The name of the organization is ‘Historians of Eighteenth-Century Art and Architecture’ (HECAA).

The purpose of the association is to facilitate communication and collaboration among scholars of eighteenth-century art and architecture in its broadest terms. HECAA seeks to expand and promote knowledge of all aspects of the period’s visual and material culture through research, conference presentations, and publication. In accordance with our Statement of Values and our Principles, the association embraces the full range of members’ professional affiliations, and encourages and supports emerging scholars of the long eighteenth century. HECAA is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

A. Membership is open to any individual interested in the purpose of the society, regardless of academic affiliation or discipline. Members in good standing who have paid dues are eligible to vote in elections.

B. Membership dues support programs, activities, initiatives, and operating expenses. HECAA realizes that members’ income and research funding levels are dependent on their institutional affiliation(s) and not their position or title. Individuals are invited to join at the level that best fits their situation. As of October 1, 2024, suggested rates for membership dues are as follows:

Rising Scholar                                           $ 10 

[annual income below $40,000]

Scholar 1                                                    $ 35

[annual income $40,000 – $80,000]

Scholar 2                                                     $ 65

[annual income $80,000 – $120,000]

Scholar 3                                                    $ 95

[annual income $120,000+]

Supporting Scholar*                                $ 125

Sponsoring Scholar*                                $ 200

Benefactor*                                               $ 300 

* Supporting, Sponsoring, or Benefactor levels help off-set the cost of subsidizing Rising Scholar and Scholar 1 memberships to help limit the barriers of entry to the HECAA community.

These rates may be changed by vote of the membership.

C. All elected officers must be members in good standing. All session chairs and speakers in HECAA affiliated conference sessions must be members in good standing.

The society will maintain affiliation with the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies on such terms as both determine to be mutually acceptable.

A. The society will maintain affiliation with the College Art Association on such terms as both determine to be mutually acceptable.

B. The society will maintain affiliation with the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies on such terms as both determine to be mutually acceptable.

C. The society will maintain affiliation with the online newsletter Enfilade on such terms as both determine to be mutually acceptable.

D. The society will maintain affiliation with Journal18 on such terms as both determine to be mutually acceptable.

E. Affiliations may be added or removed if proposed to the membership and approved by a two-thirds majority of those voting.

The society has a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These four officers and three at-large members form the Executive Board. Ideally, all members of the Executive Board have different institutional affiliations at time of election.

The Executive Board provides counsel and assistance to the officers, especially to the President, approves committee appointments, annual awards, and other duties specified in the bylaws. The Executive Board serves as a nominating committee by soliciting nominations, including self-nominations, from the membership for officer positions, Executive Board, and committees, striving to ensure nominees for officers and committees represent the diversity of the membership and disciplines within the association.

Officer terms begin on June 1. Terms of office are for three years, and officers may not serve two consecutive terms in the same position. Officers are elected by vote of a majority of members in good standing through on-line elections held between January 1 and February 28. Terms will be staggered to ensure continuity. Ideally: year 1, Vice-President and Secretary elected; year 2, President and Treasurer elected. All HECAA members in good standing are eligible to vote. All nominations, including self-nominations are made directly to the HECAA Secretary.

At-large members of the Executive Board serve two-year terms, with terms beginning on June 1. One at-large member must be a graduate student at the time of election. At-large representatives are elected by majority vote of HECAA members in good standing through on-line elections held between January 1 and February 28 by a majority of voting members. All HECAA members in good standing are eligible to vote. All nominations, including self-nominations, should be made directly to the HECAA Secretary.

1. President – presides at meetings, makes committee appointments, and serves as primary spokesperson and HECAA representative to other associations and the public.

2. Vice President – assists the President, presides at meetings in the absence of the President, oversees all programming, may be assigned other duties as needed. If for any reason the President vacates the position, the Vice President will serve as President until the next cycle of elections.

3. Secretary – records and maintains minutes of meetings, bylaws and other documents, receives nominations, keeps track of membership in partnership with the Treasurer, tallies votes.

4. Treasurer – receives dues, maintains HECAA funds, reports on finances and budget to membership at annual All-Members Meeting.

1. Prize Committees
     A. Dora Wiebenson Prize Committee The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, appoints three HECAA members to three-year staggered terms. A new member is appointed each year to replace the member leaving the committee. The committee reviews submissions and awards this annual prize for an outstanding graduate student paper presented during the previous calendar year at a scholarly conference or as a sponsored lecture. The Treasurer proposes the amount of the prize each year based on available funds in the treasury and approved by the Executive Board. The prize is named for Dora Wiebenson, Professor Emerita, University of Virginia School of Architecture.

     B. Mary Vidal Memorial Fund Committee The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, appoints three HECAA members to three-year staggered terms. A new member is appointed each year to replace the member leaving the committee. HECAA members who are graduate students or have completed the Ph.D. within the past three years are eligible to apply for modest subventions to defray costs associated with research travel, conferences in which the recipients are presenting, or reproduction permission fees for a publication. The Treasurer proposes the amount to be awarded each year based on available funds in the treasury and approved by the Executive Board. This fund is named in memory of Professor Mary Vidal.

The DEIA Committee consists of six members in good standing. Members serve three-year staggered terms. Two new members are appointed each year to replace the members leaving the committee. A call for volunteers is sent to HECAA members between June 1 and July 31. Self-nominations should be made to the HECAA President. Committee members will be appointed by the Executive Committee (i.e. Officers and At-Large Board Members.) Terms begin September 1. 

As much as possible the DEIA Committee represents HECAA members from a wide span of career stages and life paths, and with many backgrounds and research interests. In order to best represent HECAA’s community, the Executive Committee will prioritize ensuring that a range of backgrounds and experiences is maintained on the DEIA Committee when electing DEIA Committee members. 

The DEIA Committee supports and works with the HECAA Board to create and further a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible community of HECAA members. The DEIA Committee seeks to fulfill HECAA’s commitment to provide an environment of inclusion, collegiality, and care for all scholars of eighteenth-century art and architecture, regardless of individual identity, as articulated in HECAA’s Statement of Values.

The DEIA Committee meets regularly, approximately six times a year, with an organizational and leadership role rotating among the six members. There should be equitable distribution of labor across the committee. Together with the Executive Board, DEIA committee members generate annual goals to support ongoing and new initiatives, including proposing programming and reviewing policies. There is a regular reporting structure between the DEIA Committee and the Executive Board. One Executive Board member serves as liaison and an ex officio member of the DEIA Committee. The DEIA Committee will select a member or members to serve on ad hoc committees or working groups where their expertise is particularly relevant, as determined in consultation with the Executive Board.

3. Panel Selection Committee for HECAA Affiliate Association Conference Sessions The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, appoints three members to serve three-year staggered terms on the Panel Selection Committee. The committee solicits proposals and volunteers from the membership and selects topic and conference session chairs annually for our affiliate sessions at conferences.

Our affiliate conference sessions currently include: two sessions at the College Art Association (CAA), both the HECAA session and the ASECS session that is delegated to us with the stipulation that it reflect the interdisciplinary goals of ASECS; one session at American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS) that is by tradition the HECAA Anne Schroder New Scholars session; and one or more panels at British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (BSECS).

4. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, may appoint ad hoc committees for particular tasks or projects.

An annual meeting of the society will be held each year around the time of the annual meeting of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. At the annual meeting members hear reports from officers and discuss old and new business. Additional meetings may be held with the approval of a majority of the membership.

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of members in good standing at the annual meeting of the society or by a two-thirds majority of those members voting in an online vote. Should the society dissolve, remaining funds will go to the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies.

Ratified December 2018, amended March 2019; amended June 2024; the previous version of the constitution is available here.