History of the Little Berks

The Little Berks is the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians’ annual business meeting and retreat. It emerged in the mid-20th century as a way for women historians—often isolated in male-dominated departments—to build intellectual community and provide mutual support. Long before women’s history was a recognized academic field, the Little Berks provided a crucial venue for discussing research, navigating academia, and sustaining feminist scholarship.  Over time, it has grown more diverse and inclusive, expanding to embrace scholars across racial, ethnic, generational, disciplinary, and gender identities committed to the study of women, genders, and sexualities.

Format

The Little Berks is intentionally smaller and more intimate, unlike the larger triennial Berkshire Conference on the History of Women, Genders and Sexualities (the “Big Berks”). Held each spring (or in the fall during Big Berks years), the gathering offers a rare opportunity for scholars to relax and recharge in a collegial and welcoming environment. It provides time and space for workshops, organizational governance, writing and research support, and informal mentoring. Participants engage in professional development conversations, strategic planning, writing sessions, and social events like shared meals and the beloved trillium walk–now more of a nature walk but cherished all the same.

Purpose

A cherished tradition of the Little Berks is that senior scholars bring junior colleagues and graduate students to introduce them to the organization and to the broader field of women’s, gender, and sexuality history. It is a wonderful way for newer members to get to know others in the field, learn about the Berks’ mission and history, and build intergenerational relationships.

In these turbulent political times—when the rights, histories, and futures of women, LGBTQ+ people, and scholars from global majority communities are increasingly under threat—the Little Berks is more vital than ever. It provides a space to reflect, strategize, and reaffirm our collective commitment to feminist scholarship, equity, and community.