The American Studies contingent from Northumbria University was well represented at the 2016 British Association for American Studies in Belfast. At the organization’s annual AGM, Professor Brian Ward was elected Chair of BAAS, a position that he will hold for a maximum term of six years. Dr Joe Street was reelected to the BAAS Executive Committee. Phd Student Beth Davidson, who is working with DR. Dr Michael Cullinane, was awarded a BAAS grant to support her research on American diplomacy during the Teddy Roosevelt presidency. Six Northumbria academics presented papers at the conference: Dr Michael Cullinane on the Open Door policy of the United States; Prof David Gleeson on fears of slave insurrections in Georgia during the American Civil War; Brian Ward on the recordings of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson; PhD candidate Allan Symons on 1930s hillbilly music; Dr Julie Taylor on Gertrude Stein; and Joe Street contributed to a roundtable on teaching African American history.
The BAAS conference is the highlight of the academic year for American Studies academics and attracts roughly 300 delegates, most of whom deliver research papers. This year’s plenary lectures were delivered by John Howard of King’s College, London; Deborah Willis of New York University; and the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Richard Ford. The photograph shows Ford discussing his work with Joe Street at the conference reception.
