JASNA Eastern Pennsylvania Region

Program of Events

The Eastern Pennsylvania Region of JASNA holds three or four meetings a year. Our meetings are typically held in March or April (spring meeting), June (summer meeting), September (autumn meeting) and December (winter meeting). Specific dates in any year may fluctuate to account for holidays and the availability of speakers and sites of interest to JASNA members and their guests. JASNA members affiliated with the Region will receive up-to-date information about the Region's events through e-mail notices and Bits and Scraps, the Region's quarterly newletter. Some meetings may be open only to members of JASNA. If you are not a member of JASNA, we encourage you to join by visiting the JASNA Membership Page.

In 2019, the Region's meeting dates are: April 6th (Spring Meeting); June 15th (Summer Meeting); September 14th (Autumn Meeting); and December (Winter Meeting). Events are subject to change. All events supported in part by funds provided by the Eastern Pennsylvania Region of JASNA.

2019 Region Events

Spring Meeting

The Felicities of Rapid Motion: Social Dance in Jane Austen’s Time

Saturday, April 06, 2019
11:30am — 3:30pm
Joseph Ambler Inn
The Bonniemeade Room (Located in the Barn)
1005 Horsham Road
North Wales, PA 19454

Regency Dance

Jane Austen was fond of dancing and she incorporated dance scenes in her six novels as well as the fragment known as The Watsons. However, she is silent on the details of the dance that would have been well-known to her contemporaries but are not as well-known by us today. Why is it so shocking that Willoughby and Marianne “stand up” together so frequently? Why do you dance your way down the set and converse your way up? What kinds of dances would Jane have done? What is The Boulanger and why is it the only dance named in all of her novels and letters? How did you go about finding a partner in Jane’s time?

Allison Thompson will answer all these questions and more in her talk “The Felicities of Rapid Motion: Social Dance in Jane Austen’s Time.” The presentation will include a brief audience participation as well as period-correct video!

Regency wear admired, but not required.

What else can you expect?

The company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation
Catered Luncheon
Gift Basket Raffle
Pop-up Emporium
Election Regional of Treasurer and Secretary Officers*
2019 will be JASNA’s 40th Anniversary - Throughout 2019, JASNA will be celebrating this milestone, which will culminate at the 2019 AGM in Williamsburg. Come join us and wish JASNA a Happy 40th Anniversary!

*In accordance with the Region's by-laws, every 2 years the Treasurer and Secretary Board-of-Directors Officer positions will be elected by a vote of its membership. This year, the nominee for the position of Treasurer will be Susan DiGregorio, and the nominee for the position of Secretary will be Catherine Thomas. Both nominees are incumbents and currently the presiding Officer of these Board-of-Director roles.

Summer Meeting

Jane Austen's American Contemporaries

Saturday, June 15, 2019
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Rare Books Department - Free Library of Philadelphia

Jane Austen - Hulton Archive

Join us in the at the Parkway Central Library, Free Library of Philadelphia 1901 Vine Street on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Allison Freyermuth, lead librarian along with other librarians, will display and discuss "Jane Austen's American contemporaries" as they are represented in the collections of the Free Library. You may also come early to visit the Rare Books Department, including new displays part of the "My five senses" project.

After the presentation and tour in the Rare Book Department we will have tea, coffee, snacks and social time in the new Business Resource and Innovation Center on the ground floor of the library, room 60.

~Event Registration~

This event is limited to only 30 attendees and we are expecting it to sell out quickly. The cost for each attendee is only $15.00. To ensure your spot for this event, please use the "Pay Now" option below to register using PayPal. Alternatively, you can contact JASNA Eastern PA's Regional Coordinator, Christopher Duda, to inquire about other registration options, however PayPal registration is preferred.