Program in Early American Economy & Society: Overview

The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731, is an independent research library that holds one of the country’s strongest collections of books, graphics, and manuscripts that chronicle the history of American culture. Its Program in Early American Economy & Society (PEAES) supports advanced research in the history of American economy and society to approximately 1850.  We define our remit broadly to encompass topics that relate to political economy, agriculture, commerce, business, entrepreneurship, banking, money, transportation, labor, servitude, slavery, technology, the environment, cartography, oceanic and maritime circulations, and continental expansion, invasion, and resistance.

PEAES awards research fellowships, organizes public and scholarly programs, acquires relevant collection materials, and publishes scholarly monographs in its book series with the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Announcement!  We are pleased to announce the Matson Book Manuscript Workshop Prize.

The Program in Early American Economy and Society (PEAES) recognizes with concern the erosion in tenure-line jobs and university support for research in the humanities.  To support colleagues who lack long-term or tenure-track support, PEAES is pleased to announce the Cathy Matson Book Workshop Prize.  PEAES will host a virtual one-day book manuscript workshop for the Matson prize winner to offer support in revising their dissertation into a book.

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