The Association for Documentary Editing invites proposals for its MLA session entitled “Editing the Amanuensis.” We seek presentations that address issues of editing material prepared with the help of an amanuensis, broadly defined. Among such situations are instances where someone prepares an original text on behalf of someone else, typically in the voice of that person, or where a scribe or clerk produces a fair copy of a previously oral or written text.

Proposals could address editing for publication

– the work of a person who prepared the original text on behalf of someone else, typically in the voice of that person (Alex Haley for Malcolm X),

– the work of someone who simply transcribed text for someone else, often attempting to reproduce, as much as possible, that author’s voice (unidentifiable scribes or clerks, such as served Joseph Smith),

– or other editorial situations connected to the role of amanuensis.

Proposals comprising a 300-word abstract with author’s short bio and contact info may be sent to Carol DeBoer-Langworthy (CDBL@Brown.edu) or David Vander Meulen (dlv8g@eservices.virginia.edu). Queries to same addresses.

Carol DeBoer-Langworthy, ADE Liaison to MLA