Twenty-six faculty members from CIC institutions participated in a June 22-27 seminar on the recent historiography and interpretation of the early years of the American Republic, co-sponsored by CIC and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
     Selected from a pool of 43 nominations in March, the historians met at Columbia University in New York City to discuss “Political History of the Early Republic: New Challenges, Old Strengths” led by Joyce Appleby, Professor Emerita, University of California, Los Angeles. The seminar focused on the nation-building years that stretch from the ratification of the U.S. Constitution through the first five presidential administrations by examining five successive models that have engaged historians studying this period since the late 1960s. The seminar included discussions with guests Andrew Cayton, Professor of History, Miami University, and Andrew Robertson, Professor of History, Lehman College.
     Participants also enjoyed the historical resources of New York City, with a visit to the New-York Historical Society and a tour of lower Manhattan led by Professor Kenneth T. Jackson, Barzun Professor of American History at Columbia University and president of the New-York Historical Society.
     Many of the historians said they were thrilled to have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of different viewpoints concerning the political history of the early republic; to keep abreast of current research; and to become familiar with fresh approaches to teaching this subject—which is so important in helping students to appreciate their civic responsibilities. The connections made with one another were clearly another important benefit of the week-long seminar. “Being able to network, exchange manuscripts, and share ideas and research,” said Jim Simeone, associate professor of political science at Illinois Wesleyan University, was an added benefit.
     Professor Appleby has served as president of the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Society for the History of the Early Republic, and is the author of numerous publications, including Inheriting the Revolution: The First Generation of Americans, which has, since its publication in 2000, stimulated a wave of reinterpretation of the political history of this formative period of American history.
     For more information, contact Lesley Herrmann at (646) 366-9666 or
herrmann@gilderlerhman.org.

CIC/Gilder Lehrman Seminar Participants

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Last updated: March 2003
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