***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.