Welcome to ASHR
The American Society for the History of Rhetoric (ASHR) offers rhetoricians multiple points of entry and enthusiasm. It is fitting that the word “society” should lead this welcome, since rhetoricians understand better than most the importance of gathering with others for a common purpose; moreover, being a rhetorician today (as in plenty of other days) can be a dispiriting business, and sociality helps. The common purpose this particular society sustains is the study of rhetoric as a historically situated cultural practice. Accordingly, ASHR’s programming—from panels organized for its annual NCA unit, to papers given at its biennial symposia, to articles published in its journal—promotes discussion about strains and domains of rhetoric in all historical periods, cultural contexts, and theoretical guises.
Upcoming Events
First Friday Forum
“From Archive to Argument: Building a Book in Rhetorical History“Friday, October 2nd, 2026
12:00-1:00pm CT,
zoom
Dr. Emily Winderman, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
Dr. John Murphy, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
This First Friday Forum invites a reflective conversation on the process of imagining, researching, and writing books in rhetorical history. From identifying a compelling historical subject to developing a sustained argument, writing a book requires scholars to make consequential choices about focus, evidence, organization, and intervention. How do authors determine the scope and stakes of a book? How do arguments emerge and change through research and writing? What does it mean to balance historical reconstruction, textual interpretation, and rhetorical argument across an extended work? And how do decisions about structure, narrative, and revision shape the histories we ultimately tell? Bringing together two scholars at different career stages and with different approaches to rhetorical history, this conversation will explore both the intellectual and practical work of building a book, from its earliest conceptualization through the long labor of writing, revision, and publication.
About the ASHR First Friday Forum Series: Inspired by the classical conception of the forum as an intellectual gathering place, ASHR’s “First Friday Forum” series promotes educational programming, professional development, and an inclusive, collaborative virtual community. It is our hope that this virtual space will foster dynamic, cross-disciplinary scholarly engagement for those interested in reexamining and reimagining the various histories of rhetoric across all periods, languages, cultures, and modes of performance. The Fall 2026 “First Friday Forum” series will focus on key questions related to the research and teaching of the history of rhetoric / rhetorical history. These virtual gatherings will take place on October 2, November 6, and December 4, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm Central Time via Zoom.
Please direct any questions to ASHR Special Programs Coordinator Dr. Kristen Einertson (eine4053@stthomas.edu).
