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THE SOCIETY OF CIVIL WAR HISTORIANS

Ninth Biennial Conference 

– CALL FOR PROPOSALS –

 

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. The SCWH welcomes proposals that speak to any thematic aspect of the Civil War era, defined broadly as the early Antebellum period through Reconstruction and its aftermath. We are also interested in work that considers the challenges facing the practice and teaching of Civil War era history in our present moment. We hope to bring together academic historians, graduate students, independent scholars, and professionals who interpret history in museums, national parks, archives, and other public history sites.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is September 15, 2025.  Proposals should be submitted online through the submission portal. Although non-members may submit proposals, participants must be members of the SCWH at the time of the conference. Visit our website for membership information.

To ensure coherence, complete panel submissions will be prioritized. Full panel proposals should include a title and overview (approximately 250-300 words), a one-paragraph abstract of each paper, and a one-paragraph biography and email address for each participant. They also should include a chair and a commentator. Proposals for roundtables should include a title and overview, along with one-paragraph biographies and email addresses for all participants. In keeping with the Society’s commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek panels and roundtables that include participants of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and varying levels of professional rank. We also welcome panels that include diversity of thought, including interdisciplinary approaches. 

While single-paper proposals will be considered, they may have difficulty finding a place in the program. Proposals for single papers should include a title, a one-paragraph abstract, a one-paragraph biography, and an email address.

To facilitate the creation of dynamic panels and to help find co-panelists, the SCWH is pleased to provide this online panel builder. We encourage those with single papers or those looking to fill out a complete panel proposal to build relationships with other scholars using this resource. 

Due to the excessively high costs of providing computers and projectors, technology will not be available for panels.

Direct queries to the program committee chair, Michael Bernath, at [email protected].

Program Committee:

  • Michael Bernath, University of Miami (chair)
  • Judith Giesberg, Villanova University
  • Maria Angela Diaz, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Erin Mauldin, University of South Florida
  • Joseph Beilein, Penn State University Behrend
  • Robert Colby, University of Mississippi