| Abbreviation | ALA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1989 |
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Purpose | The study of American authors |
Region served | United States |
| Alfred Bendixen | |
| Website | www |
The American Literature Association (ALA) is "a coalition of societies devoted to the study of American authors".[1] It has some 110 affiliated societies, mostly concerned with the work of a particular author (e.g. the Emily Dickinson International Society or the Thoreau Society), some thematic such as the Society of Early Americanists.[2] It was founded in 1989.[3]
It holds an annual conference, alternating between east coast and west coast venues, attracting about 850 delegates.[3] Some societies choose to have one of their own main meetings as part of the ALA conference,[4] and many sessions of the conference are sponsored by member societies.[5] There are no plenary sessions at the conference, but seven or eight simultaneous events in each time slot.[3]
The ALA has an executive board and a "Council of American Authors Societies", which represents the member organizations. The executive director is Alfred Bendixen, who has held this post since the association's beginnings in 1989.[3]
- ^ "(Home page)". American Literature Association. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ^ "Directory of Affiliated Societies". ALA. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d "About". ALA. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ^ "(Home page)". Poe Studies Association. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
The PSA meets at the yearly conferences of the Modern Language Association in December and the American Literature Association in May.
- ^ "Call for Papers: American Literature Association Conference: Two Panels Sponsored by the Melville Society". The Melville Society. 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2014.