The Newberry Library’s Urban History Dissertation Seminar is seeking submissions for the 2004-2005 academic year. The seminar will be held at the Newberry Library in Chicago, Illinois on (primarily) the first Saturdays of each month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, starting in September. The Seminar is intended for advanced doctoral candidates to have the opportunity to receive feedback from their peers on dissertation research and writing. Each month, participants in the seminar review a chapter from a colleague’s dissertation in progress. Chapters are distributed about a week in advance to members of the group, who then provide comments and suggestions on the research at our monthly meetings.

Please note that submissions will be reviewed and accepted on a first come, first served basis, and dates for presentation are assigned in the same way. Proposals should include a chapter abstract and a dissertation outline, briefly describing how the chapter to be discussed fits into the larger project. The Newberry Urban History Dissertation Seminar is a terrific opportunity to meet other graduate students undertaking similar research. We encourage participation from both presenters and discussants; it is important that enough people attend the monthly sessions to adequately provide feedback for each presenter’s research. The deadline for submissions is June 10. Proposals should be e-mailed to the Seminar coordinators, Christopher Miller and John McCarthy of Marquette University, at christopher.miller@marquette.edu.

The Newberry Library is unable to provide funds for travel or lodging, but can provide assistance in locating accommodations.

If you would like to be placed on the mailing list to receive announcements of upcoming presentations, or if you would like further information about Newberry Library seminars, phone Ginger Shulick at the Dr. William M. Scholl Center for Family and Community History at the Newberry Library at (312) 255-3524, or send an e-mail to scholl@newberry.org. (Please include your e-mail address with all communications, and let us know if you would be willing to receive announcements by email.)