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The 14th Berkshire Conference on the History of Women, "Continuities and Changes" will be held June 12-15, 2008, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, USA. The theme points us to perennial historical issues in two ways. First, after the past forty years of pathbreaking and creative scholarship, is women's history characterized by deep continuities over the very long term, or can we identify sharp turning points? What are the appropriate markers for change in women's history? Is a traditional timeline of history, periodized by political regimes and cultural revolutions, useful for understanding women's lives? Or should women's historians propose a new periodization for human history? A second dimension of our theme looks to the continuities and changes of our interpretations of women's history: how has the field changed? What (if any) have been persistent themes, issues or interpretations? How has interdisciplinary scholarship shaped women’s history, and how has women’s history contributed to discussions in other fields? What issues, challenges, and opportunities are posed by public history or classroom (at any level) audiences?
The Program Committee welcomes proposals from scholars who attempt to evaluate their research in light of these broader questions. We encourage submissions in all historical fields, geographical and temporal: our theme will best be addressed by ensuring our conversation covers the widest possible intellectual territory. We also welcome submissions that address sources and methodology, and panels that are broadly comparative in both time and place. We invite proposals for a variety of formats: two-paper or three-paper panels, roundtables, and workshops, as well as applications to participate in seminars. Individual paper proposals are also accepted. Funding may be available for some international panelists.
Types of Session:
Panel: two or three papers of no more than 20 minutes each, chair, and discussant.
Roundtable: Four to seven participants, brief presentations, with a focus on collegial discussion within the group and between the group and the audience.
Workshop: Four to seven people, pre-circulated papers, posted on web apply as group to participate in a discussion of their work. Papers will be posted in PDF format on a secure website open only to conference registrants.
Seminar: Seminars will be led by senior scholars, with up to twelve participants. Applicants will be asked at this time to submit a one paragraph abstract; those who are accepted will submit a paper of no more than 20 pages by April 15, 2008. Papers will be posted in PDF format on a secure website, to which only to conference participans will have access. Participants will be expected to read all the papers for their session in order to participate fully in the discussion. The purpose of the seminars is to allow participants the opportunity to engage in serious consideration of a topic in the companionship of others with major scholars, and preparation is vital. The sessions will last two and a half hours, and will take place on Sunday morning. Other conference participants may attend the sessions, and will have access to the papers as well.
Proposal submission:
Proposals, for individual papers, full panels, roundtables or workshops, or for participation in the workshops and seminars, will be submitted online at http://berks.pop.umn.edu/berkshire.jsp
It will be helpful to put the information for the proposal together in a word processing file before beginning the online submission process, although you can resume the process if you have to interrupt your work. The following is required for proposals.
For each participant
1. Name
2. Contact information, including surface mail, e-mail, and telephone
3. Institutional affiliation, if applicable
4. Five relevant publications or presentations
5. Title and Abstract of proposed paper or presentation, if applicable
For Panels:
1. Title of panel, roundtable or workshop
2. Rationale for panel, roundtable or workshop.
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