We invite proposals for papers for this international conference to explore work in progress, theoretical perspectives, and needs and opportunities for research in the broad area of the history of records, record-keeping, and archives.

We encourage submission of proposals treating any topic in any time frame in any geographical area within the broad scope of the conference theme. Within this broad scope, we have identified four categories in which proposals could be located:

1. The nature of records and documents-including historical and social aspects of specific types of records and documents, both public and private, organisational and personal.
2. The nature of record-keeping-including historical and social aspects of organisational and personal record-keeping practices, ecologies, and technologies.
3. Cross cultural perspectives on the nature of records and record-keeping.
4. Sources, methods, theories, and philosophies for research in the areas identified above.

Proposals for papers should be made in the form of abstracts of 750 words. Individuals submitting abstracts should indicate which of the four general groupings their paper would best fit, although we encourage submissions that may not seem to fit these areas.

We anticipate that selected papers from the conference, submitted for peer review, will be published in a volume after the conference.

Please submit proposals as an RTF e-mail attachment to Professor Barbara L. Craig, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto

The deadline for submission of proposal is December 15, 2002.

The organising committee will meet in early February to finalise the draft programme. Proposers may expect to hear from us no later than 15 March 2003.

Barbara L. Craig, University of Toronto
Philip B. Eppard, University at Albany, State University of New York
Heather MacNeil, University of British Columbia