THE INSTITUTE FOR THOMAS PAINE STUDIES

Transcription

1 THE INSTITUTE FOR THOMAS PAINE STUDIES l l

2 In 2009, the Thomas Paine National Historical Association (founded in 1884) chose to preserve and develop its rich collection of writings and other items by and about Thomas Paine. The Thomas Paine National Historical Association (TPNHA) Collection is, like the man himself, of both national and international significance. Inspired by the bestowal of this collection, the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies was established in 2013 to be the premier academic center for the preservation, study, and dissemination of Thomas Paine s life story, work, and global legacy through stewardship of related archival material, research, and development of educational programming. Disdained by many at the time of his death, Paine s ideas have recently enjoyed a renaissance among liberal and conservative thinkers alike. The establishment of this Institute creates an unprecedented academic affiliation for a long-neglected national treasure of American history and thought. In collaboration with the TPNHA, the Institute illuminates and studies Thomas Paine s life and legacy in two complementary ways: First, through the TPNHA Collection, now housed in Ryan Library, both cares for and makes accessible one of the richest collections of materials by and about Thomas Paine. Visit the Library s online information about the Collection. Second, through publications, conferences, exhibitions, internships, fellowships, and grants, as well as undergraduate and graduate curricula, the Institute provides students and faculty at Iona, members of the communities where Thomas Paine lived and worked, and the rest of the world with an exceptional opportunity to study and learn about one of the intellectual founders of our nation. It is our belief that such programming will cure a long-standing and unacceptable lack of academic affiliation for Thomas Paine.

3 TPNHA COLLECTION The TPNHA Collection at the Ryan Library Archives is one of a handful of Paine collections in the world. Along with Paine artifacts at the New York Historical Society, the American Philosophical Society, Princeton University, The Library of Congress, and the University of Virginia, this Collection contains unique letters, original documents, and first editions. Unlike his other collections, we have the only personal effects of Paine, including his gravestone and the only surviving remnants of his body. See the Libraries link on the Iona website for information. PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND EXHIBITS The Text Analysis Project: This project entails the use of computers for SVM and other original computer analyses of eighteenth-century writings in order to determine if Paine has authored texts which have hitherto only been linked to him by innuendo or have never been linked to him at all. Likewise, the project aims to correct misattributions of Paine s authorship and establish which pseudonymously published writings, a frequent eighteenth-century authorial practice, may have been written by Paine. Papers were presented at three conferences so far, and more are being planned. Breakthroughs in correcting the Paine corpus have resulted from this work.

4 Minor in Thomas Paine Studies: A multi- and inter-disciplinary minor whose core curriculum will include courses in History, English, Political Science, and Philosophy. Minor Requirements (12 Total Credits) (ENG 423) Eighteenth-Century Literature (HST 410) Seminar in History (PHL 355) Thomas Paine / Revolutionary Tradition (POL 391) Thomas Paine /Struggle for Democracy Minor Electives (3 Total Credits) (ENG 369) Themes in American Literature (ENG 470) Literature Seminar (ENG 480) Internship in English (HST 207) Growth of the American Republic (HST 495) Internship in History (POL 315) Great Political Thinkers (POL 483) Internship in Political Science Thomas Paine Internships: These internships offer students from a wide array of disciplines the experience of working with the faculty and staff of the ITPS on projects using the TPNHA collection, as well as independent research, and text analysis projects. Thomas Paine Grants: These grants catalyze the development of courses, research, and programing which draw upon Paine s life and legacy. Integrated Core Theme: Thomas Paine Studies is currently one of the four Iona Core Curriculum ICTs. The Theme may be completed while the Minor in Paine Studies is pursued, as the content of the Paine Studies Program involves four Humanities departments to date, and more will be added in the future.

5 Conferences, Seminars, and Speakers: An international gathering of professional, graduate and undergraduate scholars, historical associations, and individuals dedicated to the study of Thomas Paine, his ideas, and their legacy, was held at in October Scholars from around the world gathered, 32 papers were presented, and Lewis Lapham gave the keynote address. In September 2014, the Second International Paine Studies Conference was held in Paris, France and co-hosted by ITPS which extended the cooperative, international approach to Paine scholarship. In 2018, the Third International Paine Studies Conference will be held at Iona to discuss the Collected Works. Common Sense and the Common Core: A primary focus of the ITPS is the development of K-12 curriculum for free distribution to teachers in Westchester County, New York, and throughout the United States. Working with Paine experts and faculty, students majoring in education will create lesson plans using excerpts from Paine s Common Sense, Crisis, and other works, which will then be posted on the ITPS website for use by teachers. The Thomas Paine Encyclopedia : A unique app developed by the ITPS is available free for ipads on itunes. Other apps for Android and PCs are scheduled for future development. The app can be used in classrooms or by the general public, and it

6 contains a complete map-based biography, quotations, major works, and links to TPNHA s website containing the complete works of Paine. EXHIBITS: An Unpublished Thomas Paine Letter to Garat from 1800 Thomas Paine in New Rochelle The Adventures of Thomas Paine s Bones The First Great Disinformation Campaign: The Use of Slander in Political Cartoons to Discredit the Political Philosophy of Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine and the American Revolution Thomas Paine and His Presidents Thomas Paine on Voting Rights Note: See the Library website for a partial display of these exhibits. The Thomas Paine Collected Works Project The ITPS has undertaken a multi-year project to produce an official collected works of Thomas Paine. Using our text analysis methodology, and involving students and faculty, we are researching the databases of 18th century newspapers, pamphlets, and journals in a search for undiscovered Paine works, and correcting misattributed works from previous collections. To date, over 75 new works have been unearthed from American sources, and British and French sources have yet to be examined. Working with faculty and students from the Computer Science Department, four Journal articles have been produced on the author attribution methodology, and the early results of new works will be the centerpiece of the 3rd International Conference of Paine Studies at in October 2018.

7 THE INSTITUTE FOR THOMAS PAINE STUDIES ITPS Website The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies Media Inquiries Brian Beyrer Director of College & Athletics Communication (914) To View or Visit the Collection Natalka Sawchuk Assistant Director of Libraries for Public Services & Systems Ryan Library,

8 Scholarly and General Inquiries Scott Cleary, Ph.D. Faculty Director of the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies Gary Berton Coordinator of the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies Thomas Paine National Historical Association 983 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY