Research Center for Urban Cultural History 

Plan for a Faculty Seminar Series on “Atlantic Cities,” 2009-2010

In May 2009, the Dean’s Committee on Atlantic Studies and the RCUCH agreed to a tentative outline of a series of five faculty seminars on the subject of “Atlantic Cities” during the 2009-10 academic year.  The series will follow the format of the RCUCH working group meetings.  The order and topics of the seminars will be as follows:

1. "Atlantic Cities: Locating a Topical Field at the Intersection of Atlantic History and Urban History." A discussion of what “Atlantic cities” might be, especially from a cultural and historical perspective.  To be organized by Woody Smith and Nancy Stieber. Pre-circulated paper by Woody Smith. October 19th, 2:30-3:45pm, History Conference Room, M-4-624.

2. A discussion of, perhaps, two papers or presentations on aspects of Boston as an Atlantic city in the 18th and 19th centuries.  To be organized by Woody Smith and Paul Tucker; to be held on December 1st, 2:30-3:45pm, location tba.  

3. A discussion based on papers or presentations, of comparisons of two or three Atlantic cities.  To be organized by Leonard von Morze; early spring term.

4. A discussion of Atlantic cities as elements of global or regional networks.  To be organized by Tracy Goode, mid-spring.

5. A discussion on languages and diasporas in the 20th century.  To be organized by Marc Prou and Ann Blum; late spring.

 

For the first seminar, Woody Smith will circulate a brief, informal paper (with bibliography) discussing the academic fields of Atlantic history and urban history, the point of which will be to see whether or not a conception of “Atlantic cities” can be laid out at the intersection of the fields.  The seminar discussion could start with the paper and move in whatever direction suggests itself.