Every year, the Western History Association brings together scholars, students, and community members who share an interest in the histories, stories, and lived experiences of the North American West. This year’s conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was no exception. My week in Albuquerque was a whirlwind of scholarship, networking, delicious food, and a few logistical hiccups, but it left me energized and grateful to be part of this community of historians.

I arrived on Tuesday as part of the graduate student staff and dove right into behind-the-scenes work. It gave me an early glimpse of the scale of the conference and a chance to meet the other grad staff members. By the end of the evening, we had organized over one thousand tote bags – which I know many of us look forward to getting each year.

Wednesday, after taking the day to walk around the city with friends, the conference officially kicked off with the opening reception at the Albuquerque Museum. The venue itself was amazing, and felt like the perfect spot for historians to come together. In between conversations, I wandered through the exhibits, learning more about the city in which I found myself for a few short days.

Thursday began early with the Environmental History breakfast, one of my favorite events of the conference. Over the course of the breakfast, scholars discussed their projects, shared advice, and caught up on each other’s progress. This year, I had the opportunity to meet some new folks at my table and even solicit a few words of wisdom as I continue working on my dissertation proposal. After breakfast, I spent the morning and early afternoon attending panels that highlighted graduate student research on water history and the histories of empire in the American West.  Next, as a member of the WHA Graduate Student Cacus, I attended the Graduate Student Caucus lunch, and I was thrilled by the turnout. There’s something energizing about being in a room full of graduate students navigating similar stages of academic life, sharing concerns, celebrating wins, and brainstorming the future of the Grad Cacus and the WHA. Plus, the food was delicious. Afterward, I took some time to catch up with old friends and wandered the city a bit. Finally, Thursday ended on a high note with the Graduate Student Reception. Leah and the 2024–25 committee truly outdid themselves in planning the event. It was lively, welcoming, and full of opportunities to connect with students from across the country.

Friday was another busy day, beginning with the Coalition for Western Women’s History breakfast. It was my first time attending, and I left feeling inspired by the incredible work being done by scholars dedicated to gender and women’s history in the West. From there, I headed straight into presenting at an 8:15 a.m. roundtable titled “New Voices in the Histories of Gender and Sexuality in the American West.” Despite the early hour, we had a strong turnout, and the audience’s engagement made the session memorable. The questions and discussion that followed affirmed the direction of my project and helped me think more deeply about its broader implications. After the roundtable, I prepared for my second presentation of the day as part of the Early-Stage Research Lightning Round. Presenting work at such an early point in my dissertation process was both vulnerable and exciting, and it was encouraging to see the support and curiosity from my fellow presenters and attendees. With my presentations complete, I allowed myself a bit of time to wander through the exhibit hall. Of course, no WHA exhibit hall experience is complete without buying a few new books. Later in the afternoon, I attended the CWWH/CRAW reception to continue conversations from the morning’s breakfast. Then, I headed to the Awards Ceremony, where I was honored to receive the graduate student prize. It was a moment that made me pause and appreciate how grateful I am for the mentorship of Leisl Carr Childers and Mike Childers which introduced to the WHA back in San Antonio in 2022. The day wrapped up with the Veterans and Allies Reception hosted by the Applied History Initiative. There, I made new connections and even began sketching out ideas for a panel I hope to submit for next year’s conference. The collaborative spirit of WHA is always strong in informal gatherings like this, where unexpected conversations spark new ideas.

Saturday, I took the morning to explore Albuquerque’s food scene and squeezed in a few final panels before shifting into travel mode. Unfortunately, a cancelled flight meant an extra night, but I eventually made it back to Champaign on Sunday, tired yet full of gratitude. Even before I left New Mexico, I found myself already making plans for next year’s conference and I already can’t wait.

Furthermore, I am incredibly grateful for the support of the WHA and the scholars I have come to call friends since my first conference in 2022. This award comes a crucial point in my trajectory as a student and being able to fully engage in the conference was more valuable than many can know. The WHA always make a point to support grad students the best they can, and it shows in their awards, the program, and the number of graduate students that participate every year. It is for this reason, among others, I am proud to be a part of the WHA, and continue to look forward to attending each year.

 

Dale Mize

University of Illinois

I am grateful to the Western Historical Association for awarding me the Graduate Student Prize, which made my first WHA conference a truly memorable experience. The WHA Conference is the largest conference I have ever presented at, and the first conference at which I took advantage of all the different networking events and ceremonies. I am in a unique position compared to other awardees, as I have recently graduated from a master's program and am currently applying to PhD programs. This further pushed me to use every spare minute and session as an opportunity to meet graduate students and professors. In the months leading up to the conference, I studied the program closely and meticulously planned every hour of the three days.

After the eleven-hour drive through miles of Texas and New Mexico desert, my colleague, Madeline Johnson, and I finally arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On the drive up, I reached out to multiple professors and graduate students at potential PhD programs I plan to apply to this upcoming cycle. I hit the ground running and met up with a graduate student right as we stepped into the hotel on Wednesday night. After an invigorating two-hour conversation about the program, our research, and the application process, I moseyed off to bed feeling excited for the days to follow.

Madeline and I woke up bright and early the next morning to meet up with Dr. Valerio-Jimenez before our 8 o’clock panel, “Critical Histories of Archives in Texas”. Although we struggled with the AV system, the intimate, casual setting created a great atmosphere for engaging with fellow public historians and archivists. The next panel I was particularly excited for was “Emotional Frontiers: Towards a History of Feelings in the North American West”, because the panel focused on queer and Chicano activism. What was most striking to me was Magaly Ordonez’s presentation on the cannabis culture and queer activism in the 1970s. The panel inspired me to consider how/if cannabis culture influenced queer activism in San Antonio during the 1970s.

When “Doing Queer History” was added to the program at the last minute, I was ecstatic! The session led to an open discussion among professors, students, and public historians about the current state of queer history, the issues, and ongoing political developments. The inclusive and caring atmosphere during the session and for the entire conference cultivated a safe environment that allowed all scholars to speak freely. As a historian from Texas, I understand the importance and urgency of these conversations. As a new historian in queer history, it was informative to hear from historians who have been researching queer history for much longer than I have.

Between sessions, I had the opportunity to talk with professors about what I am looking for in a PhD program and to understand how programs can vary. To end the long day, I headed to the presidential plenary and the graduate student reception! Not only was the food so needed after a long day, but it also allowed me to unwind with fellow graduate students and make connections for future potential collaborations. I meet archivists from Big Bend, Kentucky, and Phd students from Massachusetts and Lubbock, Texas. Everyone was so nice and eager to share their research interests, as well as suggest potential sources, archives, or ideas that might help my research.

Friday was another early morning since I sat on another panel titled “New Voices in the Histories of Gender and Sexuality in the American West”. Before the session, I met the other amazing historians working in the field of gender and sexuality in the West, and hearing about their research was truly captivating and inspiring. It was an amazing feeling to be surrounded by peers who were in similar stages of their research and building connections within our field. In uncertain times, it is easy to become disillusioned with reality, but I left this session being reminded that I am not alone in my experience and that others are as determined as I am to preserve this history.

After my session, I spoke with attendees who shared similar research interests with me and exchanged information and reading suggestions. The rest of my day was packed with panels, one of my favorites was “Market Relationships and the Migrant Entrepreneurs”, where I learned about new histories of swap meets and street vendors in Los Angeles, California, alongside histories of Indigenous Hawaiian lei markets in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of the biggest takeaways was Dr. Julia Brown Bernstein’s concept “plazamaking,” which describes how migrants create a sense of belonging and adapt to life in urban Los Angeles in the neoliberal era. As someone interested in Mexican American history, Dr. Bernstein’s presentation demonstrated various ways to analyze foundational concepts in the field, such as identity, cultural negotiation, and autonomy.

The last event I attended was the award ceremony, where I gathered with all the friends I made throughout the conference and congratulate my fellow historians on their accomplishments in history. On the long drive home, I reflected on my experience at the WHA Conference and felt supported with a renewed sense of purpose. I am deeply grateful to the WHA for this opportunity and to every person who shared their work and encouragement with me, and I look forward to carrying this momentum into the next chapter of my academic journey.

TSLAC Research Fellowship in Texas History

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is now accepting applications for its 2026 Research Fellowship in Texas History. The fellowship includes a $2,000 stipend and is awarded for the best research proposal utilizing the collections of the State Archives in Austin or the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty, Texas.

The TSLAC Research Fellowship in Texas History is made possible by the generous support of the Texas Library and Archives Foundation.

The application must include the purpose of the proposed research, collections of interest, a discussion of how this research will contribute to a greater understanding of Texas history, plans for dissemination and a curriculum vitae. The recipient of the fellowship will be asked to present the results of their research at a TSLAC event. Judges may withhold the award at their discretion.

Visit www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/researchfellowship to apply by January 15, 2026.

In partnership with Penn State’s Africana Research Center, the Richards Center established a competitive, one-year postdoctoral fellowship in 2012. The fellowship rewards recently graduated Ph.D.s studying aspects of the African American experience from slavery to Civil Rights.

Since 2020, Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts, Department of History, and the Richards Center have hosted a second Center-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship (in addition to our joint RCWEC/ARC fellowship). The fellowship rewards recently graduated Ph.D.s studying aspects of the Civil War Era, particularly focusing on slavery and emancipation.

Both fellowships are one year with the possibility of renewal for a second year. While in residence, the fellows have access to the Center’s professional resources, receive guidance from a mentor, and participate in a series of professional development workshops. The fellows will present their research to the graduate community and will invite senior scholars in their field to the university to review and comment on their work.

https://richardscenter.la.psu.edu/fellowships/past-postdoctoral-fellows/

Application and Submission Process

Successful applicants must have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. within the previous four academic years. Salary/benefit package is competitive.

To be considered for this position, submit a complete application packet including a cover letter describing your research and goals for the scholarship year, a curriculum vita, and a list of three references. We will request writing samples and letters of recommendation from candidates who advance in the search process. Successful candidates must either have demonstrated a commitment to building an inclusive, equitable, and diverse campus community, or describe one or more ways they would envision doing so, given the opportunity.

Review of materials will begin November 1, 2025, and continue until the position has been filled. Please direct questions about the process via e-mail to richardscenter@psu.edu.

Postdoctoral Scholar, African American History

The Richards Center and the Africana Research Center invite applications for a postdoctoral scholar in African American history, beginning July 1, 2026. This is a one-year position, with a high possibility of renewal for a second year. All research interests spanning the origins of slavery through the civil rights movement will receive favorable consideration. Proposals that align with the Richards Center’s interests in slavery, abolition, and emancipation are especially welcome. During their residency, the scholar will have no teaching or administrative responsibilities. In addition, they will attend workshops, professional development sessions and other relevant events, and will be expected to take an active part in Penn State’s community of researchers.

For more information and how to apply, see here.

Postdoctoral Scholar, Civil War Era

The Richards Civil War Era Center, in conjunction with the Department of History and the College of the Liberal Arts, invites applications for a postdoctoral scholar in the history of the Civil War Era, beginning July 1, 2026. This is a one-year position, with a high possibility of renewal for a second year. All research interests spanning the pre-war period through Reconstruction will receive favorable consideration. Proposals that align with the Richards Center’s interests in slavery, abolition, and emancipation are especially welcome. During their residency, the scholar will have no teaching or administrative responsibilities. They will attend workshops, professional development sessions and other relevant events, and will be expected to take an active part in Penn State’s community of researchers.

For more information and how to apply, see here.

The LGBTQ+ History Association is pleased to announce a call for papers for its fourth conference, the Queer/Trans History Conference* 2026 (#QTHC26), to be held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor from June 2 to 5, 2026. 

*Yes, this is a new name! The LGBTQ+ History Association has always interpreted “queer” as an umbrella that included queering of gender identity and expression, but it is important to name the work that we do more explicitly. With this name change, we’re affirming that this conference is a place to have the conversations about how sexuality, gender, and transness intersect and diverge. Also, in a political moment when the U.S. federal government is actively erasing trans history, we are committing to defending history, resisting fascism, and continuing to tell stories from the queer and/or trans past. 

Scholars working on any aspect of the queer and/or trans past, in any region of the world, during any period, are encouraged to apply. This conference highlights historical approaches to queer/trans scholarship, and while interdisciplinary approaches are welcome, we are soliciting proposals that explore queer/trans lives in the past. There is no specific theme; rather, we hope that this gathering will simply showcase the best of current work and new directions in the fields of queer and/or trans histories, including panels addressing historiographical debates or states-of-the-field. We encourage queer/trans scholarship on racial formations and racial capitalism, colonialism and empire, disability and embodiment, paid and unpaid labor, and practices of kinship and intimacy. Moreover, we are interested in panels that look beyond the twentieth-century United States. To promote robust conversations, we encourage panels organized by theme rather than region.

We particularly encourage panels and roundtables that respond to the political crises and technological changes impacting how we research, study, and teach queer/trans history today. In an era in which the teaching of history, ethnic studies and gender/sexuality studies faces increased scrutiny and backlash, we welcome panels and roundtables that explore critical reflections on queer/trans history in the classroom, from K-12 through higher education. As the US National Park Service deletes trans history content from government webpages, we encourage submissions that discuss queer/trans public history projects today. As the media through which queer/trans history knowledge circulates continue to diversify, we welcome panels that discuss how historians are using podcasts, online exhibitions, blogs, documentaries, social media rolls, Signal threads, Zoom webinars, and other formats to tell stories about the queer/trans past. 

Dorm rooms and on-campus hotel rooms will be available to make this conference as affordable as possible and registration fees will be minimal. 

A note from the conference co-chairs:

We want to thank members who’ve reached out to express concern about hosting the 2026 conference in the United States. We’re working to address those concerns, and particularly to make the conference as accessible as possible given the circumstances, including offering fully virtual options, sponsoring visas, and helping keep the costs of the conference as low as possible. We encourage folks to keep reaching out to us--this process is collaborative, and there would be no QTHC without all of you.

There is no perfect solution. While the U.S. is a place that international scholars may want to boycott or feel is unsafe to travel to, it is also a place that is hard for our trans and/or immigrant members to leave and return to. We also believe it is important to keep discussing trans and queer histories in the United States when the federal government is actively trying to erase these fields of inquiry. We considered several options and went with one where we had a dedicated local organizer with the capacity to facilitate the logistics on the ground. We want this conference to be accessible for as many people as possible. Ann Arbor has a generally welcoming climate for LGBTQ folks, ample institutional resources, interesting archives, and a richly documented local/regional LGBTQ history, so we’re excited about this opportunity. 

We see a future for the QTHC that continues to move around, and if you and your institution can host for 2028, please be in touch with the LGBTQ History Association co-chairs! We are open to a Canadian location for 2028, and look forward to an ongoing discussion with our membership to explore how best to facilitate accessible transnational dialogue about the queer/trans past in the years to come.

Guidelines for Submission

We are accepting proposals for:

1.      Fully in-person panels (three papers, a chair, and a comment; chair and comment roles can be fulfilled by the same person), roundtables (three to five speakers who will speak for 5-10 minutes each, plus a chair), workshops (an event in which one or more facilitators present on a topic and engage the audience in hands-on activity or constructive dialogue; examples might include  “Writing for the Public with the Editors of Nursing Clio,” “How to Launch a Podcast with Dig: A History Podcast,” “Writing a Book Proposal,” etc; workshops will require attendees to pre-register, and a max participant threshold should be set in the proposal), or single papers. 

2.     Fully virtual panels (three papers, a chair, and a comment; chair and comment roles can be fulfilled by the same person), roundtables (three to five speakers who will speak for 5-10 minutes each, plus a chair), or single papers. In response to member feedback about hybrid panels and prohibitive costs around technical support, we have decided not to accept hybrid proposals that require conference support to implement the hybrid experience. 

Our hope is that with options for fully virtual panels we can support opportunities for scholars who feel unsafe traveling to the United States to gather, share scholarship, and connect. 

We will consider individual paper submissions, out of which the program committee will assemble a very limited number of panels (either fully virtual or in-person). See below for ways to connect with others working in your field.

Panels and roundtables will be 1.5 hours. We encourage all full panel submissions to include at least one graduate student where possible. All panels should include a diversity of scholars in terms of institution, rank, and identity. Please only apply as part of one panel or roundtable. (The exception to this rule is for the role of chair or commentator, which may be performed by someone who is also giving a paper or appearing on a roundtable.) You do need to include someone to perform the chair, with an optional commenter. 

You may reach out to conference co-chairs for help in locating a chair and/or commentator: email conference@lgbtq-ha.org. In order to assemble panels, feel free to use the LGBTQHA listserv to connect with others working on similar topics (LGBTQHA@groups.io; if you are not already a member, you can register here: https://groups.io/g/lgbtqha) or use the hashtag #qthc26 on BlueSky or Facebook. 

Full Panels should include, in one Word document:

· Title of panel

· Panel abstract (300 words max.)

· Title and abstract for each paper (300 words max.)

· One-page CV or biographical statement with contact information for each participant

· Chair (required) and Commenter (optional) roles specified

Roundtables should include, in one Word document:

· Title of roundtable

· Panel abstract (300 words max.)

· Abstract for each contribution (300 words max.)

· One-page CV or biographical statement with contact information for each participant

· Chair role specified

Workshops should include, in one Word document:

· Title of workshop

· Workshop description  (300 words max.)

· Maximum number of participants 

· Expectations of participants (Do they need to bring a book proposal in progress? A laptop or other equipment? Sturdy walking shoes?) 

· Support that the facilitators would need from the conference staff

· Workshops can run up to 3 hours; please make a note in the proposal of the desired run time. 

· One-page CV or biographical statement with contact information for each facilitator

Single paper submissions should include, in one Word document:

· Title of paper

· Paper abstract (300 words max.)

· One-page CV or biographical statement with contact information

Please submit all proposals by November 1, 2025 to conference@lgbtq-ha.org. The QTHC 26 program committee will make decisions and send notifications in December. All presenters are expected to be (or become) members of the LGBTQ History Association by the time of the conference. Membership information is here.

The Huntington Library is now accepting Research Fellowship Applications for the 2026-2027 fellowship year for Long-Term, Short-Term, and Travel Grants/Exchange Fellowships.  

Long-Term fellowships are open to all scholars with a PhD, and available for one term (4-5 months) with a $25,000 stipend or one academic year (9 months) with a $50,000 stipend. Short-term fellowships (1-3 months) with stipends of $4,000 per month are open to graduate students, faculty, postdocs, working artists, creative writers, and independent researchers working on a scholarly project served by The Huntington's collections. Travel Grants/Exchange fellowships (1 month) with either a $4,000 stipend or room and board provided by the host institution are available to scholars at any stage from ABD onwards for research outside of North America, particularly with exchange partners in the UK, or in continental Europe or Latin America.

For more information about the types of fellowships, see https://www.huntington.org/available-fellowships   

For details of eligibility and the applications process, see https://www.huntington.org/fellowships and for answers to frequently asked questions, see https://huntington.org/fellowship-faqs  

Applications are due by 11:59 PM PST on November 15, 2025. 

The California Supreme Court Historical Society (CSCHS) encourages all students working on California legal history (NOT just the history of California courts) to apply for this prize. Papers may include elements of digital humanities and may also be co-authored. This is a GREAT WAY to get attention for your hard work!

$5,000 first-place, $2,500 second-place, and $1,000 third-place prizes will be awarded to the best papers on California state or colonial history, broadly considered. Recent winners include a study of the death penalty in California, the evolution of California land law, the desegregation of Stanford Law School, and disability law and the campaign for independent living. as well as a jointly authored paper on Chinese adoption practices and their role in immigration decisions after the Chinese Exclusion Act.

We accept papers of at least 7,500 and not more than 15,000 words, including notes and other explanatory matter. The competition is open to students and recent graduates in history and/or law, provided that they did not have full-time academic employment at the time the paper was written. The paper should also be unpublished; prize winners will likely receive an offer to publish in California Legal History, CSCHS’s journal.

Papers may be self-nominated or sent in by a professor or supervisor. To ensure anonymity, the author’s name should appear only on a separate cover page, along with the author’s mailing address, telephone number, email address, and the name of their school.

Submissions are due by July 1, 2026 and should be sent to director@cschs.org with the subject line “Smith Prize.” The winners will be announced in August 2026, and an award ceremony (likely over Zoom) will be held in August or September.

For the Prize Committee: Sarah Barringer Gordon, Laura Kalman, Stuart Banner

The University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Reno is pleased to announce the Bruce and Nora James Visiting Scholar Award for the Study of Nevada Politics and Public Service. The $5000 James Visiting Scholar Award supports travel, lodging, and meal expenses for a scholar wishing to explore the vast Nevada-centric political and public service archival collections at the University of Nevada, Reno – currently comprising over 200 collections. The collections touch on both state level issues as well as regional and federal topics. The Award is open to both emerging and established scholars.

To apply and learn more, please visit https://library.unr.edu/places/knowledge-center/special-collections/projects-and-initiatives/james-award.   

Applications are due November 2, 2025 with onsite study expected in summer of 2026.

Dear Members of the Western History Association,

With sadness and heartfelt sympathy, I regretfully write to inform you that Dr. Quintard Taylor, Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Washington and a former WHA President, died yesterday. 

Dr. Taylor made significant contributions to the field of western history and the WHA over the last five decades. In addition to his many publications and founding the BlackPast.org, he presented his work at numerous conferences, served as chair and commentator of sessions, published in the Western Historical Quarterly, and lent his time to the WHA Council, as well as the Sara Jackson Graduate Student Award Committee and multiple Program Committees. He was awarded with Honorary Lifetime Membership in 2005.

In 2011, Dr. Taylor served as the WHA's first Black President, presiding over the WHA in its fiftieth year as an organization. At the Oakland Conference, he organized the first Presidential Plenary. This event is now a highlight of the WHA's annual conference. 

I corresponded with Quintard in June, when he made generous comments about the WHA. In closing he lamented about not being at the Albuquerque conference, remarking, "Needless to say, I really believe in the work of the WHA."

The WHA benefited immensely from Dr. Taylor, and he will be sorely missed throughout the association as a scholar, friend, and colleague.

I invite you to read this message, published by his colleagues at BlackPast.org, to learn more about Dr. Taylor's career and impact. 

Sincerely,

Elaine Nelson, WHA Executive Director

The Alliance for Texas History will hold its Annual Conference on May 27-29, 2026, on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. The Alliance invites proposals for papers, sessions, and roundtables. Submissions may be individual papers or complete sessions. Student sessions are strongly encouraged.

A Call for Papers for our 2026 conference is issued and active. Please use the Program Proposal form for all submissions. The deadline is November 18, 2025.

The program committee, co-chaired by Stephanie Cole and Deborah Liles, supports topics that cover all aspects of Texas history, including, but not limited to, social, economic, political, cultural, preservation, and material culture, along with topics that address Texas history generally but are aligned with influences on Texas history. We hope to receive sessions that explore a wide range of Texas history topics, including teaching and curriculum, historiography, biographical studies, underrepresented regional communities, literature, publishing, and historical consciousness in the new century.

For more information, visit the website at www.atxh.org/2026-conference.