Oral History

CFP: OHA Annual Meeting, Little Rock, Fall 2006

From: Tracy E K'Meyer,

The organizers of the conference are particularly interested in papers related to labor activism in the modern period (any geographic area)

Call for Papers

2006 OHA Annual Meeting
October 25-29, 2006-Little Rock, Arkansas
Generational Links: Confronting the Past, Understanding the Present, Planning the Future

The Oral History Association invites proposals for papers and presentations for its 2006 annual meeting to be held October 25-28, 2006 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas. As always, the Program Committee of the OHA welcomes proposals for presentations on a variety of topics. However, in keeping with this year's theme: "Generational Links: Confronting the Past, Understanding the Present, Planning the Future," the 2006 Annual Meeting will focus special attention on oral history work with groups and individuals who risked their lives to confront injustice in its many forms, institutions and organizations, which promote understanding and oral history projects, which encourage a just and diverse future.

Presentations may deal with school desegregation after Brown, the civil rights movement, Japanese Internment, the military, regional and southern histories, women and men of conscience who promoted freedom and resisted oppression and the dynamism of "the New South." We anticipate that the stories of political activists and civil rights workers, labor organizers and "freedom riders," radical reformers and social protestors for various causes will be an important part of the meeting. Histories of communities and families are often sagas of failure and triumph. Thus, this meeting's emphasis on "Generational links" will provide an important way to confront, understand and plan for a better future, free of the horrors and intolerance of yesterday. Presentations based on interviews with individuals and groups, which focus on intergenerational activities and actions, are especially welcome. Because oral history often relies on interviews with elderly persons, presentations on the relationship between "hindsight and insight" are encouraged. Regional historians and students of Southern, Mississippi River, and Amerindian and Arkansas history are encouraged to submit proposals. In addition to those whose work concerns international topics, the committee invites proposals for presentations that reflect on the process of oral history and the role of theory in its practice. A variety of formats and presentation methods are welcome, including traditional panels with chair and discussant, workshops, and poster sessions, as well as media and performance-oriented sessions. The committee particularly hopes to build the program around presentations in which the audience may hear or see the actual voices and actions, which link the past, present and future.

Proposal format: submit five copies of the proposal. For full sessions, submit a title, a session abstract of not more than two pages, and a one-page vita or resume for each participant. For individual proposals, submit a one-page abstract and a one-page vita or resume of the presenter. Each submission must be accompanied by a cover sheet, which can be printed from the OHA Web site: www.dickinson.edu/oha.Proposals should be postmarked by January 31, 2006. They may be submitted by mail or fax. No e-mail attachments will be accepted.

Submit proposal directly to the OHA office at the address below.

Queries may be directed to:
Alphine Jefferson, First Vice President

330- 263-2455
Tracy E. K' Meyer, Program Chair

(502) 852-6817
Allan Stein, Program Co-chair

Proposals should be sent by January 31, 2006, to:
Madelyn Campbell
Oral History Association
Dickinson College
P. O. Box 1773
Carlisle, PA 17013
Telephone (717) 245-1036
Fax: (717) 245-1046
For courier service add: Holland Union Building, College and Louther Streets