Scholars (MCSES)

The Center for Material Culture Studies at the University of Delaware
is pleased to announce the Third Annual Material Culture Symposium for
Emerging Scholars (MCSES) to be held Saturday, April 23, 2005 at the
Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library in Winterthur, Delaware.

Purpose of the Forum: This symposium provides emerging scholars with a
venue for interdisciplinary dialogue centering on material culture.
By freeing scholars of chronological and topical restraints, the
symposium encourages discussion across perceived boundaries of time,
space and discipline. We seek papers that are grounded in the study
of a particular object or objects but that address multidisciplinary
themes—for example, the Atlantic World, comportment and the body, or
texts and contexts. We invite graduate students from American Studies,
Art History, Archaeology, English, History, and other departments to
reevaluate the field of material culture studies, share their
research, and explore new avenues of interpretation and critical
thinking.

Format: Nine graduate students will give twenty-minute papers in
panels of three speakers each. There will be two morning sessions and
one afternoon session, each followed by a discussion period.
Discussion leaders this year are Amalia Amaki (Paul Jones Collection,
University of Delaware), Paul Reber (Museum of Early Southern
Decorative Arts), and Kathy Peiss (University of Pennsylvania). Gary
Kulik, Deputy Director for Library, Collection Management, and
Academic Programs at Winterthur Museum will also invite conference
participants to tour Winterthur's library and its unparalleled
collection of early American decorative arts. Coffee and pastries
will be provided during a short morning break; lunch will be available
for purchase in the Winterthur Visitors Center at the midday break.
David Shields (University of South Carolina) will conclude the formal
presentations with a summary address, after which speakers will have
an opportunity to continue their conversation about material culture
studies at dinner with the discussants and conference planners.

Sponsors: The symposium is co-sponsored by the Center for Material
Culture Studies and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. CMCS is an
umbrella entity that comprises the allied programs in material culture
at the University of Delaware. These include the Black American
Studies Program, Center for Historic Architecture and Design, History
of American Civilization Program, Museum Studies Program, Visual
Communications Group and Winterthur Program in Early American Culture,
as well as the University Gallery and related departments, such as
Anthropology, Art History, Art Conservation, Consumer Studies, English
and History. Winterthur maintains the nation's premier collection of
early American decorative arts and is an important catalyst for
American material culture scholarship through its journal, Winterthur
Portfolio, its publications and the funding of original research
through its fellowship program.

How to submit your proposal: The proposal, not to exceed one
single-spaced page, should clearly indicate both the subject matter of
your paper and the interpretive or methodological problems that you
intend to address. Preference will be given to papers that promise to
generate provocative, productive discussion about issues central to
material culture scholarship. Send your proposal, along with a
current c.v. (no more than two-pages), to Heather Boyd and Daniel
Claro at emerging.scholarsgmail.com

Deadline: Proposals must be received by November 8th. Speakers will
be notified of the committee's decision by November 24th. Upon
notification speakers will be asked to provide conference organizers
with images (digital or electronic preferred) by December 12, 2004.

Website: http://materialculture.udel.edu
Check it often for updates
during the year!

Note: Limited funding for travel assistance may be available,
especially for speakers traveling long distances, but lodging for
speakers will be provided at local students' homes.

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The Third Annual Material Culture Symposium for Emerging Scholars (MCSES)
emerging.scholarsgmail.com

MCSES 2005 Committee Chairs:
- Heather Boyd, History of American Civilization, University of
Delaware: hlbgoblueyahoo.com
- Daniel Claro, History of American Civilization, University of
Delaware: dclaroudel.edu