The Southwest Oral History Association invites proposals for papers/presentations at its 2008 annual meeting to be held April 18-20, 2008 in Tempe, Arizona. Paper topics and sessions may deal with any aspect of oral history work including interviewing, processing, digital and archival collection methods, and use of oral histories in a variety of formats such as publications, exhibits, films, and readers’ theatre.

We encourage submissions from the Southwestern states represented in our organization: Arizona, California, Nevada and New Mexico, as well as those outside the area researching southwestern topics using oral history methodology. The program committee invites proposals from oral history practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines, settings and communities from academic and community scholars, museums, historical societies, libraries, teachers and independent researchers. We hope for a variety of presentations representing oral history work being conducted through traditional methods, classroom and community programs. We would especially like to see proposals describing long-term and ongoing projects in the Southwest.

General Information:

Submission copies: All applicants must submit 5 copies of their proposal.
Time segments: Generally plan for 90 minute sessions with 5-10 minutes for introductions, 15-20 minutes for each presentation depending on number of participants, and 20-30 minutes for comments and discussion.
Submission descriptions: Include title and up to one page description of presentation
Resumes or CVs: Include up to one page
Contact Information: Include name, address, affiliation (if any), phones, and email
Registration: All participants must register and pay the registration fees. A few scholarships and awards are available. Check the web site at southwestoralhistory.org
Panel Submissions: Submit a panel title, and titles of the individual papers. We suggest limiting presentations to three plus the moderator and/or commentator.
Roundtable Submissions: Submit a panel title; up to a one page description of the panel discussion, and topics of individual presenters. Roundtables usually include 3-5 presenters, and a moderator/or commentator.

Single paper/presentations may be submitted. The program committee will compose sessions under shared themes for individual papers/presentations.

Creative Non-traditional proposals: These may involve music, drama or readers’ theatre or other creative means of presenting oral histories.

Equipment Needs: SOHA will try to accommodate equipment requests.

Postmark Deadline: November 1, 2007

Mail 5 copies to:

Mary Melcher
2235 E. Taxidea Way
Phoenix, Arizona 85048

If you have questions, call Sarah Moorhead, Conference Chair at: 480-962-6227