The Middle Ground Journal

EXTENDED Call for Proposals – “Rights” in World History 5th Annual Conference of the Midwest World History Association 26-27th September 2014, Governors State University (University Park, Illinois) NEW DEADLINE MAY 16TH!

The Midwest World History Association is happy to announce a call for paper, poster, panel, roundtable, and workshop proposals for its annual conference to be held at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, on September 26th and 27th 2013. The conference theme of “Rights” in World History is intended to bridge the gap that often exists between US history and World History, connecting the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with other struggles to conceptualize, claim, and defend the “rights” of individuals and groups in different societies and at different times. The organizers encourage proposals from K-12 teachers, college faculty, students, and public historians, and especially encourage collaborations between Americanists and world historians. We hope for a variety of sessions that focus on possible lesson plans, research in these areas, archival resources, and other innovative approaches.

The conference will feature a keynote presentation by Juan Gonzales, the award-winning journalist, activist, and historian of Latino rights activism in the United States. Additionally, Professor Robert Smith of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will offer a half-day workshop for teachers on The Civil Rights Movement in Transnational Context. Continuing education credit will be available for K-12 teachers taking the workshop.

The MWWHA offers competitive Graduate Student Awards to offset part of the conference costs. Graduate students interested in applying should include a letter with their conference proposal explaining how the conference helps them with their studies, teaching and/or future career plans.

Please submit a 250-word abstract and a short curriculum vitae via email to the Program Committee Chair, Dr. Nat Godley, at nat.godley@alverno.edu no later than May 16th, 2014. Where a complete panel is proposed, the convener should also include a 250 word abstract of the panel theme. Panelists should plan to spend no more than 20 minutes presenting their paper.
Presenters must register for the conference by September 1st 2014 to be included in the program. We also invite accepted papers to be submitted to our journal, The Middle Ground, for potential publication: http://www2.css.edu/app/depts/his/historyjournal/

Further information about the MWWHA, including membership and conference registration (when it becomes available) can be found on our website: http://mwwha.org/