Anyone interested in the origins of SHEAR should read Jim Broussard's Historians and the Early Republic: SHEAR's Origins and Prospects https://www-jstor-org.cumberland.idm.oclc.org/stable/3122535  #SHEAR2020

Broussard explained that the original group he approached about starting the organization were four of the "fellows" on that panel.

Whatever the origins of SHEAR, the first issue of the Journal of the Early Republic (JER) staked out a more expansive thematic scholarly space than just politics.

Not until vol. 5 (1985), however, did an issue feature a majority of articles that were not the traditional political and/or military focus (depending on interpretation of those terms, mind you).

That issue seemed to be a real turning point for the JER, as a more diverse set of topics began to appear. The articles of women scholars also began to appear more consistently. Based on names (not always reliable indicators of gender),

Vol. 9 (Summer 1989) was the 1st issue w/ a majority (2/3) of women scholars' contributions.

I'm not sure that it does, but I hope this short thread adds something to help us better understand #SHEAR2020.

My JStor link in the 1st tweet is specific to my university, so here is the citation info: JER 2, no. 1 (Spring 1982): 61-68.