Something that has always struck me about the L.M. Montgomery is how inclusive and welcoming they are. There aren’t a million different regional chapters and groups where people get territorial, but rather a wider mosaic where different approaches, focuses, and goals meet. I love that academic and casual projects can come together and offer support to each other, which is fairly rare. If you are interested in L.M. Montgomery’s life, works, and legacy, there is a lot out there for you. These are some of my favourite LM Montgomery resources that you can turn to, from simply wanting to know more to framing a PhD thesis!
In case you missed them:
If You Like Anne of Green Gables, You Should Read…
L.M. Montgomery Institute
As one might expect, the L.M. Montgomery Institute is based in PEI, at the Robertson Library (University of Prince Edward Island). “The LMMI honours Montgomery’s achievements and provides a dynamic research centre focused on her life and works”, so there tend to be several different projects ongoing at any given moment. When you have a few moments, I would absolutely read through the Institute’s history and everything they’ve done here; they have had an incredible range of different projects.
However, what I love most about the LMMI is how accessible and easy to use everything is. As far as LM Montgomery resources, it reigns supreme. You don’t have to pay a fee, you don’t need a university log-in, you can just start exploring all of their collections. One of my favourite collections is “Annes of the World”, where you can see a map of all of the different Anne translations. Even if you want nothing to do with scholarly pursuits, a lot of their collections are simply just interesting to anyone who loves her works! It’s also a great place to learn more about her life and her works.
And if you are really keen, there is a biannual conference that anyone can attend at UPEI! (I hope to attend one day- every LMM scholar I’ve interacted with has been incredibly kind and open, and I think it would make for the most marvelous conference.)
Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies
Before you read any journal, I would always recommend reading the About page, to get an idea of what the editors are working towards. You can find the Journal’s About page here– and it shows how wide-ranging it is:
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies is the only journal dedicated to L.M. Montgomery (1874–1942). One of the world’s most enduring writers, Montgomery is the author of Anne of Green Gables, among nineteen other novels, as well as hundreds of short stories and poems. She also composed letters, journals, and scrapbooks. The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies is a refereed, open-access digital space. Its mandate is to publish intriguing, highly original, rigorously researched scholarship on all aspects of L.M. Montgomery’s life, influences, creative work, and legacy. The journal’s scope is interdisciplinary and international. The journal is aimed at Montgomery scholars and the broad community of Montgomery enthusiasts. The journal is the official scholarly publication of the L.M. Montgomery Institute (LMMI) at the University of Prince Edward Island. The L.M. Montgomery Institute Management Committee establishes the journal’s focus and scope and appoints the editorial board.
This journal differs from many other scholarly journals, as it does accept some non-peer-reviewed items.
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies includes different publication types. Peer-reviewed scholarship includes scholarly articles, audio/visual art, and creative writing. Non-peer-reviewed scholarship includes interviews, presentations, notes, and notices. The journal welcomes submissions of other publication types; with adequate scholarly contextualization, items normally not peer reviewed (for example, interviews or presentations) could undergo peer review at the editors’ discretion.
Maudcast
Okay, I fully admit that I have a podcast problem, and listening to 2-4 episodes of podcasts a day is a little much. However, the Maudcast is truly one of my all-time favourites already. Dr. Brenton Dickieson hosts the podcast with a plethora of fascinating and friendly guests discussing their favourite aspects of Montgomery’s life and works. (It has the perfect relaxing vibe- I often save new episodes for the weekend when I can wander in the yard with my dog and enjoy it in the sun.) I was always interested in learning more about all of the translations, and I loved the episode on Nordic translations- a great way to dip your toes into a topic!
The production quality is fantastic, there is a wide range of guests, and should be available on all major podcast networks (that I’ve checked). Also, just to plug for it: if ratings are available on your podcast network, leave them a rating!
Your L.M. Montgomery Story
This project gets exactly to the heart of what I love about L.M. Montgomery- we all have our own relationship with her and her books. If you have read or watched any Montgomery books, or adaptations, please go and submit your “origin story” the L.M. Montgomery Story project! (And yes, I have already done it…) As a scholar who works with a lot of anecdotal sources, projects like these can be so valuable. There is no right or wrong story- go submit now! (Also, Kate Scarth is also incredibly friendly, and I’m sure she would be happy to answer any of your questions and comments.)
♠
Are you a fan of L.M. Montgomery’s world? Whether it’s the irrepressible Anne, the writerly Emily, the gorgeous landscapes within The Blue Castle and The Story Girl, one of the many stage or screen adaptations of Montgomery’s work, or something else entirely, we want to hear from you!
Please help current and future scholars study the international appeal of L.M. Montgomery and her work by answering a few questions about yourself and your love of LMM’s world. You can even share the “origin story” [https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/reading/frever] of how you discovered the world of L.M. Montgomery in the first place!
Visit http://yourlmmstory.com for more information and to share your story (age over-18 only, though parents/guardians can share a LMM story with or on behalf of their children).
The World of L.M. Montgomery & Her Fans – Learn more about sharing Your L.M. Montgomery Story
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
@yourlmmstory
#yourlmmstory
Project Coordinators:
Trinna S. Frever
http://trinnafrever.com / @trinna_writes
Kate Scarth
http://katescarth.com / @katescarth
What are your favourite LM Montgomery resources? Have you visited any of these?
Cheers,
The Historian
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