2022 Symposium- Tools of the Trade
Nov
19

2022 Symposium- Tools of the Trade

How do the mechanisms we use to teach, uncover, and study material culture affect the work that we do? How do our educational backgrounds, theoretical approaches, and industry experiences influence the way we interpret objects? How do our “tools” act as a catalyst for our work of uncovering the past? Tools of the Trade focuses on what we use to delve deeper into the analysis of material culture, and how those tools are intrinsic pieces of material and immaterial culture themselves.

The symposium will consist of 5 presentations from emerging scholars and one keynote speaker.

Register here: https://cmsmc.org/register

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Material Culture Career Paths: Margaret Walker Clair
Jun
15

Material Culture Career Paths: Margaret Walker Clair

Margaret Walker Clair is Deputy Director in the Division of Preservation & Access at NEH, where she has worked since 2018. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Curator at the Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery. She holds degrees in history and art history from Princeton University and the University of Edinburgh, with a specialty in the arts in Great Britain during World War One.

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Intro to Grant Writing
Sep
22

Intro to Grant Writing

Grant writing is a crucial skill for many fields but especially in the humanities. Many of us don't realize how involved we might need to be in the grant writing process, which can be tedious for those who lack experience.

Join us on September 22nd, 2021 at 6PM EST as we hear from Dr. Alissa Butler about the grant writing process and how early career professionals can develop these skills.

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July 2021 Book Club
Jul
24

July 2021 Book Club

Welcome to the Coalition of Master’s Scholars for Material Culture’s Book Club! Quarterly, we choose a book relating to material culture and have a live discussion with CMSMC staff, editors, authors, other invited guests, and YOU! Book club is FREE to join, informal, and you don’t have to have read the book to be able to join in our discussion (though it would be great if you did!).

Our July book will be: An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. The discussion will be led by CMSMC on Saturday July 24th at 12pm EDT via Zoom.

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May 2021 Book Club
May
22

May 2021 Book Club

Welcome to the Coalition of Master’s Scholars for Material Culture’s Book Club! Quarterly, we choose a book relating to material culture and have a live discussion with CMSMC staff, editors, authors, other invited guests, and YOU! Book club is FREE to join, informal, and you don’t have to have read the book to be able to join in our discussion (though it would be great if you did!).

Our May book will be: Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters. The discussion will be led by CMSMC Symposium committee member, Christine Staton, on Saturday May 22nd at 12pm EDT via Zoom.

Links to buy Borrower of the Night  : US - Barnes and Noble 

UK - Blackwells

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Cover Letters and Fellowships
May
7

Cover Letters and Fellowships

The Coalition of Master's Scholars on Material Culture is excited to welcome Dr. Alissa Butler back to discuss best practices for applying to positions in the humanities. Dr. Butler will discuss guidelines for constructing a cover letter that best outlines your professional experiences, as well as ways to approach project based applications like fellowships.

This will be a one hour talk, including a Q&A session at the end.

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Writing for Symposiums: From Proposal to Presentation
Apr
23

Writing for Symposiums: From Proposal to Presentation

Join CMSMC as we lead a discussion on best practices for submitting to and writing for symposiums and conferences. Lead by a panel of scholars who have experience as both presenter and committee member, this event will also feature a Q&A session to further discussion and help your academic experience. Panelists will include CMSMC symposium committee members, former presenters, and guest speakers.

Topics covered:

• Formatting your proposal

• Turning a seminar paper into a conference paper

• Presentations and Visuals

• & more!

Note *** This event is FREE for members+ patron level. Having trouble accessing your free admission? Email us at admin@cmsmc.org

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Symposium Social Hour
Apr
10

Symposium Social Hour

Join CMSMC and Symposium presenters for an informal chat and networking event following our Spring 2021 Symposium, "Material Culture in an Increasingly Digital World.”

This event is free and should registration fill up, break out rooms will be available by topic.

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Spring Symposium 2021
Apr
10

Spring Symposium 2021

As the world around us transitions into an increasingly digital environment, the way we interact with material culture becomes less physical and more virtual. How does this affect the field as a whole? How do we adapt from a hands-on practice to an interface-guided experience? And how does this change the definition of ‘material culture’?

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CV Building for the Humanities
Mar
5

CV Building for the Humanities

Join CMSMC as we discuss building a CV for museum and/or academic positions. Learn about the differences between a CV and a Resume and best practices for showcasing your work as a professional in the humanities.

Panelists will include recently hired professionals and a Resume/CV builder.

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Bi- Monthly Book Club (December-January)
Jan
30

Bi- Monthly Book Club (December-January)

Our December - January book will be: The Whole Picture: The colonial story of art in our museums and why we need to talk about it by Alice Procter. The discussion will be led by CMSMC Content Chair, Hope Gillespie, on Saturday January 30th at 12pm EST via GoogleMeets.

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