Call for Papers for Virginia Forum: "Crossroads"
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by Kristen Marino

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Type:
Call for Papers
Date:
November 15, 2022
Location:
West Virginia, United States
Subject Fields:
African American History / Studies, American History / Studies,
Archaeology, Cultural History / Studies, Local History

We are pleased to announce that the Virginia Forum will hold its eighteenth
annual conference March 16-18, 2023, at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown,
West Virginia. This year’s theme is “Crossroads.” Nestled on the banks of
Potomac River, Shepherdstown has been a geographical and cultural
crossroads for centuries. First Peoples utilized a nearby ford, now named
Packhorse or Boteler’s Ford, on trading paths. White settlers later used
the water passage as part of the Philadelphia Road. Enslaved Blacks passed
through the area throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries on
journeys of freedom, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia played a
critical role in the long civil rights movement. Both the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cut through the region
making it a transportation and shipping corridor. And in the middle of the
American Civil War, the area not only witnessed numerous armies launching
invasions or desperately retreating, but also saw the creation of West
Virginia in 1863—the result of longstanding cultural differences and
political fights. Indeed, 2023 will mark the 160th anniversary of West
Virginia statehood.

The Virginia Forum is an interdisciplinary conference and welcomes work in
a variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, anthropology,
archaeology, economics, education, environmental studies, geography,
history, law, literature, and politics. Each year the conference encourages
proposals from and ultimately brings together academics, applied and public
historians, archivists, historic site interpreters, librarians, museum
professionals, teachers, writers, and others engaged in the study and
interpretation of Virginia history and culture. Throughout the weekend
presenters and guests will share their knowledge, research, and
experiences. The Virginia Forum welcomes a variety of presentation formats
including complete panel sessions, demonstrations, roundtables, workshops,
etc.

During the conference regional public historians will be offering tours of
nearby Civil War battlefields (Antietam and Shepherdstown) and historic
Harpers Ferry (the site of John Brown’s 1859 raid, Storer College, and the
1906 Niagara Movement). Moreover, the C&O Canal’s towpath (184.5 miles from
point-to-point) affords ample opportunities for hiking, biking, and
running, while numerous local outfitters offer kayaking and white-water
rafting on the Potomac River. “Historians on Tap” will open the event.

While the theme is intended to inspire proposals, it should not restrict
ideas or submissions outside of its folds. Potential topics might address:

   - freedom and slavery
   - geographical, political, or cultural liminality
   - canals, railroads, roads, and related transportation infrastructure
   - emigration, immigration, or migration
   - social and political change
   - the long civil rights movement
   - Civil War/Reconstruction
   - vast early America

Proposals are due by November 15, 2022

For Panels: Proposals for complete panel sessions, workshops, etc. are
encouraged. Submissions should include: 1) a one-page description of the
overall session; 2) a separate, one-to-two paragraph description for each
individual presentation in the session; and 3) a curriculum vitae or resume
for each panel member, including the moderator, not to exceed three pages
in length. Please combine the information in a single Word/pdf document,
and please be sure to include the email address and other contact
information for the panel’s primary organizer.

For Those Interested in Moderating a Session: Please submit a brief
description of your area(s) of interest/specialization and a one-page
curriculum vitae or resume with up-to-date contact information in a single
Word/pdf document.

Contact Information:
Dr. James J. Broomall, Associate Professor History and Director of the
George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, Shepherd
University and 2023 Virginia Forum Program Committee Chair

Program Committee:
Dr. Cicero Fain III, Visiting Diversity Scholar at Marshall University
Kate E. Gruber, Acting Director of Curatorial Services and Special Exhibits
Curator, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Beth Parnicza, public historian
Dr. Joe Rizzo, executive director of Wilton House Museum
Dr. Nadine Zimmerli, editor of History and Politics at the University of
Virginia Press
Contact Info:

Dr. James J. Broomall, Associate Professor History and Director of the
George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, Shepherd
University and 2023 Virginia Forum Program Committee Chair
Contact Email:
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URL:
https://www.virginiaforum2022.com/

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