The WHA and SHA are very pleased to welcome everyone to Kansas City this October for our concurrent conferences! This will indeed be an exceptional event that is primed to draw close to 2,000 historians. We want to thank everyone in advance for your patience and understanding as we work to finalize conference logistics. We also wish to remind you that this event is not a joint conference between our organizations.

In 2017 when we (Elaine and Steve) assumed our Executive Director positions, our respective Councils charged us to plan and execute a concurrent conference event. They were careful to emphasize that the conferences would not be jointly organized.

A “concurrent” conference? What does this mean??

• For administrative purposes, each association has maintained the integrity of its usual schedule of sessions and events.
• The WHA will hold all its events at the Sheraton and the SHA will hold all its events at the Westin. The two properties are joined by an elevated skylink.
• Our respective Presidents and Presidents-Elect will be celebrated and highlighted as usual through their addresses, plenaries, meetings, and award ceremonies.
• Thematic and field-specific activities and committees will get to keep their events and meetings intact.
• Our staff teams will maintain separate registration desks and printed program publications.
• Receptions and meals will remain situated in separate venues according to their home organization.
• The exhibit halls, which we initially hoped to combine, will be physically separated between the Sheraton (WHA) and the Westin (SHA).

The program and tours are two important areas that will present crossover!

• WHA Program: The WHA has “Crossover Conversation” sessions scheduled throughout its program to highlight panels with exciting topics covering both Western and Southern history.
• SHA Program: The SHA also has “Crossover Conversation” sessions scheduled throughout its program to highlight panels with exciting topics covering both Southern and Western history.
• WHA and SHA Tours: The WHA and SHA Local Arrangements Committees worked tirelessly to offer a list of tours that will be combined with WHA and SHA attendees!

The separation of the conferences offers so many chances for crossover conversations about the West and the South. As directors, we charge our members and participants to seek these opportunities to engage in new dialogues! A short trip across the “The Link” between the Sheraton and Westin will offer everyone the chance to experience a different conference.

• We ask committees with similar passions (K-12 education, public history, accessibility, governance, etc.) to meet and converse about their initiatives and visions.
• We encourage graduate students from both organizations to build their networks with new scholarly connections.
• We invite everyone to attend plenaries, sessions, and buy tickets for receptions and meals outside of your home institution.

There is no day but today to try something new!

We know people will have questions. We will compile a list of FAQs that will serve to guide everyone through this unique event in the months leading up to the conference.

We look forward to every moment of our time together in October.

With sincere thanks for your patience and best wishes,

Elaine and Steve