The Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing (SHARP) formed in 1991 in the United States on the initiative of scholars Jonathan Rose, Simon Eliot, and others.
[1][2] A major conference was held was at the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, July 14-16, 1994, where Center Director, John Y. Cole served as chair of the planning committee.
[3] Over two hundred book historians attended, and eighty-two papers were presented.
[4] Its members study the history of books and the "composition, mediation, reception, survival, and transformation of written communication.
"[5] The group maintains an electronic discussion list (SHARP-L), produces the academic journal Book History (est.