THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL WAR HISTORIANS

Ninth Biennial Conference 

– REGISTRATION OPEN –

The Society of Civil War Historians will host its ninth biennial conference at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, from June 18–20, 2026. It seeks to promote the study of the American Civil War era and to bring innovation to the field by encouraging the integration of cultural, social, military, political, environmental, economic, and public history. While proposals for regular sessions have closed, the call for submissions to the Graduate Student Lightning session is still open. We especially welcome submissions from graduate students seeking feedback on works in progress and those interested in strengthening their professional presentation skills within a supportive scholarly community for a lightning round session at the SCWH's biennial conference on Saturday, June 20 from 1:30-4:45 pm. View the call for proposals here, and proposals are due March 13. 

2026 conference registration is now open! Please remember that everyone who appears in the program must be a member of the SCWH by the time of the conference. If you are not currently a member, you can join the Society using this link before registering for the conference. Register by May 1 to receive the discounted registration rates; after May 1, registration fees increase by $25. On-site registration will be available but payable only by check.

Conference Registration Fees

Please select your registration fee level below. A confirmation screen will indicate the fee you paid and the event(s) for which you registered; you will also receive a separate email with a paid invoice for your registration.

• Member Registration ($150): SCWH members who are not students should select this option.
• Non-Member Full Registration ($175): If you are not a member of the Society (and are not on the program or a student), select this option.
• Non-Member One-Day Registration ($50): Community or Public History adjacent attendees who are attending for one day only should select this option.
• Student Registration ($0): While there is no registration fee, member and non-member undergraduate and graduate students still must register below regardless of whether they are in the program. 

Conference Event Registration

We're pleased to offer the following no-cost receptions and luncheons, which you can RSVP for using the conference registration form. Local tours will be announced at a later date.

Opening Reception: Join us on Thursday, June 18 from 5:00-7:00 pm in the James River Salon CD as we welcome conference attendees to Richmond. The recipients of the Anne J. Bailey Dissertation Prize and the Outstanding Paper by a Graduate Student Prize will be honored at the Opening Reception. Light snacks will be provided and registrants will receive one drink ticket; a cash bar will also be available. 

Professional Development Luncheon--"Publishing Your First Article": Join Robert D. Bland (Associate Editor of the Journal of the Civil War Era & Assistant Prof. of History and Africana Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville), Graham T. Dozier (Managing Editor of Publications and Virginius Dabney Editor of the Virginia Magazine of History & Biography), and Matthew Stanley (Associate Prof. of History, University of Arkansas) for a roundtable Q&A on publishing.

The luncheon will be held in the James River Salon CD from 12:00-1:15 pm on Friday, June 19. Sandwiches (including gluten-friendly and vegan selections), salad, and soup will be provided; if you have additional dietary needs, please email Managing Director, Lindsey Peterson, at [email protected] by June 1. Attendance is limited to the first 30 registrants.  

Meeting People Where They Are: Engaging History and the Public (No RSVP Required): The SCWH Early Career Committee is sponsoring a special off-site session on Friday, June 19 from 3:30-5:00 pm at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Chair, Shae Smith Cox (Texas A&M University) and moderator Chuck Welsko (Kentucky Historical Society) will host a roundtable discussion and Q&A with Joseph S. H. Rogers (Pamela K. Royall Director of Community Partnerships), Emmanuel Dabney (Petersburg National Battlefield), Alison Herring (Independent Researcher), Joseph Rizzo (Loudoun Museum), and James J. Broomall (University of Richmond). This event is free and open to the public. 

Presidential Panel: The Next Forty Years (No RSVP Required): Join us from 5:30-6:30 pm in the James River Salon CD on Friday, June 19 for a special Presidential Panel where we will hear from Robert D. Bland (University of Tennessee, Knoxville), Rachael Nicholas (National Park Service), Sarah Wicksel (American Historical Association), and Anne Marshal (Mississippi State University). 

Graduate Student Connection Committee and Early Career Committee Sponsored Luncheon: Current students and early career scholars (not more than 4 years removed from graduation) are invited to attend the "SCWH: The Next Generation" luncheon. This event aims to foster further connections and dialogue about topics including writing and publishing, successfully completing the stages of graduate study, teaching, career pathways, balancing school and family life, and SCWH membership.

The luncheon will be held in the James River Salon CD from 12:00-1:15 pm on Saturday, June 20. Sandwiches (including gluten-friendly and vegan selections), salad, and soup will be provided; if you have additional dietary needs, please email Managing Director, Lindsey Peterson, at [email protected] by June 1. Attendance is limited to the first 50 registrants.  

Closing Reception: Join us from 5:00-7:00 pm on Saturday, June 20, in the James River Salon CD to celebrate another successful conference and say goodbye to friends and colleagues. Light snacks will be provided and registrants will receive one drink ticket; a cash bar will also be available. 

Conference Schedule At-a-Glance