman. There will also be a disco. A late license for the bar has been arranged.

c) JV raised the issue of the timing of the AGM. It was agreed that this year, the AGM would be held on the Friday rather than the Saturday; it was thought that this might aid attendance; this also means that there is no rush from the AGM to the banquet as has happened in previous years. There will be an early call for nominations for positions on the Committee, and an announcement will be placed in the autumn ASIB, since the Chair is one of the positions that will fall vacant.

d) It was agreed that, on the condition that there were sufficient proposals, papers would also be presented on Sunday. It was noted that there will always be problems with “conference drift” which mean that individuals sometimes leave early, but the experience of the Kent conference shows that unless there are papers on Sunday, delegates will leave even earlier on Saturday. This is another reason to hold the banquet on the Saturday evening. JV made the point that Committee members in particular should show leadership by staying until the end of the conference.

e) JV reported that the conference prices are still estimated at £275 for full BAAS members and £235 for postgraduate members. All rooms are en suite.

f)   JV reported that the conference organizers are linking into various historical events for the conference, including the 50^th anniversary of Sputnik.

g) It was agreed that chairs of panel sessions should be organized prior to the conference opening wherever possible, that chairs should be fully informed about their roles, and that members of the Committee should be called upon to assist.

h) The 2008 conference will be held at Edinburgh, and the Conference Secretary, Robert Mason, attended the morning meeting. JV reported that this conference is likely to be an expensive one because accommodation is expensive in Edinburgh, with any inexpensive accommodation unlikely to be suitable. There are plans to try to book the Scottish Parliament as a venue. Committee members asked if there was any connection with the STAR project in Edinburgh, and SM will be asked to contact RM about this issue. There were also questions raised about the protocol of inviting consular staff as well as the Ambassador to this conference; SM and SN are to contact Sue Wedlake for advice.

i)   The 2009 conference will be held at Nottingham. The conference secretary has yet to be confirmed.

j)   As noted under the Treasurer’s report, the accounts will be finalized soon from Canterbury.

10. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee (IR reporting)

a) IR reported that the last meeting was 14 June to finalize issues and to consider further developments. As already noted, Resources for American Studies will be sent out to all BAAS members with the ASIB and an additional 250 others who are on a separate BLARS mailing list will receive a copy.

b) IR noted that confirmation had been received that the subcommittee will be receiving funding from the US Embassy for the journal and also from two publishers, which should cover the additional costs. Thanks were extended to all members of the subcommittee and to Matthew Shaw for the work as editor on the journal.

c) IR reported that the next major project for the subcommittee was deciding on the next database to construct. Two calls for suggestions have gone out on the mailbase, but the subcommittee has agreed to put a notice in the next ASIB about the project and ask individuals to contact Kevin Halliwell, special projects officer, with their ideas. It is crucial that the project is seen as relevant to members and so it was felt that the more consultation that could be done, the better.

d) IR also noted that the subcommittee had made the first draft revisions to the Standing Orders for their subcommittee, which was passed on to the Secretary for incorporation into the overall Standing Orders. IR thanked all members of the subcommittee for their positive and constructive comments.

11. EAAS (JV reporting)

a) JV reported that she had attended a handover meeting in Paris for new officers, and that this had been a good meeting.

b) JV noted that the postgraduate list is being gathered and email contacts are being made; JM has been involved with this.

c) JV reported that the final version of call for papers for EAAS conference in Oslo is now out and will be distributed in a variety of ways, including the mailbase and the ASIB.

d) JV noted that there is a continuous call for papers for EJAS, the new online journal.

e) JV reported that two BAAS postgraduates had been successful in their applications for travel grants: Emma Barber, who is working on the effects of the Civil War on the medical profession, was awarded 1300 euros; Tara Stubbs, who is working on Marianne Moore and Irish heritage, was awarded 1400 euros. Congratulations were extended to them.

f)   JV asked Committee members to send her any information that they have on past EAAS representatives so that we have a full list for the archive. Mick Gidley has already responded fully. Once the list is complete, JV will send it to the Secretary.

12. Any Other Business

a) HM to circulate new updated list of contact details. There was no other business.

13. Date of next meeting

16 September 2006, King’s College London.

Dr Heidi Macpherson, Secretary
Phone (office): (01772) 893039 or 893020
Fax: (01772) 892924
email: hrsmacpherson@uclan.ac.uk

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: April 20, 2006

Minutes of the 246th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at University of Kent on April 20, 2006.

1. Present

C Smith (Vice Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), K Cooper, R Crockatt, J Davies, C Elliott, W Kaufman, S MacLachlan, C Morley, I Ralston, I Scott, J Virden, T Woods.

Apologies

S Newman (Chair), J Kleinberg, M Padget

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

After minor typographical amendments, these were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3. Matters Arising and Review of Action List

CS confirmed that she had written to unsuccessful candidates for the posts of editor and associate editor (ref 8c) and GT reported he was still investigating the euros account (ref 6f). Any actions not yet completed will be carried over to the next action list.

4. Chair’s Business (CS reporting on SN’s behalf)

a) In the absence of SN, CS, as Vice Chair, read out a written report offered by SN. The report noted that Susan Castillo has been appointed to a Chair in American Studies at King’s College, London. Congratulations were extended to her.

b) The Chair attended the following events on behalf of BAAS: on 13 March he attended the Harry Allen Memorial Lecture at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, which was given by Professor Richard Carwardine. On 21 March he attended a “Conversation with Lynne Cheney and Ambassador Robert Tuttle” at the US Embassy, sponsored by the Eccles Centre and by the British American Project. On 24 March he attended and gave a paper at a symposium on “Atlantic History from Both Sides of the Atlantic” at the L’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. The Chair unfortunately had to cancel his plenary lecture at the biennial conference of the European Association for American Studies (EAAS) in Cyprus.

c) The Chair’s report noted correspondence and reports received, including a copy of a letter from Guy DeFazio, President of the Center for Jazz Arts in Los Angeles, to Shamoon Zamir at King’s College, announcing a new “bridge-building” initiative in the UK and Europe through the expansion of “Jazz Appreciation Month.” The Chair also received the First Annual Report of the Institute for the Study of the Americas. This was circulated to the Committee for information.

d) The report noted that the panel criteria and working methods for RAE 2008 Main Panel L, and sub-panel 47 “American Studies and Anglophone Area Studies” had been published.

e) The Chair received, and then on behalf of BAAS signed, the new agreement with Microform Academic Publishers.

f) The Chair was interviewed by Hua Hsu for an article on international American Studies in the Boston Globe. He was consulted by James Marshall of the BBC regarding a proposed documentary series on American arts and architecture.

g) The Chair consulted with Professor Philip Davies regarding a new series of initiatives and fellowships to be offered by the Eccles Centre and the British Library. These would involve BAAS taking a role with the British Association for Canadian Studies (BACS) in judging applications. Catherine Morley agreed to attend the upcoming meeting on BAAS’s behalf.

h) The Chair noted the importance of BAAS making progress on the alumni questionnaire. In the absence of Martin Padget, it was agreed to hold this discussion over to the summer meeting. As MP was not standing for re-election, it would be necessary for SN or CS to liaise with him to ensure that the project was on schedule. It was noted that various BAAS members have asked for a progress report, particularly on the plan to produce a brochure on the results.

i) The Chair received a letter from Dr. Frank Cogliano, the Chair of the Scottish Association for the Study of America (SASA), asking if the SASA web page could be moved from Glasgow to the BAAS website. This raised the issue of whether all of the regional organizations might be offered such a web site, where local events, lectures, conferences etc., could be announced. GT noted that he had received an email about this from a postgraduate at Glasgow. There was a sustained discussion about the pros and cons of such a request, and it was agreed that further discussion was needed before a final decision could be taken, but that since SASA was its own organization, it did not necessarily make sense to host its website, though the Committee agreed that a clearer link could be made between websites.

j) The Chair met with Professor James Dunkerley of ISA to discuss the revival of the joint ISA/Nottingham bid for AHRC funding to support the creation of a research course for all postgraduate students starting research degrees on the Americas. The Chair agreed to discuss with the Executive Committee the possibility of including more institutions in a future bid.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary reported that this had been a very busy quarter, particularly in relation to preparations made for the conference. To assist with the last minute queries, it was agreed that SM would compile a conference briefing sheet to send out to the Secretary and other officers, so that if they were contacted by individuals, they would have a list of the charges, etc. It was also agreed that a timeline would be published on the web, saying, for example, “Information on charges (etc.) will be available in early April. Please contact us again if you haven’t heard from us by X date….”

b) HM noted that she had previously circulated by email all items that she had received; however, she drew to the Committee’s attention to the AHRC questionnaire on modern history review, and asked for responses by 1 May.

c) HM noted that actions taken as Secretary included the following: corresponding with Philip Davies about the proposed Eccles Centre awards.

d) The Secretary noted that other actions taken included: writing to the CUP syndics confirming our proposals for editor and associate editor of JAS ; helping individuals with queries about the BAAS pamphlet series; fielding a lot of questions about the upcoming conference, especially regarding programmes, fees, and publishers’ tables; directing people with research queries to the appropriate sources, including BBC researchers; participating in a BBC radio Lancashire programme on pledging allegiance to the flag (in relation to the 400 th anniversary of the Union Jack); distributing calls for papers, conferences, etc., through the listserv; updating our records with national surveys/records especially in relation to the STAs and other awards; updating our BAAS Externals list and distributing it to interested parties. It was agreed that the Secretary would ensure that another call for information would go out in the next ASIB and shortly on the listserv.

e) The Secretary has forwarded information to the treasurer regarding membership queries, especially from lapsed members, and has put individuals in contact with CE regarding postgraduate events/links; she has also continued to field questions about the newspapers’ database despite all of the information on the web which informs people that we do not actually hold the individual copies of newspapers ourselves.

f) The Secretary noted that she will be representing BAAS at the official opening, by the Queen, of the Princess Margaret Memorial Garden at the Rothermere on 5 May.

g) HM noted that she has been appointed to the AHRC Peer Review College, on the strength of a recommendation by BAAS, and she thanked the Committee for their support.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer noted that our current bank balances on 20.04.06 are as follows: Current account: £2,282.55; Conference: £11,559.34; Lib. Res.: £2.76; Ed. Development: £4,943.42;STA: £19,956.37; Deposit: £21,711.39, making a total of £60,455.83. In addition, the US dollar account shows a balance of $3,624.27and the RBS account currently has £14,848.44.

b) GT also offered three different membership figures. The most conservative figures are: 384 (127 of whom are postgraduates). This figure does not include those who have yet to update their Standing Orders; if they are included, the figures are 470 (150 postgraduates). The figure rises to 575 (202 of whom are postgraduates) if the figures include those who don’t pay by Standing Order and need to renew for 2006 and haven’t done so by 20.04.06.

c) The Treasurer noted that the main business for this quarter was the annual accounts, which would be presented to the AGM.

d) SM asked if there was a possibility of setting some funds in the conference accounts prior to the conference to help secure venues, etc., and suggested a figure of £2000. This was agreed. CS noted that the Conference Subcommittee chair should ensure that the new Conference Secretary would be aware of this. SM agreed to update the notes available to new Conference Secretaries.

e) GT reported that he did not want to disadvantage those who had forgotten to update Standing Orders, so he would be sending out a further message to such members reminding them to update their SOs and therefore remain members in good standing.

f) GT reported that he had received the final cheque from the Manchester conference for £2,810.62 to close the account; this money will go directly into the new conference holding account.

g) GT reported that he had investigated electronic payments, in order to deal with European and overseas subscriptions, as well as for individuals who wished to pay this way. He noted that BAAS could use an online system like Paypal, but there is a charge on each transaction: 3.4% plus 20p. (This equates to an extra £1.60 on £41 subscriptions, £1.15 on £28 subscriptions, and 65p on £13 subscriptions). After much discussion, it was agreed that BAAS would not absorb this cost, but pass it on to subscribers who chose to pay this way. This method of payment is one of a range of payment options. It was agreed that GT should pursue this option and advertise its availability.

7. Development Subcommittee (IS reporting)

a) IS reported that he and SN had a liaison discussion with the Center for Black Music Research at the end of last year; there was a summit to be held in Vienna in February, and IS was invited to attend but was unable to for logistical reasons. IS wrote to his contacts there inviting them to the BAAS conference, but no further correspondence has been received.

b) IS thanked members for agreeing to support the BAAS Northwest Schools Civil Rights Seminar Day, which was attended by KC’s students, among others.

c) IS led a discussion on prizes and awards. SN, IS and others have had a number of informal conversations over the last few months about how to ensure that the awarding of prizes was managed in the best way. IS distributed a list of this year’s awards which included 28 certificates (see appendix for the full list of prizes). This is a major undertaking, much larger than the number originally distributed by BAAS; this year the prize giving included various school awards and the biennial Teaching Assistantships. There were 32 applications for postgraduate STA awards and the field was very strong, which is reflected in the fact that there were 11 STAs (including the named STAs) awarded this year. IS reminded the Committee that the special Cox STA was for this year only. The new Founders’ awards also had a good response, which was gratifying as this was the first year that BAAS ran this award. IS also reported that the BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize attracted 19 top class entries.

d) IS proposed in conjunction with SN that the Development Subcommittee splits in two: one would take over most of the duties of the current committee (funding applications, liaison with other organizations, schools, libraries, etc.) and the other would focus on prizes, awards and grant giving. This new committee would be able to co-opt members onto it to ensure a balance of specialisms/fields of interest. Setting up such a committee would require the Secretary to propose changes to the Standing Orders, for ratification at the next meeting. The Committee agreed in principle that this proposal should go forward. It may be that the Prize Subcommittee would not need to meet as often as the Executive, as long as it could ensure that the process of publicizing, organizing and judging all of the prizes took place. It was agreed to move the BAAS Book Prize to this new subcommittee when it was established; IS will report our decision to the AGM.

e) IS reported on the Ben Franklin Fellowship, and his liaison with the Embassy. Thanks were recorded to the members of the committee who liaised on this project.Although this prize was a one-off prize, the chair of that subcommittee indicated to the Embassy that we would be interested in looking at future proposals; this is a good way of ensuring future developments.

f) TW raised the issue of the STA award amounts, and after a considered discussion, it was agreed that the amount offered should be raised; thus the Committee agreed that this would be £750 to take into account higher transatlantic airfares. The Committee also agreed that we would normally offer 5 named postgraduate STAs and 4 unnamed, but that we had the right to alter that number if circumstances existed that suggested we should do so.

g) IS noted that BAAS had yet to receive a cheque from the Embassy for the Ben Franklin Fellowship; GT is to follow that up.

8. Publications Subcommittee (CS reporting)

a) CS noted that there was nothing significant to report from BRRAM since the last detailed report.

b) CS reported that JK was unwell and unable to attend the meeting. Due to a variety of reasons, there had been no progress to report on the appointment of new editorial board members for JAS, but this would need to be addressed at the summer meeting so that individuals could be in place for the September editorial board meetings. There are currently at least 5 vacancies, though 2 current incumbents have been approached to see if they would like to remain on the board. Executive Committee members are asked to notify CS of any names that they think might be suitable, but were reminded not to approach individuals themselves. The CUP syndics had confirmed the new editorial team, taking over from 1 st January: Susan Castillo as Editor and Scott Lucas as Associate Editor. Thanks were offered to the editorial assistants John Matlin (Brunel) and Maggie Selby (Glasgow) for their hard work.

c) CS reported that the EUP series continues to go well. Recently published books included WK’s book on the Civil War and Niall Palmer’s book on the 1920s in America. Books going through the editorial process included ones on theatre, African American Music, the short story, and TV and science fiction. CS will issue another call for titles at the AGM and through ASIB.

d) CS noted that ASIB had had an excellent year under the new editorship of CM. The next deadline for copy is 13 August.

e) CS noted that another publication with a new editor (Liz Rosen) was US Studies Online: There had been an excellent response to the call for papers issued on the UPenn list. This has, however, required that the editor institute a tighter editorial control process and take on more of a gateway role.

f) CS reported that there had been 11 books eligible for the Book Prize, though other books had arrived late or outside of the requirements and were therefore not considered. As noted in the appendix, Richard Follett’s book stood out in a very good field. Philip Davies is to report at the conference dinner tomorrow. CS warned that we may have a bumper year for books for the 2006 prize because of the RAE.

g) GT reported on the website: on average, 800 people a day visit the website and the highest ever number visited on the 4 th of April: 1596 unique hits. This reveals the ongoing interest in American Studies and BAAS in the UK and elsewhere.

9. Conference Subcommittee (SM reporting)

a) SM reported that future conferences have been confirmed: Leicester will host the next conference on 19-22 April 2007; Robert Mason at Edinburgh will be the Conference Secretary for 2008, and he proposed two different sets of dates: 27-30 March or 3-6 April. Given that Easter Sunday is 23 rd March, the Committee agreed that the earlier date was preferable.

b) SM reported that Nottingham will host the conference in 2009.

c) SM agreed that in order to ensure that Conference Secretaries had the most up-to-date information, she would update the conference guidelines to include the following points: that individuals should receive automated responses to paper submissions confirming that their proposals had arrived; a set of standard publisher charges; the necessity for abstracts to be put online (BAAS funding available for this) and the introduction of a conference float (provided by BAAS) for conference expenses incurred prior to the receipt of conference fees .

10. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee (IR reporting)

a) Following the successful re-launch of the journal last year, IR reported that the Subcommittee has had funding approved by the US Embassy for the next edition. It will be now distributed to all BAAS members along with ASIB as well as the existing cohort who are not BAAS members.

b) IS noted that members were contacted through the mailbase regarding the next project: a new database of materials separate from existing newspapers’ database. Responses are being fed back to Kevin Halliwell, the Special Projects Officer and results will be known14 June. A second call will go out on the mailbase shortly, and IR and the Subcommittee will move forward after that point.

c) IR reported that the Subcommittee had two new members: Donald Tait, the Librarian at Glasgow University, and CM.

d) Congratulations were offered to everyone involved in the bid to get funding, and on the new projects.

11. EAAS (JV reporting)

a) JV reported that the EAAS Board met at Nicosia, Cyprus at various points throughout the biennial conference from 6-10 April 2006. There were 20 board members present with apologies from Yuri Stulov, Minsk, Belarus who could not make it to Cyprus due to the troubles in Belarus.

b) JV noted that the EAAS Treasurer’s Report recorded BAAS membership of 567 in 2005 down to 403 in 2006. The accounts for 2005, a non-conference year, showed 20,000 euros in the bank. Total membership dues equalled 25,409 euros. The Amsterdam Trust Fund generates 6-8,000 euros per year off investments of 210,000 euros.

c) EJAS , the new online journal was now available on the EAAS website. An editorial board committee of 7 individuals is now in place and they will shortly elect a chief editor; the Committee thanked Dick Ellis for writing an article for the new journal on behalf of BAAS.

d) JV noted that the ASE Newsletter is now fully electronic “with very little complaint.” The newsletter is under remit of the Vice President.

e) JV noted that the EAAS website is now fully overhauled, and that the BAAS website was particularly commended by the EAAS board.

f) JV reported that EAAS received an application for membership from Bulgaria (BASA), which has around 50 members. This led to a discussion about the size of board; JV agreed to come up with talking points to discuss ways of smaller associations working together, along the Nordic Association pattern.

g) The next meeting of the Board will take place in 2007 at Wittenberg, from 12-15 April. The 2008 EAAS Conference will be in Oslo (the first time it has taken place in a Nordic country); the dates have been moved to 9-12 May to take into account Scandinavian weather patterns. The theme of the conference will shortly be finalized but is likely to be: “e pluribus unum OR e pluribus plura.” The following year is a board meeting only and this will occur in Zurich while the 2010 EAAS Conference will be hosted by the Clinton Centre at University College Dublin.

h) JV reported that the Prague conference proceedings, America in the Course of Human Events, are now out. The EAAS is currently looking for a new publisher. From the Cyprus conference, 2 papers from each workshop will be included, to help with the coherency of the proceedings. One thing to note from the last conference is the rise in AV requirements, which may be difficult for some countries to deal with.

i) JV reported that the Nicosia conference was a success, with over 220 delegates. EAAS experimented with the placement of the AGM during the conference by putting it on the first day, shortly after registration, in order to encourage attendance; this was successful. There was some concern among women members of the EAAS about how few workshops were chaired by women and the complete lack of women as parallel lecturers or plenary speakers. As a result, a woman’s caucus is in the process of forming.

j) JV noted that there were only 5 applications for postgraduate travel grants, which was disappointing, and she has volunteered to set up a postgraduate network in EAAS, since not all associations have postgraduate representatives.

k) JV noted that elections took place for the Vice-President and Secretary General. Martin Heusser, from Switzerland, was elected Vice President and JV was elected Secretary General. This means that it is possible for BAAS to nominate someone else to represent BAAS on the EAAS Board. The Committee discussed this at length and decided to wait until JV’s term expired in 2007 in order not to rush an election. Congratulations were offered to JV on her election.

12. Any Other Business

a) The Committee discussed the recent proposals to replace peer review with a metrics based system.

b) Official thanks were extended to outgoing committee members: KC, CE, TW, MP and IS. [IS was subsequently re-elected to the Committee at the AGM.]

c) CE reported that she would be holding a meeting/ workshop with postgraduate students over lunch during the conference to draw their attention to the journal, the BAAS postgraduate conference, prizes, etc.

d) CE reported that SN had asked her to sell raffle tickets to support the bursary fund for the Andrew Hook Centre at the conference and asked for support in this endeavour.

e) GT reported that BAAS normally gets a 10% reduction in accountant’s fee for the annual audit, but this is no longer happening.

f) SM reported that abstracts online for the conference didn’t materialize this year, but she will work with GL to ensure that they do appear for the Leicester conference; BAAS has agreed to fund this project as part of its commitment to the annual conference.

g) JD raised the ongoing issue of a decline in undergraduate recruitment, and a spirited debate followed in which a number of proposals were put forward, including ensuring a “careers in American Studies” brochure is produced; a “What is it?” guide to American Studies is made available for school teachers and A Level students, etc. The Development Subcommittee will need to take a lead in this. In addition, it would be helpful if BAAS could contact the Head of Subject list and check on local recruitment figures/perceptions to see if more can be done by the Executive.

13. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held at MMU on Friday 30 June 2006.

Dr Heidi Macpherson, Secretary.
Phone (office): (01772) 893041 or 893040
Fax: (01772) 892970
email: hrsmacpherson@uclan.ac.uk or heidi.macp@baas.ac.uk

Appendix: BAAS awards 2006

Ambassador’s Awards

School Essay

Jessica Edwards (Loreto College, Manchester) “Assessing Poverty in Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society”

Undergraduate Essay

Edward Flett (University of the West of England, Bristol) “Transparency in The New York Trilogy: Paul Auster and the Inescapable Paradox”

Honourable Mention to:

Gary Cape (University of Central Lancashire) “Henry James and the Quest for the American Aesthetic: Cultural Tourism and Identity Crises in the Transatlantic Narrative”

and

Andrew Lyness (University of East Anglia) “Homelessness in America: The Pathology of Poverty”

Postgraduate Essay

Michael Collins (University of Nottingham) “‘Sloughing off the Old Skin’: Ideology, Folklore and the Invention of Tradition in the Tales of Washington Irving”

Benjamin Franklin Fellowship

Dr. Martin Pethers (Independent Scholar) “Revolutionary Politics and the American Theatre, 1750-1800”

BAAS Postgraduate Short-Term Travel Awards

Kiki Benzon (University College London)

Alex Miles (Salford University)

Nicholas Monk (University of Warwick)

Donna Peberdy (University of Nottingham)

Elizabeth Talbot (University of Glasgow)

David Torstensson (University of Oxford)

BAAS Named Postgraduate Short-Term Travel Awards

Malcolm Bradbury Award

Oliver Belas (Royal Holloway, University of London), “The genre fiction of African-American authors, in particular Rudolph Fisher and Chester Himes”

John D. Lees Award

Vicki Gordon (Oxford Brookes University), “Unilateral Executive Power and the Shaping of National Security from Truman to G.W. Bush”

Peter Parish Award

Ben Schiller (University of Edinburgh), “African-American slave letters as covert transcripts of resistance”

Marcus Cunliffe Award

Josephine Metcalf (University of Manchester), “Contemporary Street Gang Memoirs”

Ruth and Keith Cox Award

Mark Taylor (University of Hull), “The My Khe 4 Massacre during the Vietnam War”

BAAS Founders’ Awards

David Anderson (University of Dundee), “Southern Christmas Celebrations during the Civil War”

Howard Cunnell (Kingston University, Surrey), “Jack Kerouac”

Elizabeth Jacobs (Rothermere American Institute), “Women and Race Relations: From Civil Rights to Multiculturalism”

Catherine Morley (Oxford Brookes University), “A Comparative Study of Willa Cather and John Dos Passos”

Mark Newman (University of Edinburgh), “The Catholic Church in the South during Civil Rights”

BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize

Clare Russell (University of Nottingham) ” Natural Disasters in America: The Northridge Earthquake (1994), Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the Relationships between Human Societies and the ‘Natural Environment'”

BAAS Teaching Assistantships

Emily Iggulden (Glasgow University), BAAS Teaching Assistantship in American History at the University of New Hampshire

James Weddup (University of Warwick), BAAS Teaching Assistantship in American Literature at the University of Virginia

BAAS Monticello Teachers’ Fellowships

Kathryn Cooper (Loreto College, Manchester ), Barringer Fellowship

John Siblon (City and Islington Sixth College), Monticello-Stratford Hall Seminar for Teachers

The Arthur Miller Centre Prize (from the University of East Anglia)

Rebecca Griffin, “Courtship Contests and the Meaning of Conflict in the Folklore of Slaves,” The Journal of Southern History

BAAS Book Prize

Richard Follett (University of Sussex), The Sugar Masters: Planters and Slaves In Louisiana’s Cane World, 1820-1860

BAAS Executive Committee Meeting: January 13, 2006

Minutes of the 245th meeting of the Executive Committee, held at University of Leicester on January 13, 2006.

1. Present
S Newman (Chair), C Smith (Vice Chair), H Macpherson (Secretary), G Thompson (Treasurer), R Crockatt, J Davies, C Elliott, W Kaufman, J Kleinberg, C Morley, M Padget, I Scott, J Virden, T Woods.

Apologies
K Cooper, S MacLachlan, I Ralston

In attendance
G Conyne

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
After minor typographical amendments, these were accepted as a true record and will now go on the website.

3. Matters Arising
Reference 4l from BAAS 244 minutes, HM was unable to attend the QAA benchmarking meeting in Manchester because of work commitments.

4. Chair’s Business
a) SN began by thanking the Leicester representatives for organising the meeting. It was agreed that BAAS would try to use the January meeting (or another appropriate meeting) to visit the upcoming conference sites well in advance of the conference date.

b) SN reported that Peter Ling and Sharon Monteith have been appointed to chairs at the University of Nottingham, and that Bridget Bennett has been appointed to a chair in American Literature at the University of Leeds. Peter Boyle was made Reader at Nottingham. Congratulations were extended to these BAAS members. Peter Ling was also successful in bidding for an AHRC Large Research Grant of £171,662.00 for “Social Capital and the Southern Christian Conference.” This grant will support two doctoral studentships and a postgraduate research assistantship, which will be advertised shortly. These individuals will be able to do US-based research from this funding.

c) It was agreed that SN would contact Peter Ling about offering a lunch time meeting at Kent to discuss funding opportunities; JD may also be interested in fronting this.

d) The Chair represented BAAS at a number of events over the last quarter, including a conference on ‘Cartooning the USA’ at the British Library on 18 October 2005 and the annual conference of the American Studies Association in Washington, 3-6 November 2005. As well as presenting a paper, SN (along with Jay Kleinberg and Susan Castillo) participated in various “International Initiative” events and discussions. The Chair also attended a conference marking the opening of the new building for the McNeil Center for Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, 1-3 December 2005, and he gave a lecture to postgraduates and staff at the British Library on using newly acquired digital sources in research, 5 December 2005.

e) The Chair attended a reception honouring Dave Brubeck on his 85th birthday at Winfield House, 5 December 2005, and on the following day, along with the Secretary, met Rick Roberts (Minister Counselor for Public Affairs), Michael Macy (Cultural Attaché), Beth Poisson (Press Counselor) in London, and took them to lunch. This was a very productive meeting: Michael Macy and Rick Roberts have academic experience in American Studies and Archaeology (of the Plains Indians) respectively and are genuinely interested in BAAS’s work. They may start hosting informal events honouring the authors of important new books by BAAS members. The Chair also attended a reception at the US Embassy on 10 January marking the launch of the first series of stamps to be jointly produced by the British and American post offices, for children’s books. It was at this meeting that SN was informed that US embassy speaker funding has been cut by a third for the next year.

f) SN wrote a letter of condolence to Sue Kidd, telling her how saddened the BAAS community was by the death of her husband Stuart Kidd (Reading). Sue responded with an appreciative message.

g) The Chair wrote to Dan Jordan and Andrew O’Shaughnessy of the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, thanking them for their support of new fellowships for British teachers in their programmes, to be administered by BAAS. With much assistance from Ian Scott, Ian Ralston and Kathryn Cooper, he drafted an application form for these awards.

h) SN reported that he had submitted nominations to the AHRC for new members of the Peer Review College from the American Studies community; successful candidates will hear in February.

i) SN drafted and then circulated the American Studies alumni questionnaire: Martin Padget has received approximately 40 responses so far. A second call for contributors will go out shortly with a clear deadline for submissions. MP reported that the career trajectory of respondents is interesting and varied, but that he would like to see more of a range of graduation years, since most respondents had graduated relatively recently.

j) The Chair corresponded with Roger Goodman (Nissan Professor of Japanese Studies, Oxford) regarding the two-day area studies workshop scheduled for early December, “The Future of Interdisciplinary studies in the UK.” Various BAAS members (including Graham Thompson and Martin Halliwell) and American Studies representatives were subsequently invited to participate. James Dunkerley of the ISA was invited to make a presentation on behalf of all of the “Americas”, and the Chair corresponded with James regarding the points that BAAS and the American Studies subject community would like raised. Professor Dunkerley sent the Chair a copy of his report, which he circulated. GT reported that in many ways, the American Studies community was in a stronger position than many of the other area studies networks, in part because of the strength of BAAS and the way that the Committee is proactive in arranging destination surveys and schools projects. In addition, we have strong American Studies journals (Journal of American Studies, Comparative American Studies) and a younger age profile for our academics, which shows how strong our postgraduate numbers are. GT expressed some concern that the major focus of the workshop was on reacting to government funding initiatives rather than on scholarly debates.

k) SN and IS corresponded with Morris Phibbs regarding a BAAS representative attending a meeting of possible partners with the Centre for Black Music Research in Chicago.

l) SN reported that he had written to former BAAS chairs Bob Burchell, Richard King, Judie Newman and Phil Davies, asking if they would be willing to be interviewed and have the recordings and transcripts of the interviews placed in the BAAS archives at the University of Birmingham. They all agreed. Ali Fisher at Birmingham, who has examined the interviews of all other BAAS chairs, will conduct the interviews, and will write a short piece about them for ASIB. It was agreed that BAAS would pay Ali’s expenses and a small stipend.

m) SN reported that he has received correspondence from Richard King (Nottingham) about the AHRC participation in the ESF European Reference index for the Humanities, which had been discussed at previous meetings. The latest information reveals that only journals published in Europe will be listed in a journals index, and this is clearly very problematic for American Studies (American Studies is not targeted at present). SN circulated a letter that he wrote to Yvonne Hawkins of the AHRC but has not yet received a response. Last time, the academic community mobilized against this proposal, but it is unclear what the way forward is now. SN also circulated the annual report of the AHRC for 2004-05.

n) SN reported that he had been invited to send two representatives from BAAS to a round-table discussion of possible approaches to benchmarking academic standards for taught master’s degree programmes, to be held in London on 17 February. Since he will be in the US at that point, he cannot go. JK and MP volunteered to go, and thanks were extended to them.

5. Secretary’s Business

a) The Secretary reported that this had been a particularly busy quarter, as members start to prepare for the conference. HM asked GT to indicate clearly on BAAS’s homepage that all conference queries should be directed to GC and SM to avoid duplication of effort, and a delay in offering information. This was agreed.

b) HM noted that she had previously circulated by email all items that she had received; this included information on the UKCASA AGM information, the Charity Commission Newsletter, and invitations to events.

c) HM noted that actions taken as Secretary included the following: corresponding with publishers regarding the book prize; directing individuals with research queries (including BBC researchers) to the appropriate sources; distributing information from KC about American Studies subjects taught in Schools; distributing calls for papers, conferences, etc. through the listserv; updating records with national surveys/records esp. in relation to the STAs and other awards; updating the BAAS Externals’ list and distributing it to interested parties; forwarding information to the treasurer re: membership queries, esp. from lapsed members; putting people in contact with CE regarding postgraduate events/links, and liaising with Dick Ellis (Birmingham) regarding a bid to the US Embassy for an American Studies box.

d) HM reported that she has liaised with CM as ASIB editor and has submitted the AGM notice for publication, including notification of elections.

e) HM arranged for flowers to be sent as a thank you to Sue Wedlake for her work on the 50th anniversary subcommittee, which has now been disbanded.

f) HM reported that two individuals had successfully competed against a strong field for the BAAS Teaching Assistantships. The History Teaching Assistantship at New Hampshire went to Emily Iggulden (Glasgow) and the English Teaching Assistantship at Virginia went to James Weddup (Warwick).

g) HM will liaise with GC about booking accommodation for the Wednesday evening before the Kent conference.

h) HM reported that along with WK, she had written an article on American Studies for Prospects, which was published in December.

i) HM noted that she would be representing BAAS at a meeting at the Embassy and reception at the Ambassador’s house on 18 January 2006. The meeting has been arranged to help prominent Americans in the UK network.

6. Treasurer’s Business

a) The Treasurer distributed a document on current membership figures and bank balances. Balances on 13.1.06 are as follows: Current account: £844.47; Conference: £7,204.30; Lib. Res.: £2.76; Ed. Development: £4,932.95; STA: £23, 083.71; Deposit: £30,751.22, making a total of £66819.41. In addition, the US dollar account shows a balance of $3369.13 and the RBS account currently has £14,848.44.

b) Membership figures at end of 2005: 524 (176 of whom are postgraduates). This figure includes those who have yet to update their standing order (88) and those who don’t pay by standing order and need to renew for 2006 and haven’t done so by 12/1/06 (149). For EAAS dues purposes, therefore, membership stands at 375 (this figure includes those who haven’t been paying the updated rate) and for JAS subscriptions, the figure is 270 (because some postgraduates elect not to take the journal).

c) GT reported that he in succeeded in buying software to look after membership details and GiftAid as had been detailed at the last meeting, and this is now underway. GT has to alter entries by hand to get the membership package to work but it is almost ready; he is planning to work next on the GiftAid section. It is expected that he will be able to make a claim to the Inland Revenue by the summer and will report at the summer meeting on this.

d) GT noted that the financial year ended at the end of December, and he will start gathering accounts and send to the auditors in the next few weeks.

e) SN reported that he talked to a French postgraduate student who observed that it was difficult to obtain pound cheques to pay membership fees if you lived overseas. GT is to check whether we can process cheques in Euros, or open a Euro account. It was also pointed out that individuals can pay electronically. It was agreed that the website would announce, “If you wish to pay in Euros, contact the Treasurer directly for advice and guidance.”

7. Development Subcommittee (IS reporting)

a) IS reported that he has been in touch with the US Embassy over the funding we were granted. There was initially a problem with the cheque being paid into the University of Manchester, but this has been resolved.

b) IS reported that he and SM had a good productive day in Nottingham with Peter Boyle, interviewing the BAAS Teaching Assistantship applicants. SM suggested that they write to candidates and provide individual feedback to those who came along, and IS has agreed to do so.

c) IS noted that the applications process is now closed for the STAs (both for the postgraduate/young scholars and Founders awards). The postgraduate STA field continues to grow and is very strong this year; the Founders’ Awards are in their first year and thus the number of applications is less than the more established STAs, but they are again strong. Panels will make their decisions shortly, and by the end of February at the latest. Award winners will be invited to the Banquet at the Conference.

d) IS reported that there had been ongoing discussions (initiated by Rick Roberts and Michael Macy of the Embassy in December) about a new prize to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Ben Franklin’s birth. Thus the “Benjamin Franklin Fellowship for 2006” will be announced shortly, once final arrangements have been put in place. Although the Embassy officials had originally wanted a representative from the Embassy to be on the prize panel, IS has indicated to them our normal procedures for anonymous prize panels. The timetable is yet to be fully determined; the Embassy would like the winner announced at the Conference but this might be an ambitious timeline. The Fellowship is substantial at $7000 for academic staff.

e) IS noted that a further meeting has taken place between IR, KC and IS regarding the Schoolteachers’ Initiative; this is ongoing. The applications process is ongoing for Jefferson Monticello teachers’ fellowship in order to take advantage of the interest generated on website; thus the deadline has been extended. IS noted that it will be important to continue to monitor our schools’ outreach programme, and to promote the Ambassador’s School Essay Prize; we must ensure that we are encouraging schools’ liaison appropriately.

f) IS reported that he had drafted a conference funding support form and circulated it to the Development Subcommittee. He will circulate a more polished version at the next meeting, at which point, if approved, it will go on the website.

g) IS asked the Committee to endorse the Subcommittee’s recommendations for funding two events. Dick Ellis and Scott Lucas asked for £200 for their “Engaging the New American Studies” conference (May, Birmingham), which will support postgraduates; CM and Alexander Goody at Oxford Brookes have requested £200 for their American Modernism conference, September 2006, for postgraduates. These bids were approved.

h) IS noted that there had been a lot of postgraduate business this quarter. CE has been involved in helping to arrange workshops for Kent on grants and bursaries, as well as a workshop panel. She also developed a booklet for colleagues interested in having her come to talk to undergraduates about postgraduate research in the UK. CE volunteered to post hard copies of her booklet to anyone who wanted it, and she was encouraged to contact the Eccles Centre to liaise with them. It was also reported that the BAAS postgraduate conference in Sheffield was a well-attended event with good papers, and a thorough evaluation was made of the conference in a conference report. Thanks were passed on to Anne Marie Evans and Elizabeth Boyle. There was some discussion in the Subcommittee about extending the event into a two day conference. The 2006 postgraduate conference will be held in Nottingham; IS will write to Sharon Montieth formally to let her know.

8. Publications Subcommittee (CS reporting)

a) CS noted that KM had attended the Subcommittee and had offered a full report. Highlights include the fact that Edward Long papers will shortly be published. This project took 10 years to come to completion and includes 14 reels. KM was engaged as the editor prior to his contract with BRRAM, and he was commended for his perseverance with this important project. CS also reported that the Walt Whitman material in Bolton will be forthcoming shortly. Finally, a new BRRAM contract has been agreed, subject to minor amendment, on the basis of what the Committee had agreed in previous meetings.

b) CS reported that JK had offered a full report on JAS. The December issue has been published and was the 50th anniversary issue. The April issue is very diverse, covering topics from Paul Auster’s narratives to 9/11. The move to electronic publishing (and the inclusion of searchable abstracts) is ongoing.

c) CS reported that the Subcommittee had considered the CVs and further information for all applicants for the new Editor and Associate Editor positions and made the following recommendations: Prof. Susan Castillo as Editor and Prof. Scott Lucas as Associate Editor. This was approved. As per our normal practice, HM as Secretary will write to CUP Syndics to recommend our choices, as they make the final appointment. CS to write to successful and unsuccessful candidates.

d) CS noted that our relationship with EUP continues to be a successful and productive one. WK’s book will be published in February 2006, following closely by Palmer’s book on the 1920s in the US (April 2006), Palmer. A proposal on North American theatre is out to readers at present, and another proposal on music and slavery is currently being revised and resubmitted. A number of other proposals are expected shortly. Committee members are reminded to send ideas to SN, CS or Nicola Ramsey (formerly Nicola Carr).

e) CS reported that the ASIB deadline was extended slightly to 20 January.

f) CS noted that recently, there had been a number of website difficulties due to the original hosting company being bought out by a new company. As a result, the mailbase will circulate conference pack as soon as possible so that we do not miss out on registrations. It is clear from the website hits that BAAS pamphlets are being used by universities in the US. [Update: on 20/1/06, GT arranged for a new company, Fresh Look Hosting, to take over the website, after our existing company failed to take action to resolve the difficulties].

g) CS distributed a list of 11 books that will be considered for the BAAS Book Prize and announced that Richard King had to withdraw from judging. He has been replaced by Jude Davies, who, along with Jenel Virden and Phil Davies, will make the final recommendations. They have a range of specialisms between them which are all appropriate for the list of books that were submitted. Some publishers disregarded our deadline or submitted books that were not by BAAS members, but these texts have been returned unread. There will be a brief report at the Conference Banquet and PD will write a fuller report for ASIB.

h) CS reported that WK and JD have agreed to become members of the US Studies Online editorial board. Thanks were extended to both of them.

9. Conference Subcommittee (GT reporting on SM’s behalf)

a) GT reported that he and SM had visited Kent in December and toured conference facilities (lecture theatres, seminar rooms which are well equipped and outside of accommodation buildings and dining/social facilities. There will be an all day bar). All seems in order.

b) GT noted that the morning’s meeting had focused on the final details. The plenary lectures have been finalized: Maggie Walsh will give the Eccles lecture; and Michael Bérubé will give the JAS/CUP lecture. BAAS will cover costs of JAS speaker. Michael Zuckerman (Penn), an early American historian, will present a lecture from an American Studies perspective. The provisional programme has been published on the website. The final costs and booking form are in place and will be sent out early next week; GC has address labels for BAAS members. The accommodation costs are as follows: on campus, ensuite for BAAS members: £255; non baas ensuite, £295; BAAS postgraduate member with ensuite, £155; BAAS postgraduate standard room, £100 (all on a first come, first served basis). Other options such as day rates, etc., are also available.

c) GC is in process of designing a poster in portrait format, combining the American Flag with UK flag and also featuring Benjamin Franklin. This will also be used as a programme cover.

d) GT reported that abstracts should be on line by the beginning of March; GC has organized postgraduate help for this, and money has been allocated for this. There will also be postgraduate help at the conference and a postgraduate lunch. JV asked if there was a session set up for the US exchange (Peter Boyle normally runs this). JD may want to be involved too. GC has arranged for at least one extra room available at all times. It was agreed that the Secretary will ask SM to contact individuals about these lunch time sessions.

e) GT reported that Subcommittee members used part of the morning session to visit the Leicester conference site and look at lecture theatres, seminar rooms, accommodation and dining/social facilities. En suite facilities are being built at present. There will be a Saturday night banquet at Athena, an old art Deco cinema. A plenary lecture (by Richard King) and a disco will also be there. Between the plenary and the banquet, EUP will host a reception to launch Martin Halliwell’s series on American Culture. Athena needed deposit of £500 but this was agreed.

f) GT reported that George Lewis had drawn up projected costs for the conference, and current figures suggest that BAAS members with ensuite rooms will pay approximately £270. The venues are very nice Edwardian houses with a lot of oak panelled rooms.

g) TW noted that the cost of hosting the reception at the beginning of the preceding conference was agreed at £500, and that this needed to be mentioned to Edinburgh as soon as possible, as they are hosting the conference in 2008.

10. Libraries and Resources Subcommittee

a) AS IR was unable to attend, there was no report offered, but it was noted that the Subcommittee had yet to meet. A report will be forthcoming for the next meeting.

11. EAAS (JV reporting)

a) JV reported that Newsletter issue 55 (October) is out on the web and has a full conference schedule for the Cyprus conference (7-10 April 2006) and list of parallel lectures. There was originally some erroneous information on registration, but JV has sent the correct information to the web and mailbase. Cyprus Airways are offering special deals for delegates, but these are advertised in Cyprus pounds only at present. JV sent BAAS news to EAAS for inclusion in newsletter but not all of what was sent in went in. For example, though information on the BAAS paperbacks series went in, news on members’ books did not. Another issue of the newsletter is currently being prepared. JV has canvassed for information from BAAS to include. The newsletter is much more substantial than what had previously been the case.

b) JV reported that Marc Chenetier has put together the first European Journal of American Studies on line, which will be available soon; Dick Ellis has written a short piece from the British perspective on American Studies. An editor has yet to be appointed.

c) JV reported that the EAAS conference will be held in Oslo in 2008 but that the 2010 conference has yet to be determined. Committee members were urged to consider whether it would be possible to host the EAAS conference in the UK at one of their institutions. JV is to circulate this message to the mailbase. There are plans to encourage more postgraduates to attend the biennial conference.

d) JV noted that Prague conference proceedings are ongoing.

12. Any Other Business

a) IS passed on thanks in advance to panellists for evaluating the BAAS awards, and he urged Committee members to be aware of /encourage the Ambassador’s prizes (the deadline is coming up shortly). Information on these prizes will go on the mailbase and the website. In addition, the BAAS postgraduate essay prize comes up in March.

b) HM reminded the Committee that the following positions will fall vacant at the next AGM: Treasurer, postgraduate member, and three Committee members. Thanks were extended to CE for her sterling work for the Committee.

13. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held at Canterbury at 11am and will carry on over lunch. Subcommittees do not meet. HM is to gather information from Committee members about whether they require overnight accommodation for the Wednesday night. An evening meal will be arranged.

Dr Heidi Macpherson, Secretary.
Phone (office): (01772) 893041 or 893040
Fax: (01772) 892970
email: hrsmacpherson@uclan.ac.uk

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The prize is offered annually by the British Association for American Studies.  Applications for the 2021 award will open on 1 October 2020.

It is awarded for the best essay-length piece of work on an American Studies topic written by a student currently registered for a postgraduate degree at a university or equivalent institution in Britain. The value of the prize will normally be £500.

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The closing date for applications is 24 January 2021.

The essay should be between 3,000 and 5,000 words in length, and should be accompanied by a letter from an institutional representative, tutor or supervisor, as attestation that the candidate is registered for a postgraduate degree course, or has been accepted for a course. Membership of BAAS is mandatory in order to be eligible to receive the prize. Applicants will need to supply their membership number, which can be found by logging into the BAAS website and navigating to Member-BAAS Community-Profile.

Care should be taken to ensure that the name of the author does not appear on the essay itself, but only in the cover letter which should be submitted by e-mail along with the essay. All essays will be assessed anonymously by a panel drawn from the BAAS Executive Committee.

The essay should form a self-contained piece of writing, suitable for publication as an article in a professional journal. Care should accordingly be taken with matters of presentation and documentation. Prize-winning essays will be offered publication in US Studies Online: the BAAS Postgraduate Journal.

You can find the submission guidelines here.

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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

Previous winners

BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2020

Katherine Reed, The University of Manchester

Honourable mention to:

Noah Remnick, University of Oxford

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2019

Rebecca Macklin, University of Leeds

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2018

Victoria Addis, University of Leeds

Honourable mention to:

Christina Westwood, Keele University

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2017

Chelsea Olsen, University of Sussex

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2014

Robert Yeates, University of Exeter

Honourable Mention to
Kal Ashraf, University of Sheffield

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2013

Katrina Kelly, Queen’s University, Belfast

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2012

Katherine McGettigan, Keele University

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2011

Say Burgin, University of Leeds

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2010

Henry Knight, University of Sussex

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2009

Áine Kelly, University of Nottingham

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2008

Jarrod Homer, University of Manchester

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2007

Phil Juggins, University of Nottingham

Honourable mention to:

Laura Scott (University of Leeds)

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2006

Clare Russell, University of Nottingham

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2005

Andrew Wyn Jones, University of Glasgow

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2004

Paul Edwards, University of Nottingham

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2003

John Fagg, University of Nottingham

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2002

Mark Whalan, University of Exeter

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2001

Martyn Bone, University of Nottingham

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 2000

Graham Thompson, Nottingham Trent University

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BAAS Postgraduate Essay Prize 1998

Paul Grainge

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