Introduction: A New Digital Tool for Studying Anthologies of Early American Literature, Exploring Anthologies of Early American Literature, sites.wustl.edu/anthologies/

The purpose of this forum is twofold. First, we want to introduce a new resource for the study of early American literature called Exploring Anthologies of Early American Literature. This digital tool examines and compares editions of the Norton and Heath anthologies of early American literature from their earliest instantiations (1979 for the Norton and 1990 for the Heath) to the present day. Second, we wish to introduce three kinds of literature—through three neglected authors—that would change our understanding of early American literature if they were to be included in our modern literary anthologies. These recovered resources raise new questions and possibilities relating to the way we study early American literature and culture today.