ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2027 will take place August 25–28 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting will be held in person, bringing together archivists and allied professionals from across the country and around the world to connect, share knowledge, and explore the opportunities and challenges facing our profession.
Archivists have always done our best work together. We share expertise, lend a hand across institutions, and build what no single repository could build alone. Our work reaches well beyond the reading room: We help society remember its history, account for itself, and imagine what comes next. As our profession faces real challenges, community matters more than ever. The SAA Annual Meeting is a chance to gather, learn from one another, and look ahead with purpose and optimism.
The SAA Program Committee seeks perspectives from across our profession that focus on how we are doing our work today and preparing for tomorrow. The conference theme—Archives and Archivists in the Here and Now—encourages proposals that demonstrate our work and who we are as professionals. What does it mean to be an archivist in 2027? What work are we continuing to prioritize? What work might be left behind? How are we doing more (or perhaps less) with less? Overall, we seek proposals exploring how archival professionals engage with broader social issues, highlighting our roles as community advocates, defenders of historical memory, active champions, and catalysts for positive change. Among other topics, proposals might consider:
- Managing and overcoming archival debt;
- Day-to-day work of reference, processing, and outreach;
- Preserving and providing access to at-risk formats and electronic records;
- Burnout and self-care in times where respite seems unattainable;
- Supporting professional growth and leadership;
- AI tools and technologies, including practical application and impacts on archival work;
- Navigating uncertainty and financial austerity, such as through collaboration, efficiencies, and fundraising; and
- New and innovative projects and leveraging collaboration with other entities.
We welcome proposals on other topics related to archives and archival work, and we invite voices from every career stage and every kind of repository, as well as students, allied professionals, and the communities whose stories we hold in trust.
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We expect program sessions to reflect SAA’s commitments to a diverse and inclusive program and profession. Each session should include individuals and/or organizations with varied personal and professional experiences, perspectives, and identities.
The Program Committee invites proposals for panel presentations, professional poster presentations, lightning talks, and mix and match talks. Proposals for alternative formats are also welcome. See frequently asked questions (FAQs): www2.archivists.org/am2027/program/calls/….
The submission form will be available by early December. Proposals are due Tuesday, December 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
For additional guidelines and information, visit https://www2.archivists.org/am2027/program/calls/program-proposals