iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Anyone know what's going on with the Blake Archive? Looks like UNC Chapel Hill remapped their website but the Blake Archive itself seems to have been down for at least a day... and I am concerned. #19thC #18thC www.blakearchive.org

blakearchive.org

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Haters gonna hate, men gonna run over time when giving conference presentations even when given multiple reminders. Please, friends, time your talks before you give them. All the multisyllabic words won't save you from losing the crowd when they are thinking about the coffee that's next up.

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Reposted by Dr. Bethany Qualls

Elizabeth Giardina, PhD @elizagiardina.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Have you ever wondered what's with all the spheres in 18th century culture? Submissions to this wide-ranging ASECS 2027 roundtable (or should I say spheretable?) are due today, 09/18. Don’t be a square; submit something spherical! Submit here: www.xcdsystem.com/asecs/abstra...

xcdsystem.com

American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Seriously, we're looking for everything from transatlantic exchanges to coterie publishing circles, from circuits of meteorology and ocean currents to masquerade balls. How did/do spheres shape our ideas of the #c18th, its people and discourses? Puns highly encouraged but not required!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This roundtable (emphasis on round) seeks to bring together the #18thC ’s variety of spheres from around the world, their wider uses and multimedia appearances. We invite interdisciplinary contributions about spheres, balls, circles, and other roundness.

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

@elizagiardina.bsky.social & I are co-chairing an #asecs27 roundtable about "Spheres: Then and Now," very broadly construed. Some #c18th ideas: Étienne-Louis Boullée’s cenotaph for Isaac Newton Hot air balloons London’s time ball Globes in Milton, maritime history Habermas public vs private

Spheres: Then and Now, a call for papers for a roundtable at American Society of #18thC Studies 2027

Description: Étienne-Louis Boullée’s proposed cenotaph for Isaac Newton. Hot air balloons. London’s time ball. Globes—poetic and terrestrial—in Milton and maritime history. Habermas’s idea of public vs private social space. Expansive and holistic by their very nature, spheres appeared across the long and deep eighteenth century. Both literal and physical, spheres and circles theorized material, philosophical, spatial, artistic, and social interactions in the period, containerizing concepts in ways we often take for granted in the twenty-first century.

This roundtable (emphasis on round) seeks to bring together the eighteenth century’s variety of spheres from around the world, exploring their wider uses and multimedia appearances. We invite interdisciplinary contributions that consider spheres, balls, circles, and other roundness as a way to explore everything from transatlantic exchanges to coterie publishing circles, from circuits of meteorology and ocean currents to masquerade balls. How did/do spheres shape our ideas of the eighteenth century, its people and discourses? What makes the sphere particularly suited for discussions of anchored social spaces, then and now? How do spheres impact maritime exploration, Greenwich Mean Time, and other nautical orientation methods? What do spheres construct and why do we keep coming back to them, over and over, even as building physical spheres is famously a difficult task? Where do spheres show up and surprise us? Where do they feel so obvious as to be not worth notice? Together we hope to circle around these questions—metaphorical, spiritual, physical—approaching but never quite reaching a center.

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

@easays.bsky.social thinking about you! I made more sex work resources on my website #sexhist and generally hope you are doing okay out there in this time of

static.klipy.com

Shocked Surprised

Alt: Shocked Surprised cat looking around with big eyes

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Thanks, I've thrown enough apps at things since 2020 to realize one should always better to double triple check that particular detail...

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

That's what I figured, good to know! You definitely will have a strong pool of folks to pull from.

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Will you help people who don't have the right to work in UK already in hand? Or is this position not hefty enough for that amount of support? Sounds like a great gig, but wanted to check before sending around further.

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Thanks @friede.bsky.social for the shout out! It's good encouragement to keep on this book project even though there's basically no structural support for such things these days... In the meantime, lmk if you wanna talk about hot goss old or new!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Gossip matters a lot. Also @npr.org call me next time, I've got way more deets than Federici's coverage of this gossip stuff in anglophone and other histories... My book is in progress, but in the meantime, here's a piece I wrote about how gossip works, pls enjoy: necsus-ejms.org/gossips-ephe...

necsus-ejms.org

Gossip’s ephemeral longevity: Power, circulation, and new media | NECSUS

This essay argues that gossip reveals cultural networks that can support a range of functions, whether celebrity visibility, crowd-sourced anonymity, or anti-colonial revolt. Examining gossip through ...

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Being put on this list has made my day! Relatedly, if you or someone you know crafts cool things using archival materials in any way, please pitch me to be a possible guest on season 2 of Re(un)Covered. Art, zines, graphic narratives, installations, fonts: no medium or technique shall be turned away

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Please listen and tell all your friends. Even your enemies. We've got some great guests and a whole lotta rad history to share about women who made typefaces in this period. Plus jokes!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Thanks @alexiamandla.bsky.social !!! We have a few more episodes of season 1 coming out before September and I'm working on Season 2 as we speak!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Savez-vous quand on va avoir les nouvelles de cet appel ? Je me reste toujours curieuse.

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

🗃, mid-century modernism fans, an episode for you. I chat with Stephen Coles (Letterform Archive), plus we cover 2 women type designers and their fonts: Montan, Anna Maria Schildbach (1924–?) Thomas Schrift & Versalien. Friedel Thomas (1895–1956) reuncoveredpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2206728/epis...

reuncoveredpodcast.buzzsprout.com

So Mod - Re(un)Covered

“Birding has so many connections to type”🦉🐦‍⬛🦢Mid-century shifts to clean lines as we situate two more women type designers and their work: Montan by Anna Maria Schildbach (1924–?) and Thomas Schrift ...

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

@grafematik.bsky.social is next week in Reading, UK so it's time to get that presentation about the Re(un)Covered podcast polished up. Fueled by chai and praxis, it's gonna be a good time. #archivesoutloud

Stack of books: How artifacts afford, pedagogy of the oppressed, methodology of the oppressed, understanding your users. Plus stickers for re(un)covered podcast and a charm bracelet

Mug with giant capital B on desk with pages of notes propped up behind it

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Hey all, please give to this fundraiser to get emergency support for Red Hen Press. They do good work, publishing solid books and supporting queer voices. Donate, buy a book, share with your friends and networks: it all helps. share.google/U4midkXHTwIg...

share.google

Donate to We Need Your Help to Save Red Hen Press, organized by Red Hen Press

A Message from Kate Gale, Publisher and CEO, and Tobi Harper Petrie, Deputy and… Red Hen Press needs your support for We Need Your Help to Save Red Hen Press

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

@eleanorfranzen.bsky.social giving great talk today re: Harriette Wilson and her novels, for the Romanticism Across Borders online seminar. More #sexwork history yay!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Y'all Alexis Hall has written a "sapphic Moby Dick in space" and, only a few chapters in, I am suddenly glad for reading Melville back in my MA program because I GET THE JOKES. Go read Hell's Heart. It's amazing and I'm only 12% in. #queerlit #amreading #19thc retellings

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Pamela; or, Virtue given a predatory payday loan?

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

well, you'll definitely enjoy walking through the castle William the conqueror built to go conquer from. Let me know if you're going to be around before or after, I'm not sure exactly of my UK travel times yet but should have it settled, ummm, soon? (pretends to not look at long to-do list) 👀

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

This looks totally awesome, thanks for sharing but also now I want to dive in but need to hit deadlines but want to rabbithole but but but THANK YOU for sharing with us. Will definitely be exploring in coming weeks!

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Reposted by Dr. Bethany Qualls

National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 03/05/2026

We have an *extremely* important announcement to make. From Wednesday, we will be launching our puffin live cam, coming to you from the Farne Islands. So you can watch puffins all day long. In celebration, please enjoy this clip of puffins being really busy for 39 seconds straight.

7771932472

Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

But I am happy to offer my ideas on good spots for food/drink etc. TOO MANY COOL THINGS HAPPENING THAT WEEK ARGHHHH

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

That looks so awesome! In a twist of fate/timing I'm going to be in Reading that week for grapholinguistics @grafematik.bsky.social conference. We shall be like ships passing... grafematik2026.sciencesconf.org

grafematik2026.sciencesconf.org

/gʁafematik/ 2026 — Grapholinguistics in the 21st Century - Sciencesconf.org

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Preparing for job interview. Faculty position in #18thC British Lit. Cue training montage with furious typing, countless open browser tabs, many cups of coffee. No running up steps... yet. Still channeling the #asecs2026 #asecs26 love; please send positive vibes my way next Monday if you can!

media.tenor.com

a black and white cat is typing on a laptop

Alt: a black and white cat is typing on a laptop which is basically me right now

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Waving not drowning over here to you, hopefully we can catch up IRL sooooon

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Hilary Havens talking about the Maria Edgeworth letters project, so awesome to see these digital workflows and linked open data in use for this massive project. Huge #dh inspiration for #18thC #asecs26 #asecs2026 🗃️

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

@ecswd.bsky.social i.e. Ea Wilcox and I are vibing with unplanned zines for each of our talks on #sexhist in #18thC for #asecs26. Total delight to see how this project evolves and hope to get more involved! #sexworkiswork

2 zines about #18thc sex work history at #asecs2026

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

@biblioscholar.bsky.social great job organizing everything, digital people doing so many nifty things! #asecs26 #asecs2026

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Loving this q&a discussion dynamic with panel and audience happening too. #dh #yaylibrarians

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

@alicetm.bsky.social dropping DIY #DH knowledge and resources here at #asecs26 like wow, really impressed by her ideas about markdown and minimal computing, so great #asecs2026 #18thc

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Oh no, I was looking forward. But yes, definitely apt miasma connection across time

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

I wrote this piece about brothels for the DIGITENS open-access Digital Encyclopaedia on Sociability in Europe in the Long Eighteenth Century that has some of what I'll be talking about, interested to hear more about your work too! www.digitens.org/en/notices/b... 🗃 #sexwork #sexhistory #c18th

digitens.org

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Well, I'll try to save you one! And if not I'll make sure a pdf comes your way 🥳

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Yes, I did bring my bone folder to prep my handout that's a mini zine for my #asecs26 talk tomorrow late morning about #sexhist in #18thc London, come join the fun if you can.

Stack of zines for conference presentation with bone folder. The title is "politick whores, nightwalkers, and she friends: navigating London's sex industry in the long eighteenth century"

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I am I am, we shall catch up IRL I hope yay!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Heading to #asecs2026 for some #18thc fun, trains have gotten me to Paris, next stop Newark (after standing in some more lines that is).

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Awww thanks dino friends for reading and sharing! I hope to get to see you in person the next time I'm in the UK, because I get the feeling photos don't really do them full justice 🦖🦕🦖🦕

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

If you are in Basel tomorrow afternoon, I'm talking about cats as memes from the #18thc till now. Plus have some nifty new things to share I made w/ Lewis Walpole Library digital collections. 10 March, 14:15 @unibas.ch #DH #DigitalHumanities lab, @ Allschwilerstrasse 14, 3rd flr, Sitzungszimmer.

Poster for the talk How do Cats Meme with details below a picture of a #18thc cat castle being besieged by rats

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Thanks for sharing! I was amused to see photos of the dinos painted at one period... May we both get to see them in person someday!

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Thanks Patrick! Appreciate the words of encouragement and support 🎉

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Hi all, today marks the end of my time as a postdoc for the Punch's Pocket Book Archive project. I'm not 100% sure what's next, big picture, but in the meantime here's a post I wrote last month about #19thC Crystal Palace dinosaurs, ht @cpdinosaurs.bsky.social for info 🦖🦕 ppbka.hypotheses.org/2803

ppbka.hypotheses.org

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs in Punch’s Pocket Books

One of the pleasures of archival research is falling into a hole of information that you did not even know existed, then sharing that new-to-you set of facts with… basically everyone you talk with for...

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Dr. Bethany Qualls @bethanyqualls.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Freak in the streets and the sheets I guess?

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