Annual Meeting

The Society for Historians of the Early American Republic invites your proposals to present at our 48th annual meeting, to be held in Richmond, Virginia, on July 15-18, 2027.

The Program Committee invites proposals for sessions and papers exploring all aspects of and approaches to the history and culture of an expansive early American republic, its transnational connections, and Native nations. We expect to feature pathbreaking research into the early American republic that offers approaches both old and new and broadens conversations through interdisciplinary explorations, public engagements, and new media experimentation. 

SHEAR is committed to involving as many voices as possible as we explore the history of the early republic in all of its depth and breadth. To better understand the fullness of the past, we are eager to welcome new perspectives, especially those that have been historically underrepresented within the organization. Potential panelists should include a statement about how the panel furthers this SHEAR commitment. All conference participants must abide by SHEAR’s Statement of Values. The Program Committee prioritizes proposals for complete panels including a chair and commentator, but individual paper proposals are also welcome. The committee will consider proposals for traditional panels (3-4 papers plus chair and comment), roundtables (4-5 presenters plus chair/moderator), or other creative formats. In select cases, the committee may choose to alter or rearrange proposed panels and participants. Refer to the guidance available as you prepare your proposal. If you are looking to form a panel or would like to offer to chair or comment on a panel, please connect with others here.

All submissions should be filed as a single document (Word doc preferred), labeled with the first initial and surname of the contact person (e.g., “SmithJ2027”). All proposals must include:

• Panel title, one-paragraph description of panel topic, and one-paragraph panel diversity statement
• Email addresses and institutional affiliations (if applicable) for all participants
• Title and 100-word abstract for each paper
• One-page curriculum vitae for each participant, including chairs and commentators
• Indication of any needs for ADA accommodation
• Indication of any audio-visual requests (please request only if A/V is essential to a presentation as it is very expensive)

The deadline for submission is December 1, 2026. Please submit your proposals via this website (link available in late August) by uploading your materials to the SHEAR database. Please note you must create an account in that database if you do not already have one but there is no charge for doing so. 

Program Committee

• Lauren Duval, University of Oklahoma, co-chair
• Jonathan Gienapp, Stanford University, co-chair
• Samantha Seeley, University of Richmond, co-chair
• Tanner Allread, UCLA
• Lindsay Chervinsky, George Washington Presidential Library
• Christa Dierksheide, University of Virginia
• Justene Hill Edwards, University of Virginia
• Maeve Kane, University at Albany
• Martha King, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson
• Anna O. Law, Brooklyn College
• Whitney Martinko, Villanova University
• Adam McNeil, University of Notre Dame
• Rachel Shelden, Penn State University
• Cameron Strang, University of Nevada, Reno
• Anne Twitty, Stanford University
• Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai, Massachusetts Historical Society
• Helena Yoo Roth, McNeil Center for Early American Studies