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SMFS Bylaws [pdf] Past SMFS Presidents Past MFF Editors MFF Back Issues  History Medieval Feminist Newsletter (MFN) was founded in 1984 during the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo when a serendipitous meeting of three feminist medievalist scholars inspired them to join together. These three "founding mothers," E. Jane Burns, Roberta (Bonnie) Krueger, and Elizabeth Robertson, collectively published the first MFN issue in May 1986. Issue 2 (November 1986), saw a fourth "founding mother," Thelma S. Fenster, join the initial trio. In addition to the usual newsletter fare of announcements and lists of subscribers’ names and research interests, the early issues of MFN published brief position papers (called commentaries), book reviews, and Kalamazoo conference papers. As well, the editors conducted a number of surveys on feminist medievalist publication, research, and teaching, and printed these results. In 1992, the MFN editors launched the Society for Medieval Feminist Scholarship (SMFS) as a support network for those scholars who labored to connect the relatively new theoretical perspectives surrounding Gender Studies with the traditional fields of medieval studies. The new society assumed sponsorship of MFN and also sought and received Affiliated Organization status with the Modern Language Association, allowing it to sponsor two sessions annually at the MLA convention, and in 2004, the Managing Editor, Michelle M. Sauer, undertook the process of getting MFF catalogued in the MLA database. Under the auspices of Managing Editor Regina Psaki, SMFS undertook a self-study in 1999. After the results were tabulated, SMFS changed the name of the Medieval Feminist Newsletter to the Medieval Feminist Forum, which better reflects the scholarly character of its contents. Shortly thereafter, in 2000, the Subsidia series, comprising occasional special topics volumes, was launched. Today, MFF continues to be published twice a year, and features both open topic issues and thematic issues, with contents that are always connected to feminist medievalist scholarship. Several new features were added after the move to Minot State, such as the SMFS Feminist Medievalist Dissertation List, specialized bibliographies, original feminist medievalist artwork, and in memorium columns. The physical journal also underwent a radical transformation, with a standardized cover, new paper color, and perfect binding. SMFS and MFF have made strides in expanding its international standing. The society now sponsors sessions and a graduate student reception at the International Medieval Conference in Leeds each summer, and the MFF international subscriber base is always growing. Future plans see SMFS & MFF across the world!
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