Papers should go beyond describing particular friendships to explore the understandings, opportunities, or experiences that the friendships enable. The conference program committee also seeks submissions that explore how women's friendships have helped them or others to cross barriers constructed by race, ethnicity, or class. Papers might explore historical or literary friendships from any culture or time period. While we encourage papers that examine the complexity of race, ethnicity, or class, submissions may broadly define the divisions crossed to include topics as diverse as colonial borders and disciplinary boundaries.

We also welcome papers that explore pedagogical questions, including how women's friendships can be used in teaching complex issues, or papers that explore methodological or research questions relating to the conference theme. We encourage participation from educators of all levels, as well as from librarians, archivists, or others interested in women's friendships.

Those submitting individual proposals should send a one-page abstract and a one-page c.v. Session proposals should include a description of the session theme, abstracts for each paper, the name of the session chair, and c.v.s for each participant. Individuals and session proposals should include full contact information including name, address, email, and daytime phone for each participant.

Send proposals to: Elizabeth De Wolfe, University of New England, Dept. of History, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005.