The annual SW/TX PCA/ACA Conference is one of the nation’s largest gatherings of interdisciplinary scholars. The 2008 conference will take place February 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency in vibrant downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, just steps from historic Route 66. Further details about the conference are available at its website, http://www.h-net.org/~swpca

Sessions are now forming for the American History and Culture area of the conference. Email your queries and proposals for individual presentations or full sessions to Area Chair Kelli Shapiro (Dept. of American Civilization, Brown University) at Kelli_Shapiro@brown.edu . Include a 200-word abstract with a working title, as well as contact information and a CV or bio, for each potential presenter. Also, please mention the conference or the American History and Culture area in the email’s subject line. The submission deadline for the area is November 1, 2007.

Professors, independent scholars, teachers, and professionals are encouraged to participate. Graduate students are particularly welcome at the conference, which offers awards for the best graduate papers. Please note that the SW/TX PCA/ACA does not generally accept papers that have been presented elsewhere (unless to a small and/or local audience). Further, it permits only one presentation per person. The conference features numerous individual subject areas, each with its own area chair; therefore, please consult the area list at http://www.h-net.org/~swpca/Areas/areachair_08.htm to determine which area should receive your proposal.

Below are some suggestions for presentation / session topics related to the broad area of American History and Culture. Topics not mentioned here are also welcome for consideration. Each presentation in the American History and Culture area should have a historical focus and should emphasize culture.

* American cultural history in general
* Specific eras / periods in American history
* Public history, collective memory, nostalgia, historic preservation, memorials / monuments, and historical sites
* Consumer culture and advertising
* Leisure, public amusements, travel, and tourism
* Car culture, the American road / roadside America, and Route 66
* Urban studies, architecture, city planning, cultural geography, cultural landscapes
* Local image / identity creation, boosterism, and the marketing of place
* Stardom and celebrity culture
* Radio
* Youth culture / subcultures, children’s culture, etc.
* Visual culture, art, and design