The American Society for Legal History and the Institute for Legal Studies at the University of Wisconsin Law School are pleased to invite applications for the sixth biennial Hurst Summer Institute in Legal History. The purpose of the Hurst Institute is to advance the approach to legal scholarship fostered by J. Willard Hurst in his teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. The “Hurstian perspective” emphasizes the importance of understanding law in context; it is less concerned with the characteristics of law as developed by formal legal institutions than with the way in which positive law manifests itself as the “law in action.” The Hurst Institute assists scholars from law, history, and other disciplines in pursuing research in legal history.
The previous Hurst Institute sessions were led by distinguished legal
history scholars Lawrence M. Friedman (Stanford University), Robert W. Gordon (Yale University and Stanford), and Barbara
Young Welke (University of Minnesota). Professor Welke will chair the 2011 session. Guest scholars will include Lauren Benton (NYU), Sarah (Sally) Barringer
Gordon (University of Pennsylvania), and Dylan Penningroth
(Northwestern).
The two week
program is structured but informal, and features presentations by guest
scholars, discussions of core readings in legal history, and analysis of
the work of the participants in the Institute. The general format includes intensive daily sessions Monday-Friday that run
through mid-afternoon, a few scheduled social events, and some free
time for additional discussion, reading and research. Fellows will have
the opportunity to conduct archival work at the Wisconsin Historical
Society. (The Society holds a vast array of primary documents and is
particularly strong in areas involving nineteenth and twentieth century
social movements and labor activism. In addition, the Library possesses
an excellent collection of federal and state government material which
is largely un-cataloged.)
The ASLH Hurst Selection Committee will select twelve Fellows to participate in this event.
Applicant Qualifications
Preference will be given to applications from scholars in the early
stage of their career (beginning faculty members, doctoral students who
have completed or almost completed their dissertations, and J.D.
graduates with appropriate backgrounds).
Fellowship Requirements
Fellows are expected to be in residence for the entire two-week term of
the Institute, to participate in all activities of the Institute, and to
give an informal works-in-progress presentation in the second week of
the Institute. Fellows will be required to read certain materials before the sessions begin, and to submit background materials for their presentation by June 1st.
Fellowship Terms
The Institute for Legal Studies will pay for approved travel expenses
and will provide a private room for each fellow at a hotel located on
the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Most meals will be provided.
Application Process
(1) Submit the following materials via email as pdf attachments to Pam
Hollenhorst, Associate Director of the Institute for Legal Studies and
Hurst Institute Coordinator, at pshollen@wisc.edu.
• Cover sheet with your name and complete contact information.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Statement of Purpose (maximum 500 words) describing your
current work, specific research interests, and the broader perspectives on legal history that inform your work.
(2) Arrange to have two letters of recommendation sent to the Hurst
Selection Committee, Institute for Legal Studies, UW Law School, 975
Bascom Mall, Madison, WI, 53706-1399. Note that letters also may be sent via
email as signed documents on institutional letterhead submitted as pdf
attachments to pshollen@wisc.edu.
Completed applications will be acknowledged by email.
Deadlines for the 2011 Session
Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2010 - January 15, 2011.
Decisions will be announced by March 15, 2011.
Additional Information
The Hurst Institute homepage includes information about previous sessions and comments from participants: http://www.law.wisc.edu/ils/hurst_institute.htm
Questions may be directed to Pam Hollenhorst, Associate Director of the Institute for Legal Studies at the University of Wisconsin Law School: pshollen@wisc.edu.
The Institute for Legal Studies offers systematic support for research
and associated scholarly activity related to the "law in action," as
distinguished from doctrinal analysis of the “law on the books.” The
Institute promotes the exchange, testing, and dissemination of ideas at
the UW Law School through colloquia, workshops, conferences, and the
hosting of visitors. For more information please consult the ILS webpage
at http://www.law.wisc.edu/ils/.
The American Society for Legal History is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to fostering scholarship, teaching, and study concerning the law and institutions of all legal systems. More information about ASLH is available at http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~law/ASLH/aslh.htm.
