2108 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20052

Thursday, November 30, 2023

1782 - The United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.

1835 - American writer Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri

1866 - Work begins on 1st US underwater highway tunnel in Chicago

1974 - Elton John's Greatest Hits album hits #1 in America

2001 - Enron Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking one of the largest corporate fraud scandals in the United States.

The Best Album of 2023. The New York Times.

The 29 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week. The Washington Post.

The DC Art Gallery Operating From a Freight Elevator. Hyperallergic.

Photo Credit: Mark Kates

This newsletter edition we spotlight Mark Kates, a 1982 GW American Studies alum who is the founder of Fenway Recordings. While an undergraduate, Mark participated in GW's student radio station WRGW and acted as Music Director his senior year.

After working at labels like Ace of Hearts and Big Time Records, he spent 10+ years working at Geffen/DCG Records and created the alternative promotion department. Eventually, he moved to A&R (artists and repertoire) and played a significant role in the development of the alternative radio format. He signed artists such as Beck and Jawbreaker, and conducted A&R for albums by bands such as Sonic Youth, Hole, and Nirvana. Eventually, Kates left Geffen/DCG in 1998 to run Grand Royal Records for the Beastie Boys, and worked with their roster of artists including Sean Lennon and Luscious Jackson.

In 2001, he returned to Boston and founded Fenway Recordings, a music management company. He worked with Mission of Burma (the band that inspired him to work for Ace of Hearts), MGMT, The Cribs, and more. 

Mark also DJs. For two years, he was a resident DJ at LA electronica club Atmosphere at The Viper Room, in addition to the legendary pirate station KBLT as DJ Carbo. As a DJ, he has appeared alongside artists such as David Bowie and Paul Oakenfold. Since 2004, he has hosted and curated The Fenway Recordings Sessions, a live concert series that has brought more than 500 shows to Boston including Echo, the Bunnymen, and Jorja Smith.

In collaboration with GW American Studies, Kates has supported oral history research of the WRGW radio station, ensuring the sustainability of its legacy and preserving its storied past!

El Digno Retorno
Documentary Screening and Q&A with Director

We invite you to the screening of El Digno Retorno on Thursday, November 30th at 6pm. This documentary explores the experience of Eduardo after his deportation, encountering individuals who were also deported or returned after spending their formative years in the United States. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the director, José Eduardo Aguilar, and members from ODA, a non profit organization that works with deportees and returnees in Mexico.

When: Thursday, November 30, 2023; 6:00 PM
Where: University Student Center; 800 21st Street, NW; Amphitheater (3rd floor) - Register Here!

“District of Second Chances” Premiere Night

Register to attend the in-person premiere of “District of Second Chances” on December 7th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The premiere night will feature a reception and screening of “District of Second Chances,” followed by remarks from several people in the documentary and the filmmakers. 

When: Thursday, December 7, 2023; 6:00-9:00 PM
Where: National Press Club - Register Here!

Laura Feller (PhD ’09) published the book Being Indigenous in Jim Crow Virginia: Powhatan People and the Color Line with University of Oklahoma Press (2022). The paperback version will be released in April 2024.

Call for Abstracts: Ampersand: An American Studies Journal is currently accepting submissions for their Winter 2024 edition, "Tradition in Flux: Failure, Loss, and the Evolving Canon." Click here to learn more // Deadline: Nov. 30, 2023.

Call for Applications: The Newberry Library is currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 fellowships—both short and long-term. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023 (Short-Term).

Call for Applications: The Institute for Critical Social Inquiry (ICSI) at the New School for Social Research is still accepting fellowship applications for their 2024 Summer Seminars (June 16-22, 2024). Advanced graduate students and faculty are eligible to apply. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Dec. 15, 2023.

Call for Papers: The Yale University American Art Graduate Symposium is accepting papers for their upcoming symposium on the theme of "condition." Click here to learn more // Deadline: Jan. 31, 2024.

Call for Applications: The Friedman Feminist Press Collection of Colorado State University Libraries, Archives & Special Collections has announced their grants of up to $1,800 to researchers whose work would benefit from access to the Friedman Feminist Press Collection and are intended to help offset travel and research expenses. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Feb. 9, 2023.

Call for Applications: D.C. Daughters of the American Revolution (D.C. DAR) Scholarship is now open for applications from MA American Studies students. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Feb. 15, 2023

Call for Applications: The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) announces a new short-term (6-week) fellowship for the 2024 selection season. Sponsored by the Algonquin Club Foundation, the fellowship carries a stipend of $5,000. Click here to learn more // Deadline: Mar. 1, 2024.

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What We're Listening To:
“Figure 8” - Paramore
“Cutting My Fingers Off” - Turnover

Like what you see? Have spotlights, kudos, events, or opportunities that you would like to share? We want to hear from you! Navigate to our feedback form using the link below, or more simply, forward your tip to amst@gwu.edu.