Read through the Baldwin Circles FAQs below for more information about the project and convening a reading circle. If you have additional questions that are not listed here, please contact Kathleen Crown, Executive Director or email [email protected].
General Questions
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The Humanities Council encourages faculty, graduate students, and staff to engage with the works and legacy of James Baldwin by convening reading circles in the academic year 2024-25. The Council will provide each Baldwin Circle with funding for books, meals, and refreshments. Conveners should register by September 15.
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All University faculty, graduate students, post-docs and staff are invited to convene and participate in Baldwin Circles. If you are interested in being a convener, please register a group officially by completing a brief form on our website.
No previous experience with Baldwin’s work is expected; this opportunity is open to everyone eager to read, ponder, and discuss Baldwin and his legacy in a communal setting. Circles can focus on Baldwin generally or focus on a specific aspect or theme of his work. We invite groups to juxtapose Baldwin with other writers and/or to pursue his legacy in various formats and media; in short, we welcome you to think outside the box. We invite groups to juxtapose Baldwin with other writers and/or to pursue his legacy in various formats and media; in short, we welcome you to think outside the box.
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Yes. If you would like to join an already existing group, please email [email protected] to express interest, and we will let you know about spaces as soon as they become available.
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We encourage you to explore the James Baldwin Resources section of this site for information about Baldwin’s works and influences, as well as links to local events, and projects of interest.
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Visit the Council’s Baldwin Circles website to explore James Baldwin’s works and find related centenary events on campus, locally, and around the world. If you have a project or event related to James Baldwin that you would like to add to the calendar, please contact the Humanities Council team directly at [email protected].
In addition, please save the date for the Council’s 18th Annual Humanities Colloquium, which will be held on Thursday, September 5 at 4:30 pm in Chancellor Green Rotunda. This year’s speakers, distinguished Princeton scholars whose work represents different approaches and historical periods, will participate in a panel discussion on the theme “Knowledge and Action,” inspired by Baldwin’s words.
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If you have specific questions about the Baldwin Circles project or convening a reading group, please contact Kathleen Crown, Humanities Council Executive Director.
Convener Questions
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Conveners will identify up to 6 participants for their reading group, select readings, order and distribute books (up to 2 books for the year), arrange and host discussion meetings, and charge and submit expenses in Concur for reimbursement from the Humanities Council.
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Conveners should register via this form by September 15.
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Yes. Conveners should try to identify at least two or three members to register a group. If there is space in your group for additional members, the Humanities Council can help to match you with other interested faculty, graduate students, and staff.
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All Baldwin Circles participants will receive a copy of James Baldwin’s Collected Essays; books have been purchased by the Humanities Council from Source of Knowledge in Newark, NJ.
The Humanities Council will provide funding for two additional books during the year. Information about many of Baldwin’s works—novels, novels, essays, reportage, plays—can be found on our website. You are also encouraged to consider reading or viewing works by Baldwin. For ideas, please visit the Further Exploration section of this webpage.
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Conveners will purchase books with their University credit card and can reconcile expenses using an assigned Humanities Council chartstring. Circle convenors will distribute books or PDFs to reading group participants.
Labyrinth Books has preordered a selection of Baldwin’s writings and offers a University discount.
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Conveners will be assigned a Humanities Council chartstring for their expenses, including books, meals, and refreshments related to their Baldwin Circles meetings. In-depth information about funding processes will be provided to conveners upon registration. Please contact the Humanities Council if you have questions about the funding process and guidelines.
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We encourage each Baldwin Circle to consider the multitude of ways to engage with Baldwin’s work. This could include a visit to a museum exhibition, a film screening, a walking tour, etc. If your group is interested in doing something “outside the box” that requires additional funds, please contact Kathleen Crown, Executive Director, directly. The Council will consider these requests as funding is available.