Category: Events

The 2020 Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists will be held at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, June 12th to 14th.

Proposals are now being accepted:

The Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists (CQHA) will hold its 23rd biennial conference at Earlham College on June 12-14, 2020.

CQHA is a community that brings together those who study the history of Quakers and Quakerism with practitioners from cultural institutions that make records of the Quaker past available for scholarship. The Conference takes place every two years at locations in North America and abroad, and welcomes both Quaker and non-Quaker participants from diverse backgrounds.

We invite proposals for presentations on any aspect of Quaker history, across all time periods and locations. This year we encourage proposals on the following topics: Challenges of diversity, equity, or inclusion in Quakerism; Quakerism in Indiana and the US Midwest; (Re)assessments of Quakerism and Quaker historiography.

In addition to individual paper presentations (20 minutes), we welcome proposals for panels of complete sessions (2-3 papers), roundtable discussions (60 or 90 minutes), workshops (up to a half day), or other collaborative formats. We also seek participants for a session of lightning talks (5-7 minutes each), a format especially well suited to works-in-progress, summaries of recent publications, or ongoing projects. All presenters are required to register for the conference.

Funding is available from the FHA to attend the 2020 conference, up to $1,000USD. This scholarship funding is available to diverse and underrepresented scholars of Quaker history:

The Friends Historical Association and the Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists aim to create diverse, inclusive environments, based in our commitments to scholarly excellence and social justice, as well as a recognition of the foundational Quaker ideal of human equality. FHA and CQHA welcome individuals of all faiths (or lack thereof), race or ethnicity, gender expression and sexual preference, and other facets of background and identity. To better support scholars who are traditionally underrepresented amongst CQHA conference presenters and attendees, FHA is launching a new scholarship program. Applications will be evaluated by an FHA Scholarship Committee on the basis on how the applicant’s identity and background, and/or their research areas, address absences or scarcities in the current landscape of Quaker scholarship. Up to three recipients will receive a stipend of $1,000 each to support conference attendance, as well as a year of membership in the Friends Historical Association. Scholarship recipients who present papers at CQHA will receive encouragement and support from the editor of Quaker History to prepare their paper for publication in that periodical.

To apply, please email [email protected] by Wednesday, December 11 with a 250-1000 word response to the following prompt:  “The field of Quaker studies is rife with lacunae and blindspots due to a lack of diversity among Quaker scholars. What diversity do you bring to Quaker scholarship? What aspects of Quaker history do you see as understudied and deserving of increased attention?”

This information is available at https://www.quakerhistory.org/broadeningscholarship.

The deadline for conference proposals is December 6th, 2019; the deadline for scholarship application is December 11th.

“At our preparative Meeting of Pelham the 29^th of the 5^th M^o. 1811

            This Meeting was Inform,d that Benjamin Birdsall is Living in the Neglect of Attending meetings  Appears out of plainness both in Dress and Address and making use of the Vain Compliments of the World & that he is Concernd in the Distillation of Grain also that he has Reciev,d A tract of Land of land from Government under the Appelation of UE.  his Case is ordered up to Monthly Meeting.”

    Many members of CFHA will be familiar with Randy Saylor as the CFHA webmaster and coordinator of minute book and other document transcriptions for CFHA and more recently the CYM Archives. Fewer will be aware that Randy has served as coordinator for almost 15 years. As a result, he has become one of the most knowledgeable and well-informed individuals on the records of concerns and issues addressed in the early Quaker settlements in what would become Canada. We are delighted to have Randy provide the keynote presentation, and to invite you to an interesting and informative evening.

    Discussion about the existence of ‘Quaker loyalists’ among the historical community has at times been contentious. Some have suggested that it was not possible for individuals to conform to Quaker principles while also availing themselves of the benefits conveyed by an official United Empire (UE) designation.

    The details of many pages of minute book transcriptions have allowed Randy to bring forward some clarity on this apparently uniquely Canadian Quaker issue.  His research has so far identified 6 instances where early meetings recorded their efforts to discern a response. Since publishing a short account of his findings in Trailways, the newsletter of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, other readers have identified two more ‘Quaker Loyalists’.

    Then, as now, Quaker individuals and communities were required to address the outcomes of competing interests, dangers and opportunities in a fast-changing North American political and social world. This will be an interesting evening with Randy, and an opportunity to explore with him an important element of the Canadian Quaker legacy. 

Space and meal availability are limited. Please register as soon as possible. For additional information please contact June Pollard [email protected] .

The AGM of the Canadian Friends Historical Association (CFHA) will be held once
again this year at Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5R 1C7 on
Seventh Day, the 21 st of Ninth Month (Saturday, September21) 2019.

Registration will open at 9:00 AM in the Dining Room. The business meeting will commence at 9:30 AM.
All members are encouraged to attend. There is no charge to attend the business
meeting, but please register if you plan to attend so we have an idea about numbers.

The business meeting will be followed by lunch, rest and relaxation, and opportunities
for information sharing. Please note that considerable progress towards implementation
of a new website software platform has been made in the past year. The “Go Live”
initiation of the new platform will open up CFHA communications and activity to a whole new world of social media channels and opportunities. Members will also gain the
benefits of on-line membership renewal, electronic fund payment and access to a new
members-only section of the website. Please plan to attend the afternoon session to
learn about the exciting aspects of this transformation and new opportunities for your
interest in Canadian Quaker legacy and history to be communicated and shared.

The afternoon program will conclude with the keynote presentation by long tine
member and transcription coordinator Randy Saylor. Please see the details off his
presentation in this edition.

This year we will take a break from Friends House by going to a nearby establishment for delicious chef-prepared vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals. Please note that those wishing to participate in the pre-booked lunch and/or dinner plan are asked to forward a completed registration form with payment dinner plan no later than Ninth Month 12 2019.