The Virginia Forum is excited to share its Call for Papers for the 21st Forum at Old Dominion University
“Departures and Destinations”
We are pleased to announce that the Virginia Forum’s 21st annual conference will be held on March 11-13, 2027, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The main theme for the 2027 meeting is “Departures and Destinations,” which is designed to welcome scholarship and spark conversations about the many ways Virginians have had their lives and experiences transformed by the comings and goings of diverse peoples over the centuries. Indeed, nearly every generation has been influenced by newcomers who arrived in Virginia as well as by those who departed. This theme invites broad explorations of topics such as immigration into and emigration out of the province/state, the development of transportation networks, including turnpikes and the railroads, and the evolution of Virginia’s trade and commerce (including both the Transatlantic and Domestic Slave Trades).
The Virginia Forum is delighted that the 2027 meeting will be held for the first time at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. The city is located on and near some of Virginia’s great waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads and several of our history’s most renowned rivers. Not only have such waterways been crucial to Virginia’s maritime history, but Norfolk itself has served as a central hub for the arrival of enormous numbers of people. In the early 17th century, indigenous peoples, such as the Chesapeakes, Nansemonds and other Algonquian-speaking groups, dominated the region. Beginning in 1607, though, Hampton Roads was transformed by the arrival of thousands of English settlers, initiating an extended period of conflict with Powhatan’s paramount chiefdom, Tsenacomoco, followed by the latter’s displacement.
The region also witnessed the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English North American settlements. Every century thereafter has witnessed equally important transformations guided by migration in and out of greater Virginia. In the 20th century, for instance, Norfolk/Hampton Roads served as the departure point for hundreds of thousands of U.S. servicemen on their way to fight overseas in World Wars I and II. After these conflicts ended, the region was then the destination point for nearly a million returning military personnel.
The 2027 theme is meant to inspire proposals but will not be the conference’s exclusive focus. The Virginia Forum is, and always has been, interdisciplinary in nature. Therefore, we welcome presentations on all aspects of Virginia’s history and culture, including, but not limited to, anthropology, archaeology, economics, education/teaching, environmental studies, geography, history, law, literature, and politics. Customary panel and paper proposals on all such topics are invited, as are ones for creative presentation formats such as poster sessions, roundtables, workshops, demonstrations, etc. Submissions might also consider how we “do” Virginia history. In other words, how should we incorporate our examination of our past with our current historical present, especially given the nation’s ongoing semi-quincentennial commemorations. Should we, for instance, revamp our methods, narratives, and relationship with the past? And, if so, how? We encourage proposals from undergraduate and graduate students, academics, applied and public historians, archivists, historic site interpreters, librarians, museum professionals, teachers, writers, independent scholars, and others engaged in the study and interpretation of the history and culture of greater Virginia.
Because our theme is intended to inspire and not restrict proposals, other potential topics might address any number of important themes in Virginia history, including those on:
- Indigenous Peoples
- Settler Colonists
- Vast Early America
- Revolutions, Rebellions, and Resistance
- Freedom, Enslavement, and Unfreedom
- Civil War / Reconstruction
- Servicepeople, Citizen-Soldiers, and Veterans
- Military Installations & Communities
- Disenfranchisement and Jim Crow
- Memory and Heritage
- Activism and Protest
- The Long Civil Rights Movement
- Disability Studies
- Migration/Emigration/Immigration
- Political Centers/Peripheries
- Urban/Rural Communities and Identities
- Food Cultures and Foodways
- Gender & Sexuality
- Social Status and Class/Labor Histories
- Artistic Expression and Self-Representation
- Sports Histories
- Geographical, Political, or Cultural Liminality
- Marginalized and Underrepresented Communities
- Medicine, Health, Ability, and Disability
- Scientific Innovations and Histories of Technology
- Environmental Histories and Environmentalism
- History of Disasters
- Recreating Virginians within the Public Sphere
- Education and Academic Freedom
- Teaching about Virginia
The Virginia Forum is an in-person conference; therefore, all panelists are expected to present their papers in person.
Contact Email for Questions and Submissions:
vaforumconfproposals@gmail.com
For Panels: Proposals for complete panel sessions, workshops, roundtables, 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 one page each in length. Please combine this information into a single Word/pdf document (named after the principal organizer), which also must include the email address and contact information of the panel’s primary organizer.
For Individual Submissions: Individual paper or poster proposals will also be accepted. Submissions should include: 1) a one-page description of the intended presentation and 2) a one-page curriculum vitae or resume for the presenter, not to exceed one page in length. Please combine this information into a single Word/pdf document (named after yourself), which must include the presenter’s email address and contact information.
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 (including email address and contact information) in a single Word/pdf document (named after yourself).
The deadline for proposals is October 9, 2026. Submit all materials to
vaforumconfproposals@gmail.com
2027 Program Committee:
Phillip Hamilton (Chair), Christopher Newport University
Mathias Bergmann, Randolph-Macon College
Paul Coyer, Thomas Balch Library
Kate Egner, American Battlefield Trust
Sarah McCartney, The College of William & Mary
Cainan Townsend, Robert R. Moton Museum