Purpose of the Forum: This symposium provides graduate students and other emerging scholars with a venue for interdisciplinary dialogue on material culture. By freeing participants of chronological and topical restraints, the symposium encourages discussion across perceived boundaries of time, space and discipline. We invite scholars from American Studies, Art and Design History, Architecture, Anthropology, English, History, Consumer Studies, and other fields to share their research and explore new avenues of interpretation and critical thinking in the field of material culture studies. We seek papers that are grounded in the study of objects but that address multidisciplinary themes. We also welcome papers that take a primarily theoretical approach and evaluate critical themes in the field such as the very nature of materiality. Past papers have ranged in topic from objects in early American gift exchange, to early twentieth-century French cosmetics packaging, to contemporary African American funeral programs.

Format: Nine presenters will give twenty-minute papers in panels of three speakers each. There will be two morning sessions and one afternoon session, each followed by comments by established scholars in the field and a discussion period. Over the course of the day, participants will have opportunities to tour Winterthur's library and its unparalleled collection of early American decorative arts.

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. Papers should not have been published at the time of the conference. Send your proposal, along with a current c.v. (no more than two pages), to emerging.scholars@gmail.com

Deadline: Proposals must be received by November 13th, 2006. Speakers will be notified of the vetting committee's decision by early January 2007. Upon notification, speakers will be asked to provide conference organizers with digital images for use in publicity. Speakers will need to submit a final draft of their papers by February 26, 2007 so that commentators may have ample time to review them prior to the symposium.

Sponsors: The symposium is co-sponsored by the Center for Material Culture Studies and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. CMCS is an umbrella entity that comprises the allied programs in material cultureat the University of Delaware. These include the Black American Studies Program, Center for Historic Architecture and Design, History of American Civilization Program, Museum Studies Program, Visual Communications Group and Winterthur Program in Early American Culture, as well as the University Gallery and related departments, such as Anthropology, Art History, Art Conservation, Consumer Studies, English and History. Winterthur maintains the nation's premier collection of early American decorative arts and is an important catalyst for American material culture scholarship through its journal, Winterthur Portfolio, its publications, and the funding of original research through its fellowship program.

Website: http://materialculture.udel.edu Check it often for updates during the year!