The document that follows is the fruit of an experiment. To broaden the scope of this issue of PMLA, Heather Dubrow, coordinator of the special topic, suggested that the journal invite a group of academics to meet during the 1994 MLA convention to discuss the status of evidence. The participants, who were chosen to represent a range of specialities and interests, wrote preliminary statements that were circulated in the group before the meeting. Some of the questions raised during the discussion arose from these statements.