Skip to content

WELCOME

The American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, established in 1969, is the foremost learned society in the United States for the study of all aspects of the long eighteenth century.

Red LOVE sculpture in the John F. Kennedy Plaza.

ANNUAL MEETING

The CfP is open for the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies , to be held April 9-11, 2026, in Philadelphia!

Submit your session proposal now!

Love Sculpture Photo, K Huff for PHLCVB

Painting of an Indian Woman. Anna Maria von Phul, 1818. Native American. 
Missouri Historical Society

American Historical Association virtual congressional briefing on AI

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 29, at 9:30 a.m the American Historical Association invites you to attend a Congressional Briefing offering historical perspectives on artificial intelligence, privacy, an…

Location Updated for the 52nd Annual Meeting of SEASECS

The 52nd Annual Meeting of SEASECS will be held at Jackson State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, on March 5-7, 2026. For more information, including conference theme, keynote speaker, and hotel r…

Book Publication: British Law and Literature in the Long Eighteenth Century

Announcing the publication of British Law and Literature in the Long Eighteenth Century (Cambridge UP). The volume shows how legal developments of the period shaped and were shaped by imaginative writ…

CfP: Bloomington Center for 18th-Century Studies, “1776 in the World”

The Bloomington Center for Eighteenth-Century Studies will be hosting a Spring Workshop (the twenty-fourth!), on the campus of Indiana University. It will take place on May 21-23, 2026.  This yea…

The bold interlocking swirl of red and white suggests worldly dualities. Painted ceramics such as this are synonymous with Quapaw peoples. The group migrated from the Ohio River valley south to the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers around the 16th century. During this time, artists stopped using exotic North American materials sourced through long distance trade, such as copper and shell, and instead expanded upon earlier ceramic traditions. Quapaw artists seem to draw inspiration from the globular body and tapering necks of gourds while consistently using color combinations of red, white, black, and buff. It is likely this “teapot” form was based on vessels introduced following the arrival of Europeans in the mid-16th century. The Quapaw nation continued to inhabit what is now Arkansas through the early 19th century. Following policies set by the United States government and the signing of three treaties, the government forcibly removed Quapaw peoples to present-day Oklahoma, where the Quapaw nation is located today.

ASECS is a member of a number of associations devoted to supporting and advocating for the humanities. The Society is pleased to offer members a number of resources on research and teaching, events, grants and fellowships, and member support. Stay apprised of humanities and nonprofit policy updates, ways to advocate, and deadlines for funding.

Quapaw Culture (Arkansas/Midsouth), Spouted Vessel with Painted Motifs,
ca.1500–1700 (maybe 1600). Saint Louis Art Museum