40th Annual Shaker Seminar

At this time, we are seeking proposals for Seminar 2014. If you are interested in being considered as a seminar speaker, please submit a one (1) page prospectus or abstract to Lesley Herzberg at lherzberg@hancockshakervillage.org.

Each year, the seminar features a number of enlightening lectures on various topics related to the Shakers and their history, material culture, arts and music. Priority is given to Shaker-themed presentations, and utopian and intentional community themes will also be considered. Topics of interest might include, but are not limited to: African American Shakers, the Shaker West, government structure, Shaker correspondence with other communities, the impact of the railroads on Shaker life, adoption of children, impressions of Shakers in popular culture, or archaeological finds and their consequences. We encourage presentations that reflect original research, especially those based on primary or underused resources such as letters and diaries, newspapers, portraits, prints and photographs, business records, museum collections and autobiographies.

Presentations typically last for no more than 45 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for questions.

If your talk will be accompanied by a Power Point presentation, the digital file must be submitted at least one week prior to the start of seminar.

Presenters receive a small stipend.