ASHR Symposium
ASHR has sponsored symposia since 1986. The plenary format of our symposia, in contrast to large conferences with lots of competing programming, provides an opportunity for rich discussion among committed historians of rhetoric.
Leadership in Historical Studies of Rhetoric
ASHR has established affiliate status with leading scholarly associations in Communication and Composition. In the past years, an increasing emphasis has been put on the linkage with Rhetoric Society of America (RSA), including workshops and seminars during summer institutes as well themed panels in the convention.
Currently, the Symposium discussed above is held on the day-and-a-half leading up to RSA’s Biennial Convention, making access easy for many of our members who affiliate with both organizations.
Intellectual Sociality
Our community boasts range: we are a network of scholars from Rhetorical Studies, Communication Studies, English, Classics, History, Linguistics, modern languages, and Philosophy. We are also comparatively small. That compactness creates special opportunities for networking, mentorship, professional development, and disciplinary leadership.
The Journal
Perhaps the most important benefit of membership is access to our journal, Journal for the History of Rhetoric (formerly Advances in the History of Rhetoric). Under Richard Enos, Robert Gaines, Ekaterina Haskins, Arthur Walzer, and now Ned O’Gorman, the journal is distinguished both by the excellence of its contributors and by the range of genres it publishes: innovative research in the history of rhetoric, translations of historical texts, and interdisciplinary work in rhetorical criticism, theory, and pedagogy.