“Entrepreneurial Communities”

Business History Conference Annual Meeting
Cleveland, Ohio
June 1-2, 2007

The 2007 annual meeting of the Business History Conference (BHC) will take place Friday and Saturday June 1-2 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western Reserve University.

The theme for the conference is Entrepreneurial Communities, defined broadly in scope and scale. The entrepreneur is often thought of as a lone innovator, but how often does an entrepreneur really act alone? How and when does entrepreneurial activity rely on the input of other inventors, venture capitalists, lawyers, accountants, marketing specialists, government actors, laborers, and others? We are interested in papers that explore the roles of these actors and the broader social context in which entrepreneurial activity takes place. These include, but are not limited to, geographic (local, regional, national, or international), political, economic, social, and cultural (including the roles of race, class, ethnicity, religion, and gender) aspects of entrepreneurial communities. We are interested in papers that consider how firms and other groups (within, between, or outside particular firms), and society as a whole have organized themselves to foster or inhibit entrepreneurial activity. Finally, in keeping with longstanding BHC policy, the committee will also entertain submissions not directly related to the conference theme.

Potential presenters may submit proposals either for individual papers or for entire panels. Individual paper proposals should include a one-page abstract and a one-page curriculum vitae (cv). The abstract should summarize the argument of the paper, the sources on which it is based, and its relationship to existing scholarship. Each panel proposal should include a cover letter stating the rationale for the session, a one-page abstract and author’s cv for each proposed paper (up to three), and a list of preferred chairs and commentators with contact information.

Proposals also are invited for the Herman E. Krooss Prize for the best dissertation in business history. The Krooss Prize Committee welcomes submissions from recent Ph.D.s (2004-7) in history, economics, business administration, history of science and technology, law, and related fields. To participate in this competition, please indicate this in a cover letter, and include a one-page cv and one-page dissertation abstract. Semi-finalists will be asked to submit copies of their dissertation after initial review of proposals. Finalists will present summaries of their dissertations at the Cleveland meeting.

Doctoral candidates who would like to have their dissertations discussed can participate in special dissertations-in-progress sessions. Submit a cover letter to this effect, along with a one-page cv and one-page dissertation abstract, clearly indicating the submission is a dissertation abstract.

BHC also awards the K. Austin Kerr Prize for the best first paper by a Ph.D. candidate or recent Ph.D. (2004-7). If you wish to participate in this competition, please indicate this in your proposal. Proposals accepted for the Krooss Prize panel and the dissertations-in-progress sessions are not eligible for the Kerr Prize.

The deadline for receipt of all proposals is 15 October 2006. Notification of acceptances will be sent by January 2007. Presenters will be expected to submit abstracts of their papers for posting on the BHC website. In addition, presenters are encouraged to post electronic versions of their papers prior to the meeting, and to submit their papers for inclusion in our on-line proceedings publication, Business and Economic History On-Line. The BHC also offers graduate students who are presenting papers grants to offset some of the costs of attending the conference.

Please send all proposals to Dr. Roger Horowitz, Secretary-Treasurer, Business History Conference, P. O. Box 3630, Wilmington, DE 19807, USA. Phone: (302) 658-2400; fax: (302) 655-3188; email: rh@udel.edu.

The program committee consists of Pamela Laird (co-chair), University of Colorado-Denver; Margaret Levenstein (co-chair), University of Michigan; Gary Previts, Case Western Reserve University; Matthias Kipping, York University, Canada; Christine Rosen, University of California, Berkeley; and William J. Hausman (BHC president-elect, 2005-06), College of William & Mary.

The Newcomen Dissertation Colloquium will be held in conjunction with the 2007 BHC annual meeting. This intensive workshop, sponsored by BHC through the generous support of the Newcomen Society of the United States, will take place at the conference venue Wednesday evening, May 30, and Thursday, May 31. Participants will work closely with a small, distinguished group of BHC-affiliated scholars, including at least two of its officers. The assembled scholars and students will review dissertation proposals, consider relevant literatures and research strategies, and discuss the business history profession. Limited to ten students, it is intended for doctoral candidates in the early stages of their dissertation projects. Those interested in participating should submit to Roger Horowitz, BHC Secretary-Treasurer (rh@udel.edu), a statement of interest, a preliminary or final dissertation prospectus, and a cv. Please make clear that you are interested in the Dissertation Colloquium. One recommendation from the dissertation supervisor (or prospective supervisor) should also be faxed (302 655-3188) or emailed to Roger Horowitz by January 15, 2007. The review committee will notify all applicants of its decisions by March 1st. A grant from the Newcomen Society of the United States will provide each participant with a $300US honorarium.