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

2026 ASHR Symposium at RSA

We will hold the 2026 ASHR Symposium just prior to the Rhetoric Society of America conference in Portland, Oregon (May 21-22, 2026). The 2026 ASHR Symposium theme, “Rhetorical History’s Past, Present, and Future,” invites scholars to recognize this legacy and to reflect on the theories, methods, and critical practices that define its scope and purpose. We are currently reviewing proposals.

First Friday Forums Spring 2026

***ASHR Members Can Click Here for Video Recording of Forum***

In moments of increasing political uncertainty and institutional strain, rhetorical history can feel both frustratingly distant and exceedingly urgent. This First Friday Forum brings together Dr. Mary Stuckey (Penn State) and Dr. Christa Olson (University of Wisconsin—Madison) to think about what rhetorical history helps us better see, do, and understand right now. We’ll explore how rhetorical history is an active mode of inquiry that illuminates how democracy, authority, and public life are continually re-articulated through inherited forms, narratives, and interpretive frames.

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 Spring 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 February 6, March 6, April 3, and May 1, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm Central Time via Zoom.