ARCS NEWSLETTER No. 1, NOVEMBER 2006 ARCS IN BRIEF The American Research Center in Sofia modern age. A collateral aim of ARCS is re- (ARCS) was established in 2004 in order to gional: to foster research and collaboration be- facilitate academic research in Bulgaria for tween North American scholars and those in North American scholars and collaboration countries near Bulgaria, namely Albania, Ma- between scholars from North America and cedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, all Southeast Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Mace- of which share strong cultural ties and a re- donia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro). markable ancient heritage, but none of which Cornell University is the host institution of possesses an American Overseas Research ARCS in the United States. ARCS is registered Center (AORC). in the United States as a not-for-profit corpora- tion, exempt from Federal income tax under ARCS is maintaining active contacts and col- section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue laboration with numerous members of the fol- Code. It is registered in Bulgaria as a non-profit lowing institutions in Bulgaria: Sofia University foundation, and maintains a permanent pres- "St. Kliment Ohridski" (Departments of Clas- ence in the country's capital, currently at 42A sics, History, and Archaeology); New Bulgarian Maria Luiza Blvd, 1202, Sofia. University; American University in Bulgaria; Varna Free University; Bulgarian Academy of ARCS represents a consortium of 37 educa- Sciences (Institutes of Archaeology, Balkan tional institutions registered in North America. Studies, Economics, Thracology, Center of Ar- The Center is a Developing Member of the chitectural Studies); many regional museums in Council of American Overseas Research Cen- Bulgaria; Health Psychology Research Center; ters and a Member of the American Chamber Agency for Bulgarians Abroad at the Council of of Commerce in Bulgaria. Ministers; Fulbright Commission in Bulgaria; Center for Advanced Study-Sofia; Society for ARCS is dedicated to research in the humani- Alternative Culture and Education "VIR." We ties and social sciences (in the fields of anthro- are very grateful to all our contacts at these insti- pology, archaeology, art history, epigraphy, his- tutions for their enthusiastic support and colle- tory, economics, music, philology, sociology, giality. among others), from prehistory through the ACTIVITIES In general, ARCS sponsors academic fellow- Varna (19-23 June 2006), and 14 days of his- ship programs; educational trips; conferences; torical and cultural excursions in Bulgaria (16- lectures by local and visiting scholars; academic 18 June and 24 June-4 July 2006). Lectures and publications; research projects; and other cul- site reports were given by leading experts from tural events. Bulgarian universities (Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Varna Free University, • June-July 2006 American University in Bulgaria), the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Archaeological Institute For the first time this past summer, ARCS held and Museum, Institute of Thracology, Institute a three-week summer session on Bulgarian his- of Balkan Studies) and museums throughout tory and culture, in collaboration with the the country, as well as by guest lecturers from Varna Free University and the Bulgarian Na- Cornell University. During their stay in Sofia, tional Heritage Association (under the patron- the members of our session visited the Bulgar- age of the President of Bulgaria). The session ian-American Fulbright Commission, at the consisted of a day of introductory lectures in kind invitation of the Director, Professor Julia Sofia (15 July), a week of lectures at the Varna Stefanova, who gave us a lecture and a tour of Free University with visits to sites in and near the Commission. 2 On the last day of the session, which symboli- shared about their experience: cally coincided with Independence Day, the participants had a cordial meeting at the Presi- "The Varna summer session allowed me to visit dential Palace with Bulgaria's First Lady, Mrs. the sites that I read about in historical sources, Zorka Parvanova, and Professor Rumyana and it provided me with a unique context from Mihneva, co-organizer of the summer session which to continue my research. There are very on behalf of the Varna Free University and the few programs that allow you to visit every re- Bulgarian National Heritage Association. After gion of Bulgaria in less than a month! I was very the end of the session some participants at- impressed with the warmth and hospitality of all tended the Independence Day celebration or- those I met, and I hope to visit Bulgaria and the ganized by the American Chamber of Com- American Research Center in Sofia in the fu- merce in Bulgaria, at which US Ambassador ture." Mr. John Beyrle welcomed the guests with the following words: "July 4th is not only an Ameri- Jason Reuscher, University of Pittsburgh can holiday but a holiday for every nation that treasures the ideals of freedom, democracy and "I feel that the experience was life-changing, responsibility. And Bulgaria, which shares the both personally and academically, and I have same ideals, celebrates with us." We had 10 great hopes of returning to Bulgaria one day full-time (both student and teacher) partici- and learning more." pants, from US, Canadian, and European uni- versities, with diverse ethnic and educational Allyson Blomeley, University of North Carolina backgrounds. They were a very enthusiastic, at Asheville supportive and motivated group, and greatly contributed to the successful outcome of the "The tour was great, and my only suggestion for session. They fell in love with Bulgaria's fasci- future ones is that you supply cooler weather. I nating nature, history, folklore, and culture— look forward to other adventures with you." and last but not least—vibrant restaurants and music clubs. Here is what some of them Professor Mark Carper, University of Alaska Visiting Rila Monastery 3 Dancing folk dances at the ethnographical park Brashlian Group dinner on July 4th • August-September 2006 Kliment Ohridski", ARCS sponsored the first lecture in honor of Eugene Schuyler. These ARCS representatives Professor Kevin Clinton lectures will take place every year, as a celebra- and Dr. Nora Dimitrova participated in the tory event intended for a broad audience of international project "Contextualizing Classics," scholars, students, diplomats, politicians, and organized by the Classics Department at the others. This year's lecture, entitled "The East Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and the West Conflict: Some Greek Literary Perspec- Open Society Institute, which took place be- tives", was given by the Director of the Ameri- tween 28 August and 10 September 2006. The can School of Classical Studies at Athens, Pro- project's mission is "to explain the character of fessor Stephen Tracy, and was held in the Aula Greek and Roman legacy and the way in which of the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." it was passed on to posterity." In his introduction to the lecture, the Director of ARCS, Kevin Clinton, officially announced • October 20, 2006 the opening of ARCS, celebrated after the lec- ture by a reception in the Club-Restaurant of In collaboration with the Sofia University "St. the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The First Eugene Schuyler Lecture: the Director's Introduction Ladies and Gentlemen, Dean of the Philological Faculty, for co- sponsoring this event on behalf of the Sofia It is a great pleasure for me to introduce the University. This lecture celebrates the aca- first Eugene Schuyler lecture on behalf of the demic inauguration of ARCS. First, a few new American Research Center in Sofia. I am words about Eugene Schuyler. especially grateful to Professor Petya Yaneva, Professor Tracy talks about the East-West conflict from Greek literary perspectives Eugene Schuyler was born in Ithaca, NY in extraordinary erudition, a brilliant diplomat, 1840. He is the only person born in Ithaca, scholar, writer, and (most of all) humanist. In NY, where I live, who has a street named after the year 1861 Yale University granted three him here in Sofia. How did a person born in Ph.D. degrees that were the first (earned) Ph.D. Ithaca, NY have a street named after himself in degrees awarded in the United States; Eugene the capital of Bulgaria? Schuyler was a man of Schuyler was one of them, at the age of 21, in 5 philosophy and psychology. But that is not why On a more personal note, it is a pleasure to a street here in Sofia is named after him. He point out that as the US minister for Greece, went on to earn a degree in law from Columbia Romania, and Serbia, stationed in Athens in University, but law did not appeal to him— the 1880's, Schuyler was also very helpful to the literature was more to his liking, especially Rus- recently established American School of Classi- sian literature. In the space of two or three cal Studies at Athens, whose Director I have years he learned Russian, becoming one of the the honor to introduce tonight. Professor Ste- best experts on Russia in the United States. phen Tracy has been Director of the American His expertise was noticed by the State Depart- School for the past five years. The American ment, and he served as US consul in Russia, School is the American Overseas Research Turkey, Romania, England, Italy, and Egypt Center in Greece, which has just celebrated its among other countries. He was one of Amer- 125th anniversary, and it seems especially ap- ica's best-qualified diplomats of his time. A propriate that its Director is here at the birth of friend of Tolstoy, translator of Turgenev, and the American Research Center in Sofia, for the biographer of Peter the Great, Schuyler spent American School, through its accomplishments ten years in Russia; his first book describes a in Greece, inspired the idea for an American nine-month trip through Central Asia which Research Center here, dedicated broadly to Russia was then subjugating.