2008 – The idea of ESPRit is born at the European Society for the Study of English conference in Aarhus, at a panel on the methodology of periodicals by Usha Wilbers, Odin Dekkers, Peter Buse and Antony Rowland. Usha, Peter and Antony had first met at a conference in Paris in 2001 when they had all given talks on periodicals.
2009 – Odin and Usha secures funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). A mailing list is set up which soon reaches over 400 subscribers.
2009 – A first formal meeting is held in Nijmegen attended by Usha, Odin, Peter, Antony, Margaret Beetham, Marysa Demoor and Ellen Garvey[BP1.1]. Ellen was there representing RSAP, while Margaret and Marysa were there based on their experience with RSVP. There was also a Scottish delegation from Edinburgh Napier University at the meeting.
2010 – Usha comes to Salford to plan next steps for ESPRit with Peter, Matthew Philpotts, Brian Maidment and Kristin Ewins (as replacement for Antony).
2011 – the 1st ESPRit conference is held at the Burgess Foundation in Manchester (organised by Matthew, Peter, Brian and Kristin).
2012 – the 2nd ESPRit conference is held at the University of Ghent (organised by Marianne Van Remoortel). Excellent catering with onsite cheese and ham grilling.
2013 – A second formal meeting is held in Salford Quays where plans are made for future conferences, funding applications and an open-access journal. The meeting is attended by Usha, Odin, Peter, Matthew, Kristin, Ellen, Brian, Marianne (as replacement for Marysa) and Evanghelia Stead.
2014 – the 3rd ESPRit conference is held at Radboud University, Nijmegen (organised by Usha and Odin).
2015 – Kristin secures funds from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (RJ).
2015 – the 4th ESPRit conference is held at the Nordic Museum, Stockholm (organised by Kristin). The conference is followed by a third formal meeting to plan the future of ESPRit attended by Margaret, Peter, Odin, Marianne, Matthew, Usha, Brian, Kristin, Laurel, Sarah Chadfield, Peter Marks, Catherine Clay, Fionnuala Dillane, Maaike Koffeman and Núria Triana Toribio. Everyone learns about fika and dine at the haunt of the Swedish Academy, Gyldene Freden in the Old Town.
2015 – the founding editorial meeting for the Journal of European Periodical Studies (JEPS) is held during the Stockholm conference attended by the first editorial team, Marianne (editor-in-chief), Matthew, Maaike and Kristin.
2016 – first issue of JEPS comes out.
2016 – the 5th ESPRit conference is held in Liverpool (organised by Brian, Matthew and Fionnuala). A fourth formal meeting is held, this time to appoint an interim board for ESPRit in order to move towards formalising the organisation as a society. The meeting is attended by Margaret, Laurel, Peter, Odin, Fionnuala, Evanghelia, Marianne, Matthew, Kristin, Sarah and Anouska Kersten. Matthew is elected as interim chair, Kristin as interim secretary and Usha (in absentia) as interim treasurer[BP2.1]. Brian takes us all on a Great Victorian Tour round the city and to a reception in the fabulous Racquet Club on Water Street.
2017 – ESPRit is formally approved as a society in the Netherlands. The process of opening a bank account is started.
2017 – the 6th ESPRit conference is held at the IULM in Milan (organised by Mara and Andrea Chiurato). A first formal business meeting is held to formalise statutes and bylaws. At the meeting, the first board is elected with Matthew as chair, Kristin as vice chair and secretary and Usha as treasurer. A committee is appointed with the following members in addition to the board: Odin, Marianne, Laurel, Fionnuala, Evanghelia, Peter, Jasper Schelstraete, Rio Matchett, Sage Milo, Mara Logaldo and Fabio Guidali.
2018 – the 7th ESPRit conference is held in Paris (organised by Evanghelia). Sage steps down from the committee. The ESPRit postgraduate workshop is launched and held on the day before the conference (organised by Evanghelia and Hélène Védrine).
2018 – Matthew steps down as chair and Kristin steps in as interim chair.
2019 – the 8th ESPRit conference is held at the National Library of Greece in Athens (organised by Gioula Koutsopanagou and Aled Gruffydd Jones) preceded by the 2nd postgraduate workshop (organised by Evanghelia, Laurel and Fabio). Kristin is elected as chair, Peter as vice chair and secretary and Maaike as membership officer, a new additional role on the board, while Usha remains as treasurer. Andrea, Marinella Sofia Gkinko, Julie Birkholz and Gábor Dobó join the committee while Rio and Jasper step down.
2019 – Memorandum of understanding entered with IULM, Milan.
2019 – The bank account is opened, paid-for membership introduced and 50 members sign up.
2021 – the ESPRit online seminar series is launched and the ESPRit prize announced.
2021 – the 9th ESPRit conference (organised by Nora Ramtke) and 3rd postgraduate workshop (organised by Evanghelia, Fabio and Laurel) are held online, with the organising team in Bochum providing beautiful local treats via snail mail. The board remains and Aled, Gioula, Nora, Hannah Connell and Sophie van den Elzen joining the committee while Marinella and Julie step down.
2022 – Memorandum of understanding entered with Transforpress at Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
2022 – the 1st ESPRit prize is awarded to the joint winners Claire Pettitt and Marianne Van Remoortel and team. Jury: Laurel (chair), Fionnuala, Andrea, Usha, Cedric Van Dijck and Bénédicte Coste.
2022 – the 10th ESPRit conference is held at KEMKI, Budapest (organised by Gábor and Merse Pál Szeredi), followed by the 4th postgraduate workshop (organised by Evanghelia and Fabio). At the annual business meeting Kristin steps down and Mara takes over as chair. The joint role of vice chair and secretary is split, with Peter remaining as vice chair while Sophie takes over as secretary. Maaike becomes treasurer after Usha, while keeping responsibility for membership. A new role of auditor is added to the board and taken on by Usha, as the society is registered in the Netherlands and operating a Dutch bank account.
2022 – 115 paid-up members and growing!
