Purpose of the Forum: This symposium provides emerging scholars with a venue for interdisciplinary dialogue centering on material culture. By freeing scholars of chronological and topical restraints, the symposium encourages discussion across perceived boundaries of time, space and discipline. We seek papers that are grounded in the study of a particular object or objects but that address multidisciplinary themes—for example, the Atlantic World, comportment and the body, or texts and contexts. We invite graduate students from American Studies, Art History, Archaeology, English, History, and other departments to reevaluate the field of material culture studies, share their research, and explore new avenues of interpretation and critical thinking.

Format: Nine graduate students will give twenty-minute papers in panels of three speakers each. There will be two morning sessions and one afternoon session, each followed by a discussion period. Discussion leaders this year are Amalia Amaki (Paul Jones Collection, University of Delaware), Paul Reber (Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts), and Kathy Peiss (University of Pennsylvania). Gary Kulik, Deputy Director for Library, Collection Management, and Academic Programs at Winterthur Museum will also invite conference participants to tour Winterthur's library and its unparalleled collection of early American decorative arts. David Shields (University of South Carolina) will conclude the formal presentations with a summary address, after which speakers will have an opportunity to continue their conversation about material culture studies at dinner with the discussants and conference planners.

How to submit your proposal: The proposal, not to exceed one single-spaced page, should clearly indicate both the subject matter of your paper and the interpretive or methodological problems that you intend to address. Preference will be given to papers that promise to generate provocative, productive discussion about issues central to material culture scholarship. Send your proposal, along with a current c.v. (no more than two-pages), to Heather Boyd and Daniel Claro at the e-mail address given below.

Deadline: Proposals must be received by November 8th. Speakers will be notified of the committee's decision by November 24th. Upon notification speakers will be asked to provide conference organizers with images (digital or electronic preferred) by December 12, 2004.

Note: Limited funding for travel assistance may be available, especially for speakers traveling long distances, but lodging for speakers will be provided at local students' homes.