Keynote Speakers:
Warwick Anderson - University of Wisconsin
Patricia Grimshaw - University of Melbourne
Lillian Holt - University of Melbourne
Marilyn Lake - La Trobe University
Vera Mackie - University of Melbourne
Louise Newman - University of Florida
Angela Woollacott - Macquarie University

While studies of whiteness have proliferated across numerous disciplines, there has not, to date, been a major conference focusing specifically on the intersections between whiteness studies and history. This conference thus aims to bring together scholars interested in teasing out the potential of this field for historians. We invite submissions of papers related to the broad theme of ‘Historicising Whiteness’.

We envision the conference traversing a variety of theoretical concepts, countries, periods and methodologies. How does examining constructions whiteness offer new insights into the past? How does it relate/compare/contrast with other scholarship on issues of race? Does it simply re-inscribe white people at the centre of historical narratives? Or do we need to understand whiteness in order to fully understand racialisation? What about other forms of racialised power relations, for example in Asia? Possible themes of the conference might include:

Whiteness and scientific/medical discourse
Whiteness and the law
Popular understandings of whiteness
Gender and Whiteness
Looking towards Asia
White places, white spaces

Conference convenors: Dr Katherine Ellinghaus and Dr Jane Carey

The conference will be hosted by the Department of History, University of Melbourne with support from the Australian Centre. The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2006.

Please send 250 word abstracts, along with a brief CV, to:
Leigh Boucher: lboucher@unimelb.edu.au

Proposals for panels of up to three speakers are also most welcome.

Updated information on the conference will soon be available through the Department of History, University of Melbourne website: http://www.history.unimelb.edu.au/