RESEARCHING NEW YORK
2016

Looking Back—Looking Forward: Exploring Intersections of Society, Culture, Policy, & Law

November 17-19, 2016
University at Albany, SUNY

Celebrate New York History Month at the annual Researching New York Conference!! This year we are pleased to join with the New York State Historical Association/Conference on New York State History, as well as our longtime partner, The Archives Partnership Trust, to present a single expanded 2016 conference exploring all aspects of New York State History. Joining us are the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Albany Law School, as we explore the implications of the 2017 vote on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention in New York State. The expanded program, in development, will also include additional workshops and opportuities for secondary school teachers.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Looking Back—Looking Forward:
Exploring Intersections of Society, Culture, Policy, & Law

In this context, we will also explore the implications of the 2017 Constitutional Convention vote. As they do every 20 years, New Yorkers will vote on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention to change the New York State Constitution. Understanding this historically, in the larger context of society, politics, civic engagement, and more, informs current debates over convening a constitutional convention while enlarging our understanding of New York State history.

Conference organizers of invite proposals from any time period and any methodolocial perspective on any aspect of New York State history. The conference meets annually in November, bringing together historians, archivists, public historians, graduate students, museum curators, teachers, documentarians, and more to share their work on New York State history. Organizers welcome proposals for workshops, roundtables, panels, and individual papers from scholars, public history professionals, educators, librarians, and others engaged in the study and dissemination of New York State History. Work that addresses issues surrounding the interpretation, preservation, commemoration, and public presentation of New York State history is welcome.

Special Focus: As they do every 20 years, New Yorkers will vote, in 2017, on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention to change the New York State Constitution. Understanding this historically, in the larger context of society, politics, civic engagement, and more, informs current debates over convening a constitutional convention while enlarging our understanding of the civic life and history of New York State. Historically, debates leading up to and actual outcomes of Constitutional Conventions have often had wide ranging, if not always well-understood, implications for the citizens of New York.

Proposals are due July 22, 2016. Complete panels, workshops, media presentations, or full sessions are preferred; partial panels and individual submissions will be considered whenever possible.

Please submit a summary of your session, including a brief abstract and curriculum vita for each panel participant. Individual submissions should include a one-page abstract and one-page vita. Submissions must include name, address, and e-mail address. All proposals must include all anticipated audiovisual needs and any potential time constraints. Please submit your proposal as an attachment via e-mail to resrchny@albany.edu.

We also seek commentators for panels. Please indicate your interest by contacting us at resrchny@albany.edu, noting your area of expertise, along with a one-page vita. For further information, visit the Researching New York Web site at https://nystatehistory.org.

The conference is sponsored by the University at Albany Department of History, the New York State Historical Association and cosponsored by the University at Albany M.E. Grenander Special Collections & Archives, the New York State Archives Partnership Trust and the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government.

For further information-- if you have questions or comments, please contact us at resrchny@albany.edu. We look forward to your participation at this year's Conference.