Electronic Seminars
at the
Winthrop Papers

The Winthrop Papers Project is initiating a new means of bringing scholars together for discussions in two fields that intersect with Winthrop studies -- the history of the Atlantic world in the 16th through 18th centuries, and the history of puritanism.

We are establishing an electronic seminar in each of these fields. In each seminar interested scholars are invited to submit, for possible seminar posting, papers reflecting work in progress. The papers should represent research that has reached the stage where peer input is valuable in helping the author to refine the argument prior to seeking traditional publication. In short, scholars will approach the electronic seminar much as they would seek an opportunity to offer a paper at any regional or university postgraduate seminar.

Submissions should be in electronic form as attached files. They will be evaluated by the moderators of the seminar and, if selected, will be made available to anyone who visits the seminar web page. Copyright warnings will indicate clearly that all who download or consult the paper recognize the author's rights to the essay and all material contained therein. Notice of new postings and instructions on how to reach the seminar web page will be circulated on all appropriate list-serves such as H-Albion, H-OIEAHC, and H-Africa. The web page posting will also indicate a date, agreed on with the author and generally three or four weeks after the paper is posted, when the author and all others who request a password will gather in an electronic chat room to discuss the paper for ninety minutes to two hours. Log in and password information will be personalized and available from Dr. Frank Bremer at Millersville.

While there are many seminars that welcome papers in these fields, in the United States and abroad, travel considerations limit who can actually join in the discussion of a paper. The electronic format will allow anyone with access tot he Internet to log on and join in or listen to discussion of the posted papers. Authors will be able to ask colleagues around the world whose views they value to participate in the seminar exchange.

We will initially be willing to consider new papers as well as substantial revisions of papers previously offered at other, more conventional seminars.

The electronic format prevents the need for scheduling sessions a semester or more in advance and on particular days at particular times. There is no need to have a monthly meeting if there is nothing posted to discuss. Alternatively, there could be more frequent meetings if there are many worthy submissions.

In the chat room format that we will be using you will see a list of all who are "in the room" on the right of the screen. Users will "talk" by typing a message and hitting the "enter" key. The message will appear on the screen within moments. Rules of chat room etiquette will be sent to all who are given passwords in order to facilitate an orderly and polite exchange of views.

Posting on the seminar page is to be considered a form of paper presentation and not as a form of publication.

Click below for more information on each seminar.

The Atlantic World: An Electronic Exploration

Puritanism: An Electronic Prophesying

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