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.

WHO WE ARE
MEMBERSHIP

A Masked Ball in Bohemia, attributed to Andreas Altomonte, ca. 1748. Austrian. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

ANNUAL MEETING

The 2027 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS) will take place April 1-3, 2027, in Portland, Oregon, at the Portland Downtown Hilton.

Call for Papers Now Open

Congress Hall and New Theatre / Drawn, engraved & published by W. Birch & Son Neshaminy Bridge.

MEMBERS

ASECS promotes the study and teaching of the long eighteenth century through diverse networks at membership, society, and international levels. Engage with other members and partners to support our mission and the field.

MEMBER NEWS
COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER
JOIN/RENEW

Tartars Playing Polo, Kano Eisen’in Furunobu 狩野永川院古 , early 18th Century. Japan.
Metropolitan Museum of Art.

LATEST NEWS

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

President’s Letter: July 2026

The following letter was sent to current and recent ASECS members on July 7, 2026. | Dear ASECS colleagues, It is with great joy that I write to you for the first time as ASECS president, as we contin…

ASECS Selects Management HQ As Association Management Partner

Minneapolis, Minn. – April  29, 2026 – The American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS) is proud to announce its selection of Management HQ (MHQ) to serve as its association management part…

2026 International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS) Summer Seminar

“Reforming Religion, Morality and Society in Afro-Eurasia: Intellectualand Cultural Traditions in Motion in the Global Eighteenth Century” View event details in English here. View event details in Fre…

“Eighteenth Century In the Present” Webinar Series

The next installment of the “Eighteenth Century In the Present” webinar series is coming soon. On Friday, June 5, at 4 PM eastern, Michael Meranze will be talking about how we as scholars of the eight…

All News and Updates
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.

OUR RESOURCES

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.

VIEW ALL RESOURCES

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