In “What’s in a Date? Temporalities of Early American Literature,” Sandra M. Gustafson considers the interpretive and pedagogical considerations involved in dividing American literary history at four different points: 1789, 1800, 1820, and 1830. Each date corresponds to certain conventions and resources in the field, and they produce different and sometimes conflicting literary historical narratives. Gustafson also reflects on topics including transnationalism and multilingualism emerging in the field.