August 2004
We calculate that this has been the seventeenth year of our existence. Basically the same as when it was first formed, and still with a core of founder members, the Group has changed in some ways in response to changing circumstances and has thus continued to provide a forum for those whose access to academic circles may be limited and for tyro scholars needing to try out their wings for the first time (as well, of course, anybody else who is interested in our activities). The year before, we made two experimental innovations - an expedition to some appropriate venue, and the replacement of the annual day school with the more informal workshop format. Both have proved popular and have continued. This year has seen two other changes which will be retained. From October 2003 we have routinely offered two papers at each Saturday session, every other month; this has clearly provided a richer diet for members from outside London and our attendance has gone up as a consequence. Recently, the committee changed the group’s name and remit (now between two queens!) to more appropriately fit the actual interests of members.
Seven speakers gave papers: in September Mary Summers talked about 'How Eighteenth-Century Women Writers influenced Anne Brontë's Views on Educating Parents'; two papers were given in October - Althea Stewart spoke on 'Joan Vokins's Charismatic Effect on the Enemies of Orthodox Quakerism and the Romance of Early Modern Female Power' and Madge Dresser on 'Public and Private Space in the Eighteenth Century: the Diary of Sarah Champion Fox'; in January Jennie Batchelor spoke on 'Re-dressing the Female Reader: Clothing and the Eighteenth-Century Magazine' and Megan Hiatt on '"How the Bill Will Affect the Publick": Debating the National Significance of Clandestine Marriage in the Marriage Act Pamphlet War, 1753-54'; in May Judith Slagel spoke about editing Joanna Baillie's letters and Angela Escott on 'The Imperial.Project: Resistance & Revolution in Hannah Cowley’s Oriental Musical Comedy”—with musical accompaniment!
In November a guided tour of the Women's Library in Old Castle Street, London E.1 was arranged. This was well attended and we appreciated the trouble that the staff took to provide for our special interests. The Workshop in March was on the subject of 'Women and Visual Culture' with Elizabeth Eger as keynote speaker. Elizabeth is one of the organisers of a new exhibition called 'Living Muses: Eighteenth-century bluestockings in the public eye' to be mounted in the National Portrait Gallery, and we are very grateful to her for the brilliant and stimulating way in which she introduced the topic. Carolyn Williams followed this up with a lively paper on tattooed women, followed by discussion.
Teresa Barnard is joining the committee to replace Jean Bloch, who is retiring. Altogether it has been a successful year; we hope next year's programme will be of interest to members and their friends. We have some positive news regarding the Women Studies Group website. The site is being launched in August 2004 to enable members to keep up to date with the group's activities and to share information. A beta version is currently available for you to browse at www.womensstudiesgroup.org.uk. All development and design work is being carried out by committee members, and we plan to continually enhance the scope of the site over the coming year - so please make a note of our address and keep visiting the site to see what's new! The website will include information on our current programme, calls for papers, member's news, and useful links. If you have any news that you think would be of interest to other members, or have any suggestions relating to the content and style of the website, please contact Louise Duckling. We'd be really interested to hear your feedback.
N.B.: We hope soon to send future programmes by e-mail, except for those who don’t have it. HENCE, PLEASE ENSURE WE HAVE YOUR MOST RECENT E-MAIL ADDRESS, AND LET US KNOW EXPLICITLY ON YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FORM OR OTHERWISE IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS AND NEED THE PROGRAMME, ETC. POSTED TO YOU.
Posted 9th November 2004