“HEALTH AND RESILIENCY IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND MID-ATLANTIC”

After nearly two years of a global pandemic, combined with the fractures of deep political unrest and creeping economic uncertainty, how health is defined in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic has taken on new meanings. While issues of physical health and well-being often take center stage, the last two years have also illustrated how definitions of economic health, community health, political health, and organizational health have altered in the face of rapidly shifting circumstances. Yet, these challenges have also brought forward stories of historical and contemporary resiliency, offering hope better to understand the past and its relationship to the future.  

This year the Pennsylvania Historical Association’s Program Committee invites submissions for our annual meeting—currently to be held in person in October 2022.  Projects engaging with the theme of health (broadly defined) and/or resiliency are preferred, but proposals on all aspects of Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic History, on pedagogy, public history, or material culture, will be considered. Past formats include panels, roundtable discussions, and lightning rounds.  

Submissions from all disciplinary backgrounds, including but not limited to history, the medical humanities, economic and community development, public policy, sociology, and political science are welcomed.  

We also strongly encourage submissions by students at all levels, including graduate students, undergraduate students, and high school students.  Student submissions may take one of the following forms: 1) a poster presentation; 2) a short video or digital history project; 3) a paper/podium presentation detailing primary source research or a public or oral history project.  

Full session proposals are preferred, but individual papers will be considered.  PHA membership is required to present at the 2022 annual meeting.  

Proposals must be submitted electronically by May 16, 2022 through the online forms below.

The conference will be held October 13-15, 2022, at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact Dr. Andrew Simpson, Associate Professor of History, Duquesne University at simpson4@duq.edu.