CFP: A Polyphony of Emotions: Thinking Affect in Heritage, Memory and Material Culture

The Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture is pleased to share the Call for Papers for the 11th Annual Conference ‘A Polyphony of Emotions: Thinking Affect in Heritage, Memory and Material Culture.’ This conference occurs at the University of Amsterdam on 2, 3 and 4 July 2025. 

Cultural heritage shapes individual and collective emotions, and vice versa. The reciprocal relationship between heritage and emotions is demonstrated by how, in recent years, political, activist and academic debates have reconsidered the importance of affect. No longer relegated merely to the individual and psychological dimension, these debates have come to frame emotions as constituent elements of social experience. Suffice it to consider the use of social fear of a global nuclear war; the imperialist nostalgia of Western countries, which see nationalism and/or populism as the solution to counter globalisation; the emotional polarization with the ongoing wars in Palestine and Ukraine; the resurgence of radical ethno-traditionalist rhetoric all around the world, driven by frustration with open-market globalism, and the manipulation of foreign-state propaganda aimed at exploiting emotions to politically target local populations; the pride or vindictive anger of activists who deface museums, works of art and monuments; heightened emotions in the context of social revolutions and political revolts and (neo)colonial struggle, the emotions connected to the memory and impact of the Pan-Atlantic slave trade and all forms of enslavement of people; or the solastalgia and anxiety caused by the ever-faster crisis of climate change.

These few examples indicate the extent to which emotions and thinking affect can become performative forces, driving actions and therefore building, preserving, destroying heritage and memory. Understanding the role of emotions in heritage sites, memory acts and material culture practices, policies and politics, therefore, is essential to grasp how the past is experienced, contested, romanticized, rejected or silenced across various local, national and transnational levels. In response to the need to better understand these processes, the 11th annual conference of the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (AHM) will be dedicated to the polyphonies of emotions and thinking affect in heritage, memory and material culture studies. By crossing academic, artistic and professional boundaries, the aim of the conference is to investigate how the past can be constituted as a battleground where emotions are designed, weaponized and manipulated to advance political and ideological agendas, or to shape the mobilization of communities. This conference aims to explore the dynamic relationship between heritage and collective emotions, focusing on how emotions affect varied global heritage and memory practices, narratives and policies, and, vice versa, how heritage can serve as a tool for emotional mobilization, resilience and reconciliation.

We welcome abstracts and proposals for papers, panels and roundtables emanating from diverse historical and geographical contexts that engage with (but are not restricted to) the following themes:

  • Theories of emotions and heritage: what theoretical perspectives can illuminate the relationship between heritage, emotion, and conflict, and how can these frameworks deepen our understanding of the emotional dimensions of heritage?
  • Emotions and the politics of heritage and social justice: how do emotions contribute to preserving or challenging dominant and hegemonic heritage narratives? What role do emotions play in (re)shaping research positionalities, resisting cultural and political polarisation or facing systemic oppression and injustice?
  • Emotions and heritage construction: how are emotional narratives intentionally constructed in heritage sites, museums, works of literature, films, and commemorations, with the aim of influencing collective memory and identity?
  • Emotion and collective memory: how do emotional frameworks shape collective memory and the understanding of the past?
  • The weaponization of emotions in conflict: how are emotions strategically manipulated to justify the destruction of cultural heritage or to mobilize communities to defend it?
  • Heritage and collective solidarity: in times of crisis, how do communities utilize heritage to foster emotional resilience, solidarity, and a sense of shared purpose?
  • Methodologies for studying emotions and heritage: what innovative qualitative and quantitative research methods are most effective for analyzing the role of emotion in heritage studies?

Applications

  • A short abstract (max. 250 words)
  • A brief academic biography (including name, affiliation, research interests; max 100 words)

Applications for panels and roundtables

  • A short rationale of the aim of the panel (max. 250 words)
  • A short abstract of each paper to be presented (max. 250 words)
  • A brief academic biography of all presenters (including name, affiliation, research interests; max 100 words)

Proposals can be submitted by 15 March 2025 to ahmannualconference@gmail.com.

About the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (AHM)

The AHM fosters dynamic, interdisciplinary and transnational research on heritage and memory, organizes PhD training, seminars, reading groups, workshops, public debates and international conferences, and stimulates schola. The school brings together researchers working in diverse areas and fields, interconnecting heritage and memory studies, cultural studies, museum studies, archaeology, material culture, art history, media, conservation and restoration, archival studies, digital humanities, postcolonial and performative studies, religious studies, music and theatre studies, conflict and identity studies, Slavonic languages and cultures, Holocaust and genocide studies, European memory studies, Middle Eastern studies, and cultural, public and oral history. For more information about AHM please visit the website: https://ahm.uva.nl/ 

Contact Information

Josien Franken, Conference Assistant. 

Contact Email

ahmannualconference@gmail.com

URL

https://ahm.uva.nl/shared/subsites/amsterdam-institute-for-humanities-research/…

CFP: SAA Records Management Section Colloquium

I am pleased to share a call for proposals for the upcoming SAA Records Management Section Colloquium. This colloquium is a great way to share your records management expertise and connect with your colleagues! We are seeking proposals for short presentations (6-12 minutes) on records management topics. The colloquium will be held virtually and is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 3-4:30 PM ET.

If you are interested in presenting, please complete the following proposal form no later than Friday, February 14, 2025. We will review proposals and notify presenters by the end of February.

The event will be free!

Send any questions or concerns to the section chair, Sophia McGuire, at sophia.mcguire@gahanna.gov.

Please find the form here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/…

Thanks!

SAA RMS Committee

New Issue: Records Management Journal

Records Management Journal 35, no. 1
(subscription)

Preservation and conservation practices adopted for the management of academic board records in Nigerian polytechnics
Saheed Abiola Hamzat, Funke Abosede Ayeni, Jacob Oloruntoba Kutu

Conceptual framework to explore artificial intelligence technology (AIT) readiness and adoption intention in records and information management (RIM) practices: a proposal
Liah Shonhe

Use of records management systems in Tanzania public sector organisations
Josephine Manase, Kelefa Mwantimwa, Tumpe Ndimbwa

Electronic records management amidst the seismic shift in the dynamic infosphere
Mpubane Emanuel Matlala, Thandukwazi Richman Ncube

Insights into the current state of electronic health records adoption and utilisation in Tanzanian public primary healthcare facilities: a survey study
Augustino Mwogosi, Cesilia Mambile

Records management compliance: a case study of Kuwait’s College of Basic Education
Sakena A. Al-Alawi

Call for Panelists: AI in Archival Description

The Description Committee is thrilled to announce a call for panelists for an exciting event: a panel of lightning talks on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in archival description, to be held in Spring 2025.

We’re seeking individuals and/or teams who have explored or implemented AI solutions in their archival workflows. Whether you’ve run experimental projects, tackled quality assurance challenges, or discovered unexpected insights, we’d love for you to share your experiences, lessons, and reflections with the community. We are also interested in hearing how you might have handled the ethical and environmental considerations of integrating generative AI into your work.

Topics might include (but are not limited to):

  • Use cases for AI in archival description
  • Challenges or successes with implementing AI-assisted descriptive workflows
  • Quality assurance processes
  • Findings from experimental projects or pilots
  • Scaling AI descriptive solutions
  • Addressing biases in AI-generated metadata
  • User experiences (both archivists and end-users of AI-assisted description)
  • Techniques for prompt engineering or metadata management using AI tools

Why participate?

  • Share your expertise and contribute to the evolving conversation about AI in archives.
  • Hold an open and nuanced conversation about the challenges of working with AI in archives.
  • Network with peers who are also navigating this transformative technology.
  • Gain visibility for your innovative work.

Interested in joining us as a panelist? Please contact [specific contact person here] at [email address] by [deadline]. We will set a date for the event, to be held on Zoom, once we have our panelists lined up!

We can’t wait to hear your stories and insights! Let’s explore how AI can shape the future of archival description together.

Best,

SAA Description Section Steering Committee

Call for Participation: AI and Scholarly Peer Review

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to request your participation in an online survey on the current state of AI tool use in scholarly peer review. Though the use of AI tools has burgeoned in the past two years, we know exceedingly little about how individuals use these tools for scholarly review, which can have a significant impact on the overall scholarship process, as well as the current structures of editorial boards and academic service.

This research project is being conducted by Principal Investigator Dr. Alex H. Poole, Associate Professor at Drexel University’s Department of Information Science, and Dr. Ashley Todd-Diaz, Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections and University Archives. The questionnaire should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

The survey can be accessed at this link: https://drexel.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5ssGNm8QOknWOW2

Sincerely,

Alex H. Poole

Ashley Todd-Diaz

Call to Participate in a Study: Librarians as Students

Dear Colleagues,

If you are a librarian or an archivists currently pursuing additional degrees, please consider participating in the research study Librarians as Students: A Survey of Librarians Pursuing Advanced Degrees. This study aims to explore the motivations, experiences, and challenges faced by librarians and archivists who pursue advanced degrees while continuing their professional roles. By participating in this study, you will contribute valuable insights into how librarians balance academic and professional responsibilities, manage work/life demands, and shape their career paths. Your responses will also help identify opportunities for improved institutional and community support for librarian/archivist-scholars.

The survey is anonymous and should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The anticipated sample size is 100 subjects. If you are interested in participating, please click the link below to access the survey: 

Link to survey: rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NerrXH33GeE7Qy

Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to contact me at lily.todorinova@rutgers.edu.  

Thank you for sharing your experiences and contributing to this research.

——–

Lily Todorinova

Undergraduate Experience Librarian, Open Educational Research

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

lily.todorinova@rutgers.edu | Meet with Zoom“

New Issue: American Archivist

American Archivist 87.2 (Fall/Winter 2024)
Table of Contents

(Review access here)

From the Editor

Articles 

Reviews

CFP: Northwest Archivists Annual Meeting

Northwest Archivists Annual Meeting 2025
Theme: Redefining Resilience: Advocacy, Values, and Creative Solutions

Conference Overview
The 2025 NWA Annual Meeting will be held virtually from May 13-16. The 2025 Northwest
Archivists Annual Meeting theme is Redefining Resilience: Advocacy, Values, and Creative
Solutions. In the past decade or more, archives have lost staff and funding but are continually asked to do the same amount of—or more—work. It is time to reframe the conversation from “doing more with less” to “doing our best with less.” What core functions of archives should be prioritized? What can we let go of? As archivists, how are we finding tools and building skills to fill the gap of what has been lost? How do we empower representation while protecting personal and professional boundaries? This theme invites proposals that cover practical solutions to these problems, ideas for advocating and collaborating for more resources, and suggestions for how to incorporate the new realms of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital preservation into our work.

Session Proposals
The Program Committee is seeking Session Proposals related to all aspects of archival practice, theory or research that is broadly related to the theme. Any and all ideas are welcome! We especially invite those in allied professions as well as graduate and undergraduate students to participate.

Deadlines
Session proposals for the NWA 2025 Annual Meeting are due on Friday, February 7 by
11:59pm Pacific Time. Acceptances will be communicated to presenters in March 2025.
Submission Form.

See full Call for Proposals

CFP: Queer Bibliography: In the Making

We are delighted to share the call for proposals for “Queer Bibliography: In the Making,” the third iteration of this conference, which was initially established by Malcolm Noble and Sarah Pyke in 2023.

The conference will be hosted at Newcastle University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom and online on 11-13 June, 2025. The conference committee is extremely grateful to SHARP and to the Bibliographical Society, both of which have generously provided funding. This allows us to continue to keep this conference free to attend, as well as to support some travel grants for postgraduate students. The deadline for submissions is midnight on 31 January; prospective speakers will be informed of the outcome by the end of the day on 28 February.

About the conference:

Queer Bibliography: in the Making invites participants to consider queerness in the processes of (re/un)making material texts.

Bibliography is primarily concerned with how material texts fall together, and the lives of those texts (long or short). The processes of production, reproduction, transmission, and reception are all central to bibliographic study; as is the work of the people engaged in these processes. Such people might include typefounders, papermakers, printers, bookbinders, scribes, scrapbookers, zine makers diarists, collectors, librarians, editors, publishers, archivists, and other agents of literary, textual, and material invention. Recent scholarship calls for material texts to be examined as if they were in the process of continual (re/un)making. Many individuals, groups, and organisations can be said to make, un-make, and re-make texts – sometimes across significant geographic and temporal distances; sometimes known to one another, sometimes not; sometimes in communion, and sometimes in opposition.

We invite participants to consider how these processes, and their makers and respondents, might be considered from the perspective of Queer and Trans Studies.

Participants will be invited to submit a 2000-word pre-circulating paper, before presenting in panels of 10-minute papers. We also welcome alternative presentations, in whatever form they may take. Two days of panels, conversation, and discussion will be followed by an optional workshop on 13 June, led by artist and scholar Kadin Henningsen. This workshop will draw on the previous two days’ discussions, and participants will work together to produce a printed object encapsulating this year’s theme of “in the making.”

Full Call for Proposals: https://bit.ly/QueerBiblio2025CFP

Submissions (by midnight on 31 January): https://bit.ly/QB2025ProposalForm

Questions? Contact us at: queerbibliography@gmail.com 

CFP: ICA Section on University and Research Institution Archives

ICA/SUV 2025 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

XXX JORNADAS DE LA CONFERENCIA DE ARCHIVEROS DE LAS UNIVERSIDADES ESPAÑOLAS

Barcelona, 27th-28th October 2025 / 27 – 28 Octubre 2025

CALL FOR PAPERS / LLAMADA DE COMUNICACIONES

“Innovating University and Research Archives. Challenges Towards Sustainability”

“Archivos de Universidades y de Investigación Innovadores. Desafíos para la Sostenibilidad”

The International Council on Archives Section on University and Research Institution Archives (ICA-SUV) and the Archivists Conference of the Spanish Universities (CAU – CRUE) are pleased to announce their annual conference for 2025.The conference, titled Innovating University and Research Archives. Challenges Towards Sustainability, will be held at the University Autonomous of Barcelona in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain), 27-28 October, 2025. This will be an in-person conference. 

This conference presents an opportunity for reflective discussion about many aspects around:

1. Alignment of University Archives with the SDGs and Compliance with the 2030 Agenda The 2030 Agenda is a United Nations action plan for the people, the planet, and prosperity. The Agenda sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 targets aimed at achieving a balanced approach to three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social, and environmental spheres. The contribution of University and Research Institutions Archives in reaching these goals is crucial. Wellbeing, Education and Quality, Reduce Inequalities, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions are among those objectives where the impact of the work of archivists can be most significant.

We welcome proposals which:

•     Use practical examples to demonstrate how university and research institution archives can support the SDGs.

•     Focus on specific goals such as Good Health and Well-being or Reduced Inequalities to show how records and archives are vital in contributing to success in these areas.

•     Explore how archivists can work in partnership with others to support their institution and society to achieve these goals.

2. Archives in the Face of the Climate Emergency: Prevention and Actions

The consequences of climate change are increasingly influencing our daily lives, with effects becoming more catastrophic for people and their environment. Archives and documentary heritage, due to their special structural vulnerability within the institutions to which they belong, have been directly affected in recent years by floods, storms, fires, and other disasters arising from the climate emergency. This affects history, memory, culture, and the identity of communities, as well as the fulfilment of citizens’ rights and obligations by public administrations, alongside the enforcement of transparency and accountability. The adaptation of our services may be crucial in the protection of both people and heritage.

We welcome proposals which explore some of the following topics:

•   How archivists can ensure they are prepared for potential disasters and emergencies, particularly in a university setting

•   What archive services can do to limit the harm they do to the environment and to support sustainability

•   The importance of university and research institution archives in providing evidence of climate change and supplying data which can help society to plan for a better future

3. Archives: Experiences of Adaptation and Innovation

Digital transformation and the move to digital governance in institutions have posed a challenge for archives and professionals in the area of document and record management. Maintaining the role of records and archives as a core element which reaches across increasingly digitised management structures has been one of the most significant goals of the century. Colleagues have successfully adapted to innovations and become more visible, offering society and its organisations an essential and innovative service in document and records management, while also becoming a reference in the promotion of their historical heritage.

We welcome proposals that discuss:

•   Innovative approaches to the management of archives and records in digital systems.

•   Successful collaboration with other professionals, such as information technologists and others.

•   Effective advocacy for the importance of consulting archivists when designing and running digital governance and management systems

Professional conversations at conferences like this are important to furthering global and local understanding of innovating University and Research Archives and challenges towards the sustainability.

Papers and presentations formats: 

  • Lightning Talks: Rapid and concise presentations; 10 minutes long 
  • Papers: Research/scholarly papers; 20 minutes long; can be analytical, descriptive, or reflective 
  • Experiences: A 15-minute presentation related to subtopic 3.
  • Panel Discussion: Composed of 3 speakers, plus a facilitator, with varied perspectives discussing a similar topic; indicate length of time requested 
  • Posters: Presentation of research work, a project, an idea, or any other type of work in poster format, which participants of the ICA-SUV and the CAU Conference can view in a dedicated space at the conference venue. Those presenting a poster should be present during the presentation session to provide explanations and answer questions related to the poster.
  • Wild Card : Submit your own idea or format and indicate length of time requested

Please submit to Caroline Brown, ICA-SUV Chair, at c.z.brown@dundee.ac.uk an abstract of 250-300 words accompanied by a bibliography of at least two titles, which will not count towards the 250-word minimum plus the following information:

Short bio for each speaker (150-200 words) 
Title of paper or presentation
Presentation format
Name(s) of speaker(s)
Job title(s) and institution(s)
Postal address and email address