We are delighted to invite you to submit proposals for the South Central Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (SCSECS) 2026 Conference, taking place February 19–21 in beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina!
This year’s theme, “Sports, Recreation, Leisure, and All Manners of Pleasure in the Eighteenth Century,” promises a lively and engaging exploration of the many ways people found joy and entertainment in the long eighteenth century. We welcome proposals on topics such as:
• Rural sports and golf
• Spas and resorts
• Shopping competitions and gambling
• Drinking, music, and theater
• And any other delightful eighteenth-century pleasures!
We also encourage submissions on any aspect of the long eighteenth century, as all contributions will enrich our vibrant scholarly community.
✨ Special Highlight: We are thrilled to announce that Peter Radford, former Olympian and internationally renowned sports historian, will be our plenary speaker! His unique perspective on the history of sports will offer an unforgettable start to the conference.
📅 Important Dates:
• September 25, 2025 – Individual proposals and completed panels due
• October 15, 2025 – Acceptances sent out
•
🏨 The conference will be held at the historic Pinehurst Resort, founded by Boston philanthropist James Walker Tufts and landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted. Attendees can enjoy golf, croquet, spa treatments, shopping or simply relax in this serene and picturesque setting.
For more information or to submit your proposal, please contact Catherine Parisian at
Q2F0aGVyaW5lICEgUGFyaXNpYW4gfCB1bmNwICEgZWR1 or visit
https://www.scsecs.net.
We can’t wait to see your proposals and to welcome you to Pinehurst for an unforgettable conference!
Warm regards,
Catherine M. Parisian
PRESIDENT, SOUTH CENTRAL SOCIETY for EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES
Also check out other Sports events in Pinehurst, Meetups in Pinehurst, Arts events in Pinehurst.