The Conference Committee of the Annual Conference on D.C. History invites presentations on all topics relating to the history of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., and the federal government. The 2016 Conference focuses on the following five areas:
- 225th Anniversary of Washington, D.C.
- Culture of everyday life
- Immigrant Communities and Diaspora of and/or in the District
- Local politics and social movements
- Neighborhood history
The Conference began as a collaborative effort by The George Washington University, the D.C. Public Library, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Its mission has remained constant: to provide a friendly and rigorous forum for discussing and promoting original research in the history of local Washington, D.C., and its metropolitan area.
Featured sessions are the Plenary Session on the status of D.C. Historical Studies and the Letitia Wood Brown Memorial Lecture honoring the memory of this pioneering scholar of D.C. history.
All submissions are evaluated for suitability and scholarship by the Conference Committee.
The submission deadline for panels and individual papers is May 31, 2016. The results of the evaluation will be sent in early July. Film, tour, author talk, and practical workshop submissions are due August 31, 2016. The deadline for History Network participation is October 19, 2016.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS: The committee gives precedence to pre-formed panels presenting three or four papers, but individual papers will be considered as well. Submissions that propose innovative formats and that engage questions of teaching and learning are welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to try out your ideas at this lively consideration of all things D.C.
FILMS, WALKS AND WORKSHOPS: Producers of new films (completed or in process) are invited to present to the conference. The committee welcomes guided walking and bus tours. Conference-goers, both scholars and interested members of the public, enjoy practical workshops on research methods or the preservation of historical materials.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: The Conference presents facilitated, audience-participation conversations with at least two lead speakers or moderators. Discussants will engage audience members to elicit memories, interactions, and views on current events that are affecting their neighborhoods.
AUTHOR TALKS AND SIGNINGS: Authors of new books are invited to take part in a rapid-fire, round robin in which they will have 15 minutes to sell the audience on buying their books. Organizations and individuals are also invited to take part in the History Network, when history-related organizations and vendors display materials explaining their activities and services. Please note: anyone offering products for sale must be equipped to handle those transactions without the support of Conference staff.
CONFERENCE FORMAT: Moderated panels take place on Friday and Saturday and last one hour and 15 minutes. Typically three speakers each take 20 minutes to present their research, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion with audience participation. The literal reading of papers is strongly discouraged. Illustrative slide shows are strongly encouraged.
For more information on submissions and the conference, click here.