Proposals
Information on Proposing Sessions to the Annual Meeting
The February 15 proposal deadline has passed. The Program Committee sent notifications to all session organizers on May 10, 2021. If you are a session organizer and have not heard from the Program Committee, please contact annualmeeting@historians.org.
The next in-person annual meeting will take place January 6-9, 2022, in New Orleans. Sessions accepted by the Program Committee will be scheduled from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. See "Submitting a Proposal" for details.
Historians from the United States appearing on the program are required to be AHA members. Everyone on the program must register for the meeting when registration opens in the fall of 2021. Affiliates with questions about submitting affiliate sessions should consult our affiliate page.
Effective Proposals
The Program Committee highly recommends reading the Submitting a Proposal page, Call for Proposals, and Annual Meeting Guidelines in their entirety before beginning a submission. The Program Committee encourages submissions employing creative session formats that encourage lively interaction among presenters and with the audience. Those proposing posters should also consult our poster resources.
Proposing an annual meeting session is like writing a grant proposal. Abstracts should be designed to convey the goals of the session to readers who are not necessarily specialists in your field. A convincing session abstract clearly states the goals of the session, describes how the presentations will fit together, and lets the Program Committee know what the audience will learn from the session. Roundtable proposals should describe what will be discussed and how each panelist will contribute to the conversation. Proposals for workshops and experimental sessions should clearly explain the format and goals of the session. Proposals that represent a diversity of viewpoints, methodologies, specialties, fields, and time periods are particularly attractive to the Program Committee.
Proposers are welcome to contact members of the Program Committee for advice. The resources below include advice from previous program chairs and tips from the meeting staff:
What Makes a Great Proposal for the AHA Annual Meeting?
Important Dates & Deadlines
May
The Program Committee notifies submitters of its decisions.
Summer
Program participants receive an email with the date, time, and hotel assignment of their session, as well as a proof of the session as it will appear in the printed program.
September
Preregistration opens. Everyone on the program must register for the meeting. Housing opens. Deadline to submit member dues and address changes in order to receive the program in the mail.
October
Call for Proposals for the 2022 annual meeting published.
November
Program mailed to members. Grant application period closes. Deadline to submit proposals for late-breaking sessions.