Tag: allied professions

CFP: Edinburgh Bibliographical Seminar and Workshop: Catalogues and Registers as Evidence in the History of Mathematics, Science, and Technology

The inaugural Edinburgh Bibliographical Seminar and Workshop (EBSW) seeks proposals on the theme of ‘Catalogues and Registers as Evidence in the History of Mathematics, Science, and Technology’. The event will occur at the University of Edinburgh from 20 July to 24 July, 2026, the week after the joint meeting of the History of Science Society and the European Society for the History of Science.

This interdisciplinary seminar aims to investigate the significant potential of historical registers of commodities, books, and borrowing as sources for the study of the history of mathematics, science, and technology, as well as intellectual history. Beyond their practical applications, catalogues and registers of books can reveal the intellectual landscape of a particular time and place. They can show which books were available, what was considered important, and how knowledge was organised and categorised. By examining these registers, catalogues, and records, we can track the circulation of ideas across disciplines and regions. This examination can provide context for understanding the development of scientific and mathematical thought. As the Books and Borrowings, 1750-1830, project has demonstrated, careful attention to the social context of registers of borrowing can thicken our descriptions and enrich our understanding of how knowledge has been used. Linked to the vision of the great or universal library, the concept of secular universalism has long been thought to spread its legitimisation through the globalisation of modern mathematics. Building on Kant, universalist logicians and philosophers lay claim to a secular universal mode of reasoning that is common to all minds, displacing previous evangelical universalist modes such as those associated with Leibniz, and non-universal epistemes. Becoming widespread from the globalisation of curricular reforms like William Whewell’s or the Madras system, this secular universal conception demanded a way to address the accumulated knowledge and traditions of the past to clear space for its own epistemic break. That is, modern, global mathematics is a site where ideas must somehow contend with the past before secular universalism can become universal.

In a collaborative and hands-on set of workshops, EBSW participants will be invited to examine the books and registers at the University of Edinburgh that shaped the intellectual landscapes of the Enlightenment to modern eras, with a particular emphasis on the changing relationships between mathematics, natural history, and theology. Participants will pre-circulate drafts of a work in progress of around 2,000-3,000 words, which the group will discuss and refine in seminar meetings during the week. Based on these meetings, we will develop a communal sense of the methodologies for using catalogues as evidence for the histories of mathematics, science, and technology. Selected contributions will be invited for an edited conference volume addressing larger methodological questions in these areas.

Proposals should demonstrate, investigate, complicate, or challenge the use of catalogues or registers as a kind of historical evidence around a specific corpus or text. Papers will ideally benefit from the materials in the University of Edinburgh libraries, which have strong books and with catalogue evidence from the 16th century to the present day. Potential topics may include:

  • natural theology, religious history, or early modern thought and their relationship to mathematics, science, and technology or the history of ideas
  • near and far east, ancient and contemporary history or orientalizing images or practices as related to the image of modernity
  • mathematical models, specimens, and exhibits as pedagogical and research tools in and outside of libraries
  • technical, professional and literary texts: reading modes and evidence of political and social change as they relate to the formation of disciplines
  • global library history, collectors and collections, and contemporary library use
  • re-considerations of texts, truth, objectivity, and meaning during the interwar period particularly regarding mathematics, science, and technology

Adrian Johns will deliver an opening talk ‘Registers and the Dream of Universal Information: A Selective History’ which is co-sponsored by the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society.

Applications are due by 21 April, 2026, and should include a proposed title and abstract, a brief two to three sentence bio, and an indication of the applicant’s financial needs for travel. With funding from a UKRI-ERC Horizon grant, the EBSW expects to be able to support travel expenses for many of the participants.

The application form is forthcoming and will be linked at https://sigma.mathsworlds.org/activities/ebsw/ 

Contact Dr J.P. Ascher with questions at jascher@ed.ac.uk

Contact Information

Dr J. P. Ascher, UKRI-ERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh

Contact Email

jascher@ed.ac.uk

URL

https://sigma.mathsworlds.org/activities/ebsw/

CFP: Artefacts XXXI: “Trust and Objects”

With pleasure, the Science History Institute, along with the American Philosophical Society and  the Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, announces that the next and 31st meeting of ARTEFACTS will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19-21 October 2026.

Today, many museums aligned with the history of science (very broadly defined) are being called upon to help build, restore, or grow “trust in science” among their audiences. As historians of science and museum professionals, the organizers share the concerns motivating such calls, yet also recognize that “trust in science” is itself an object of historical inquiry. 

Such tensions within the history of science are, of course, not new. Since museums and historians often must reconcile such tensions in public-facing projects (and recognizing that we serve many different “publics,” across and within institutions), we have the opportunity to explore how scientific objects can be mobilized to bring audiences into a more critical history of science. Objects are on one hand epistemologically and ontologically flexible; their meanings and identities come from those who study and interpret them. At the same time, for the public, objects are material, “real,” and carry an aura of authority. In the American Alliance of Museums’ Spring 2021 report on Museums and Trust, respondents identified the fact that “Museums present real/original/authentic objects” as the second-most cited measure of their trustworthiness. (For further analysis, see the essay “History Museums and Trust” from the American Association for State and Local History.)

The theme of the 2026 meeting is TRUST AND OBJECTS. We encourage proposals that explore how museums and academic institutions use material culture to build “trust in the history of science” in multiple ways. How do we use objects to negotiate the different meanings of “science” for audiences? In what ways can objects be deployed programmatically and interpretively to raise critical and generative questions about science, and its relationships to politics, culture, and economy? How can the seemingly inert nature of material culture be used to cultivate values of care, empathy, and understanding? 

In keeping with the theme, we especially encourage proposals from individuals working on or with public-facing projects using material culture. This could include museum professionals, as well as historians who study museums, public displays, or interpretation within the history of science. 

Examples might include, but are not limited to:

  • Case studies of museum exhibitions or interpretive projects that illustrate the role of museums and/or material culture in exploring trust in science
  • Discussions about how to negotiate among internal and external stakeholders in defining “science,” the goals of the history of science, or how to connect with different audiences
  • Challenges posed by interpreting material culture unfamiliar to visitors, or “unappealing” due to  its visual character or technical complexity
  • Historical perspectives on the interpretation of material culture in the history of science 
  • Discussions of objects that challenge definitions of science and define the edges of an institution’s collecting scope

Please remember that the focus of presentations should be on artefacts.

ARTEFACTS will once again offer two tracks for submissions: (1) works to be considered for publication (a pre-circulated paper and a longer presentation based on the paper) and (2) works-in-progress (shorter presentations without a paper). Abstracts for track 1 should be 500-1000 words; abstracts for track 2 should be 200-300 words. They should be accompanied by a 75-word author biography and sent to artefacts@sciencehistory.org by April 30. We aim to notify accepted participants by May 31.

Registration will open formally when the program is announced in June, but in the meantime informal queries should be directed to artefacts@sciencehistory.org.

Contact Email

artefacts@sciencehistory.org

URL https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/ArtefactsCallforPapers.pdf

CFP: Material Matters: It’s in the Details 2027 Virtual Conference

Call for Papers

Material Matters: It’s in the Details

January 23, 2027

The vast majority of participants in the military events of the long 18th century left no written traces of themselves. Fortunately for scholars, and the public, evidence of their presence survives in material form. From the arms they carried, to the archaeological evidence of their presence, the material experience of soldiering extensively survives if we look carefully. Often seen as mementos or souvenirs of war, or as distinct areas of avocational collecting, military material culture is pervasive, yet understudied, as a rich body of material culture.

However, “military material culture” is not limited to the weapons men wielded or the uniforms they wore. The dense networks of manufacturing supporting early modern militaries connected civilians across the world and expands our definition of this area of study. Furthermore, militaries left their impact on societies through the appropriation and re-use of materials, as well as physically on landscapes shaped by the presence, or absence, of soldiers. Thus, material culture provides a unique and compelling way to engage with topics and individuals for which no written sources survive.

The Fort Ticonderoga Museum seeks papers relating broadly to material culture made, used, or altered in a military context. From soldier’s encounters with domestic furnishings on campaign, to the weapons designed and built for battle. We are seeking new research from established scholars in addition to graduate students, professionals, and artisans that relate to material culture made, used, or altered in a military context between roughly 1609-1815. Papers may engage but are not limited to: 

  • Objects made for military purposes 
  • Civilian objects used in military contexts 
  • Archeological research into sites of military occupation 
  • Ephemeral material cultures such as food or fuel
  • Military material culture crossing cultural, national, and geographic lines 
  • Construction and fabrication of material culture 
  • Craft, trade, experimental archeology, or living history perspectives on material culture 
  • Art and representations of material culture in military contexts 

This conference takes place online, using Zoom Webinars, on Saturday, January 23, 2027. Sessions are 30 minutes in length, followed by 10 minutes for audience questions. Traditional illustrated papers, combined with live or recorded videos of trade practice or object analysis, will all be accepted for consideration. Fort Ticonderoga may provide speakers with an honorarium. Please submit a 300-word abstract and CV by email by July 1, 2026, to Richard M. Strum, Director of Academic Programs: rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org

Contact Information

Rich Strum, Director of Academic Programs

Fort Ticonderoga 

rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org

Contact Email

rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org

Website https://fortticonderoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Material-Matters-2027-CFP.pdf

CFP: ThriveLib 2026 conference – Reimagining Library Culture

ThriveLib 2026 is now accepting proposals.

Our theme, Reimagining Library Culture (Together), is grounded in the belief that joy and sustainability cannot exist without safety, dignity, and care.

We are intentionally seeking proposals that center the experiences and voices of people from historically and currently underrepresented groups in librarianship, and that name how systems of oppression shape library work and well-being.

ThriveLib 2026 is taking place in a moment of widespread instability that is shaping the lives and work of many library workers. Some are carrying far greater risk, grief, and exhaustion than others. We invite proposals that acknowledge these realities and explore how library systems and expectations can either deepen harm or offer meaningful support.

We welcome proposals that:

·           Speak from lived experience

·           Name harm without requiring solutions

·           Explore collective, capacity-aware approaches to change

You do not need institutional backing, polished outcomes, or traditional credentials to submit.

Speaker honorariums and free registration are provided.

Proposals are due by 12:00 noon Central time on Friday April 10, 2026. CFP details and submission link: https://www.thrivelib.com/2026-cfpThe Contact email – ThriveLib@gmail.com

Call for Contributors: forgingUS with the Center for Digital Editing

The Center for Digital Editing would like to invite you to take part in forgingUS, a new project that brings together leading documentary editing projects, scholars, educators, and technologists to expand access to primary sources from the Founding Era and Early Republic. Centered on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, forgingUS aims to create a free, public website featuring curated, document-based exhibits, interactive maps and timelines, and more.

We’re already at work on several exhibits related to the Declaration of Independence, and we’ve tentatively identified future areas of interest, including the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Phillis Wheatley. That said, we’re very much open to new ideas discussing historical documents, individuals, and events between the dates of 1770 and 1812. We welcome any topics where your expertise can illuminate how documents were produced, circulated, revised, and remembered.

Participation in forgingUS is a paid opportunity. Content creators receive an honorarium of $1000 for their work on an exhibit. As an exhibit creator, you would be asked to:

  • Propose a topic.
    • Successful exhibits will be framed around a central, compelling question like “Why did the founders edit Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence?” or “How did colonists respond to the Declaration of Independence?”
  • Break the exhibit topic down into an outline of 3–7 short sections that contextualize the key topics, individuals, events, and documents related to the exhibit topic. Then, prepare the text.
    • Successful exhibits will include short, digestible segments written in language easily understood by the casual, history-loving public. Most importantly, it AVOIDS a “wall of text.”
  • Suggest ideas for engaging or interactive elements to be featured within the exhibit, like timelines, maps, image hotspots, short videos or sound clips.
  • Create a list of people, places, and events that you think readers might need to know to understand the exhibit.
  • Identify essential external resources that readers may use to explore a topic further.

Throughout the content development process, our team will support you in thinking through engaging ways to frame and present your digital exhibit. We will also handle the technical build and integration, allowing you to focus on scholarly input rather than platform mechanics.

If you are interested in participating, we invite you to submit your exhibit idea(s) here: https://forms.gle/X1kBCakDnfUvpQ8a9. For more information on what a forgingUS exhibit may look like or what the content submission process entails, please visit: https://sites.google.com/virginia.edu/forgingus.

CFP: Permanence/Impermanence: Collecting and archiving contemporary clay practices

Permanence / Impermanence: Collecting and archiving contemporary clay practices 

Conference: In-person, London, 24-26 June 2026

Deadline for proposals: 16 March 2026

Conference organisers: Ceramics Research Centre-UK, CREAM, University of Westminster, in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The conference addresses how artworks in the ‘expanded field of clay’ can be made accessible and visible to current and future audiences.

Artists’ practices in the expanded field of clay can result in raw clay artworks, large-scale site-specific installations, performance-based events and involve audience participation (Brown, Stair and Twomey, 2016). Due to their ephemeral or mutable nature, such works pose significant challenges to museums, which have more often acquired permanent ceramic objects due to the complexities of capturing live or transient clay artworks. 

The conference takes place in the context of important recent work on collecting performance, installation and live art (Tate, 2018-22; Hölling, Feldman & Magnin, 2023-4), and on the politics and practices of museum collecting (Jones, 2021; Krmpotich & Stevenson, 2024).

Proposals are invited from artists, academics and museum professionals, including archivists, conservators, curators, collection managers, learning officers and others. Proposals may take any of the following formats: 10-minute provocations that ignite debate, 25-minute papers and 60-minute panel discussions. We particularly welcome case studies of artworks, acquisitions, exhibitions, interventions or other museum projects. Presenters may address issues relating to, although by no means limited to, the following themes and questions:

Artists / Artworks / Projects: 

  • How can artists be active in the process of their artworks being represented in collections?
  • Object, concept, experience, process? What is it that museums are collecting?
  • Can the re-performance of a work or its translation to a different medium be a productive, rather than reductive, process?
  • Outside of documentation through photography and videography, how might the physical sensations of interacting with a work, beyond sight, be preserved when it no longer exists in the same form?

Museums: 

  • How are museums engaging with the expanded field of clay practice through collections, learning programmes and other activities?
  • What are the implications if these artworks are not collected in a sufficiently meaningful way?
  • What is the impact on visitors and institutions when working with ephemeral, performance-based, participatory and site-specific ceramic or clay artworks?
  • What are the challenges of stewarding and/or documenting contemporary clay artworks, including issues of care, ethics and long-term availability, and how can museums meet them?
  • How can museums welcome, accommodate or document intentional decay in ephemeral artworks?

Collections / Archives:

  • What can be learned from the strategies of collecting other kinds of ephemeral art practices, such as performance, digital and hybrid objects? 
  • Do the nuances of materiality inherent in experimental clay and ceramic practices pose particular challenges?
  • Collections or archives? Where can transient artworks be best represented for the future?

Timeline

16 March 2026: Deadline for proposals (max. 300 words + 100-word biography per presenter/panel member).

Submit proposals to: Ceramics@westminster.ac.uk   

Early April 2026: Notification of acceptance. 

Mid-April 2026: Registration opens.

The conference is staged in the first year of the AHRC-funded Future Ecologies of Clay research project (August 2025-July 2028) with the objective of gathering information on the experiences and needs of artists, museums and researchers. It is the first event of a ‘long conference’, which reconceptualises the notion of the conference-as-catalyst and functions as a means to develop ideas and approaches within a follow-on seminar series and summit day. Conference presenters will initially be invited to contribute to the project website, and selected conference papers and research findings will be published in an edited book of essays in 2028. 

The Future Ecologies of Clay research involves creating four new artworks with four UK museums, including the V&A. These practice-based case studies of ephemeral, site-specific, participatory and live art will provide new content for each museum’s collection. An Open Call for museums interested in participating will be publicised in Spring 2026. 

The Future Ecologies of Clay research is being undertaken by the Ceramics Research Centre-UK in partnership with the V&A. This work is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council [grant number UKRI748].

References:

Brown, C., Stair, J., & Twomey, C. (eds.) (2016), Contemporary Clay and Museum Culture, Routledge.

Hölling, H. B., Feldman, J. P., & Magnin, E. (eds.) (2023-4), Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care, Vols. 1 & 2, Routledge.

Jones, M. (2021), Artefacts, Archives and Documentation in the Relational Museum, Routledge.

Krmpotich, C., & Stevenson, A. (eds.) (2024), Collections Management as Critical Museum Practice, UCL Press.

Tate (2018-22), Reshaping the Collectible: When Artworks Live in the Museum: https://www.tate.org.uk/research/reshaping-the-collectible 

Contact Information

Ceramics Research Centre -UK, CREAM, University of Westminster, UK

Contact Email

Ceramics@westminster.ac.uk

URL: https://cream.ac.uk/ceramics-research-centre-uk/

Call for Panelists on Cataloging Practice – Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Metadata & Cataloging Committee (Webinar – April 2026)

The Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) Metadata & Cataloging Committee seeks panelists for a webinar focused on local cataloging practices. Looking at how comics and graphic novels are cataloged in practice, it seems like every library does things differently. Why does your library do things the way that you do? 

In this webinar, we seek to bridge the gaps between specialized libraries focused on comics/graphic novels, academic libraries, and public libraries. We are seeking panelists from all types of libraries that perform cataloging work with comics and graphic novels and are involved in setting cataloging policy for their institution.

During this 1 hour webinar, each panelist will give a brief introduction to their institution’s collection and their cataloging practices. This will then be followed by a question-and-answer session. Attendees will be encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time so that panelists can prepare thoughtful responses. This event is planned to take place in April 2026. 

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Classification
  • Use of subject and genre/form terms, such as LCSH, LCGFT, etc.
  • How the type of comic or graphic novel impacts cataloging decisions: “floppies”, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, manga, manhwa, manhua, etc. 
  • And more!

Please email a short professional bio with the subject line GNCRT cataloging webinar to Katherine Manifold (katherine.manifold@unlv.edu), the Committee Chair, and Junghae Lee (jlee70@uw.edu), the Committee Vice Chair by March 1st, 2026. The applicants will be notified of decisions by March 9th, 2026.

Your bio should include the following: name, job title, affiliated institution, and a summary of your comics and graphic novel cataloging experience not to exceed 150 words. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Katherine Manifold (katherine.manifold@unlv.edu), the Committee Chair.

Call for Chapters: Understanding User Behavior for Enhanced Library Services

Editors

Edmont Pasipamire, The IIE Rosebank College, South Africa

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: March 15, 2026
Full Chapters Due: June 28, 2026
Submission Date: June 28, 2026

Introduction

The landscape of information is undergoing rapid transformation due to advances in digital technologies, evolving user expectations, and the proliferation of data-intensive research practices. These developments have fundamentally redefined the role of libraries and information centres. Contemporary users engage with information in increasingly complex, personalised, and technology-mediated ways, necessitating a shift from traditional service models toward approaches that are user-centred and evidence-based. Consequently, a rigorous understanding of user behaviour on how individuals seek, access, evaluate, and utilise information has become central to the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective library services. This edited volume, Understanding User Behavior for Enhanced Library Services, responds to the growing need for theoretical, empirical, and practice-based insights into user behavior within academic, public, special, and digital library contexts. The book foregrounds user studies, information-seeking behavior, user experience (UX), and data-informed service design as critical foundations for enhancing library relevance, accessibility, and impact. By bringing together diverse perspectives from researchers and practitioners across global contexts, the volume seeks to illuminate emerging patterns of library use and translate user behavior research into actionable strategies for service innovation.

Objective

The primary objective of this book is to advance scholarly and professional understanding of user behavior in libraries and information environments and to demonstrate how such insights can be systematically applied to improve library services. Specifically, the book aims to: Examine contemporary theories, models, and methodologies used to study user behavior in physical and digital library settings. Showcase empirical research and case studies that illustrate how user behaviour insights inform service design, resource development, and policy formulation. Bridge the gap between theory and practice by translating user behaviour research into practical, scalable solutions for library professionals. Address emerging challenges and opportunities related to digital literacy, user diversity, accessibility, and data-driven decision-making. Contribute to the growing body of literature on user-centred librarianship, particularly in under-researched and Global South contexts. By consolidating interdisciplinary perspectives and evidence-based practices, the book will extend current research and serve as a reference point for future studies on user behavior and library service enhancement.

Target Audience

This book is intended for a broad audience of scholars, practitioners, and postgraduate students in Library and Information Science (LIS) and related fields. The primary beneficiaries include: Academic, public, and special librarians seeking to design user-centred and responsive services. Library managers and administrators involved in strategic planning, assessment, and service innovation. Researchers and scholars investigating information behavior, user experience, and digital engagement. Postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD level) studying library science, information studies, and knowledge management. Policymakers and educators interested in evidence-based approaches to improving information services. The volume will be particularly valuable for professionals and researchers working in rapidly evolving information environments and diverse socio-cultural contexts.

Recommended Topics

Proposed chapters may address, but are not limited to, the following topics: Theories and models of information-seeking and user behavior User experience (UX) research and design in libraries Digital user behaviour and online library services Information behaviour of students, researchers, and faculty User behaviour in public, academic, and special libraries Data-driven decision-making and analytics in library services Personalisation and adaptive library systems Accessibility, inclusivity, and diverse user communities Digital literacy, information literacy, and user engagement The impact of emerging technologies (AI, discovery tools, virtual libraries) on user behavior User behavior in research support and scholarly communication services Ethical considerations in studying and analysing user data User behavior in Global South and under-researched contexts Assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement of library services

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before March 15, 2026, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by March 29, 2026 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters of a minimum of 10,000 words (word count includes references and related readings) are expected to be submitted by June 28, 2026, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-anonymized review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Understanding User Behavior for Enhanced Library Services. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-anonymized peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery® online submission manager.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing, an international academic publisher of the “Information Science Reference”, “Medical Information Science Reference”, “Business Science Reference”, and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. IGI Global Scientific Publishing specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2027.

Important Dates

March 15, 2026: Proposal Submission Deadline
March 29, 2026: Notification of Acceptance
June 28, 2026: Full Chapter Submission
August 30, 2026: Review Results Returned
October 11, 2026: Final Acceptance Notification
October 25, 2026: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries

Edmont Pasipamire
The IIE Rosebank College
edmontp936@gmail.com

Classifications

Education; Library and Information Science

Propose a Chapter

CfP: Archival Matters: Queer Memory and Futurity in Southern Africa

Panel proposal to be submitted to the Southern African Historical Society Conference, to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, 24-26 June 2026.

Archival Matters: Queer Memory and Futurity in Southern Africa

Queer histories in southern Africa are shaped as much by what is missing as by what is preserved: silences produced by criminalisation, medicalisation, family secrecy, and archival gatekeeping. This panel examines queer archives as promising and contested institutions – where memory work intersects with transition, displacement, and uneven regimes of value. The panel invite contributions from scholars working across case studies in community collections, state repositories, and digital platforms, to ask: how do we read absence as evidence, build ethical practices of care and consent, and confront the funding politics that determine what survives in the archive? How do we encourage a scholarly and political practice whereby queer archiving is also future-making?

More specifically we invite papers that grapple with:

  • Memory and erasure: how queer lives are recorded, mis-recorded, or deleted across state archives, mission collections, medical/judicial records, family repositories, and community archives.
  • Absences and futurity: how we “read”, sit with, and interpret gaps, silences, and refusals; how queer archiving becomes future-making (new publics, new genres, new claims to belonging).
  • Ethics of preservation: consent, anonymity, harm reduction, ownership, repatriation, access protocols, and the afterlives of sensitive materials.
  • Funding politics and infrastructures: how donor priorities, institutional risk management, digitisation agendas, and platform governance shape what gets preserved and what becomes legible.
  • Method and form: oral history, ephemera, performance/documentation, digital archives, cataloguing/metadata, and experimental archival practices.

If interested, please submit a title and abstract (150-200 words) alongside a bio (50-80 words) to caio.simoes@graduateinstitute.ch by 18 February 2026.

Contact Email

caio.simoes@graduateinstitute.ch

Call for Submissions: The Textile Museum Journal Volume 54 2027

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Textile Museum Journal

Volume 54 2027 

The Textile Museum Journal publishes high-quality academic research on the textile arts and serves as an interface between different branches of academia and textile scholars worldwide. International in scope, the journal is devoted to the presentation of scholarly articles concerning the cultural, technical, historical, and aesthetic significance of textiles.

This volume will be dedicated to the untold stories of how museum textile collections come to be and how museums develop identities around their textile collections. Studies centering on the history of individual textile collections, problems inherent in acquiring museum collections, the creation of textile collections, provenance research on collection materials, repatriation of textiles, and identification of forgeries will be considered. Research from all disciplinary perspectives is welcome. Manuscripts should be based on original documentary, analytical, or interpretive research. 

Deadline for abstract submissions: April 30, 2026.

Deadline for full manuscript submissions: August 31, 2026.

Manuscripts should be submitted by email to the Editorial Assistant of The Textile Museum Journal at tmjournal@gwu.edu.

For Manuscript Submission and Author Style Guide documents, please visit https://museum.gwu.edu/submit-research

A complete submission includes 5 elements:

  1. Abstract: A single Microsoft Word document (no longer than 250 words) in English with the title of your manuscript accompanied with another Microsoft Word document with sample images (photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, etc.) and their caption(s). 
  2. Bio: A single Microsoft Word document detailing author(s) name, institutional affiliation(s), mailing address(es), telephone number(s), email address(es), and short biography (100 words) of author(s). 
  3. Full Manuscript: Microsoft Word document of the main text in English should be double-spaced throughout in 12-point Times Roman typeface. Use endnotes (do not embed) and cite references separately. Manuscripts should be between 5,000 to 10,000 words (including endnotes, captions, and references) and Research Notes should be between 2,000 to 3,000 words.
  4. Image Document: A single Microsoft Word document that combines all photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, etc. referenced in your manuscript with their accompanying captions. A good rule to follow that helps with a good distribution of images in the manuscript is to use one image for every 400-500 words.
  5. Images Files: All full manuscript submissions must be accompanied by images (one image for every 400-500 words.). Authors will provide high-resolution TIFFs or JPEGs (4 X 6 inches at 300 DPI or preferably higher) and secure all necessary permissions if the manuscript is accepted for publication. Each image should be clearly labeled (e.g., Smith_Fig. 1) and have a corresponding caption that provides identifying information and appropriate image credits in the Image Document.

Please see Manuscript Submission and Author Style Guide documents at https://museum.gwu.edu/submit-research for more details on preparation of these 5 elements.

Any submission that does not conform to The Textile Museum Journal style guidelines will be returned to the author.

Articles must present original research that has not been published in any language previously. Authors must properly credit previous scholarship on the subject and cite the source of each quotation, with brief bibliographic details given in the endnotes and the full bibliographic information in the References section.

All articles are subject to review by the editorial team and anonymous peer-reviewers, whose comments will be sent to the author only if the manuscript is accepted for publication. Authors expected to make revisions based on the feedback of the peer reviewers and editors.

The Textile Museum Journal follows the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. For further specifications on preparing text and images for publication, see the The Textile Museum Journal Manuscript Submission and Author Style Guide documents (available to download from our website: https://museum.gwu.edu/submit-research).

Contact Info:

Editorial Assistant, The Textile Museum Journal

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum

701 21st Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20052

E-mail: tmjournal@gwu.edu

Best wishes,

The Textile Museum Journal Editorial Team

Contact Information

The Tetxile Museum Journal Editorial Staff

Contact Email

tmjournal@gwu.edu

URL

https://museum.gwu.edu/textile-museum-journal