Seminars

About

The MHS organizes seven seminar series that operate from September to May. These sessions bring together a diverse group of scholars and interested members of the public to workshop a pre-circulated paper. After brief remarks from the author and an assigned commentator, the discussion is opened to the floor. All are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback on the circulated essay, and discuss the topic at hand. Our sessions are free and open to everyone.

How to Attend: Register through our Calendar of Events and you will receive the session's discussion paper the day before the seminar by email. 

Subscribe: Purchasing a $25 seminar subscription gives you advanced access to the seminar papers of all seven seminar series for the current academic year. Subscribe here. 

Subscriber Login: Already a subscriber? Use your passcode to view currently available essays. 

Join the mailing list today by emailing seminars@masshist.org.

Questions? Email seminars@masshist.org.

Call for Proposals!

Deadline: March 27, 2023

We are currently accepting proposals for the 2023-2024 seminar season. See submission details on each seminar series page  below. 

The Seven Series

african american history seminar

African American History

Discuss aspects of African American history from the colonial era to the present day.

environmental history seminar

Environmental History

Discuss American environmental history from prehistory to the present day. Involves a variety of disciplines including urban planning and environmental management.

digital history seminar

Digital History Projects

Introducing in-progress projects that depend on digital methods, such as the use of computational tools for analysis of historical data.

New England Biography Series

New England Biography Series

Discussing the historical, literary, and methodological questions that make biography a challenging and rewarding undertaking. 

Pauline Maier Early American History Seminar

Pauline Maier Early American History Seminar

Discussing all aspects of North American history and culture from the first European colonization to the early republic.

Dina G. Malgeri Modern American Society & Culture Seminar

Dina G. Malgeri Modern American Society & Culture Seminar

Concerning American culture, immigration, and urban history from the nineteenth century to the present day.

History of Women, Gender, & Sexuality

History of Women, Gender, & Sexuality

Discussing  new research in all aspects of the history of women, gender, and sexuality without chronological limitations.

Are you interested in presenting?

Each winter, seminar organizers issue a Call for Proposals in order to fill a limited number of session slots in several of the seminar series. The annual deadline is 15 March for the sessions that will take place in the following academic year. If you would like to receive the CFP and are not on our mailing list, email seminars@masshist.org.