My first professional academic conference paper has been successfully delivered, and I survived. While I have worn out my topic on local peers and friends, this is the first time to be vetted by knowledgeable people previously unfamiliar with the thesis. I presume the anxiety about these things goes away after a while, but this one carried the whole “am I a fraud?” implications that all young (or new) scholars endure. The commentator treated me well, the chairman provided a perspective I hadn’t realized, and I fielded two questions from the audience in hopefully competent fashion. Anything short of a complete laceration I’ll count as affirmation, so I’m pleased.
So this was the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic conference in Philadelphia. I won’t belabor you with details, so here are the high points:
*Found some archival material in the Presbyterian Historical Society that I desperately needed.
*Reconnected with acquaintances from the LSU conference earlier this year and one or two other old friends. Made some new ones, too.
*Saw a panel with comments by Johann Neem that seems to have broken down the conceptualization block I currently have on the dissertation section I’m working on.
*Heard a fantastic bluegrass band at the Anti-Temperance meeting (unfortunately followed by one of the most annoying solo acts I’ve ever heard.)
*Saw papers by Barton Price and John Ayabe that provoked a discussion of incredible relevance to my work. In fact, Ayabe’s work mirrored my own in exciting ways. We had a good talk afterwards. I can’t wait to see what he publishes on it.
*Roomed with a respected senior scholar who was completely gregarious and kindhearted.
*Had breakfast with John Fea. I’m such a fanboy.
*Enjoyed being in the big city. I usually hate it.
*Finally, after two years of working on this, figured out how to describe the central thesis of my dissertation in one overly vague sentence/question: How did religious belief and practice shape social and political behavior of ordinary white people in piedmont North Carolina? Well, that’s what it is this month.
Next up is the Southern Historical Association meeting in Baltimore. Not presenting, but maybe I’ll have the time to visit Francis Asbury’s grave. That alone will be worth it.
[Update: Also, participated in tweeting this conference. Can't believe I forgot that one.]
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