American Printing History Association Annual Conference

New York City & Berkeley, October 17–19, 2024

The American Printing History Association (APHA) is thrilled to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special hybrid conference, “APHA @ 50: Printing History Past, Present and Future”. Taking place primarily in New York City (Grolier Club) and Berkeley, California (Codex Foundation), the conference will include curated in-person and live-streamed events in each  location and elsewhere, with virtual-only papers and panels scheduled throughout the weekend.

The conference theme will explore the ever-evolving story of print across time. We welcome proposals that examine printing and its history and study, especially over the fifty years since APHA was founded in 1974. Potential topics include:

• The impact of printing on specific historical events or social movements.
• The evolution of printing technology, graphic arts, and the study of printing.
• The intersection of printing with other media forms, especially digital technologies.
• The history of printing in a specific geographic region or cultural context.
• The social and economic impact of the printing industry.
• The experiences and perspectives of individual printers, publishers, typographers and others engaged in the production of printed material.
• The role of libraries, archives, and museums in preserving and promoting printing history.
• The future of printing and printing history: sustainability, preservation, and new frontiers.

This conference welcomes everyone with a passion for printing and book history, including seasoned scholars, librarians and archivists, conservators, students, and hobbyists. Submissions are encouraged from people of all backgrounds, including established academics, early career professionals, and independent scholars. We believe diverse perspectives enrich the conversation, so please do not hesitate to submit your work regardless of institutional affiliation or academic status. We will consider individual and group presentations.

Our hybrid format maximizes participation and accessibility. Present your research virtually and connect with a global audience, and join us in-person for select events in New York City, Berkeley and elsewhere (streamed live online as well). While most presentations will be virtual, keep an eye out for exciting in-person opportunities.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Proposals are due by Friday, June 28, 2024 July 5, 2024. Proposals will be evaluated based on their originality, clarity, relevance to the conference theme, and potential to stimulate discussion.

Proposal and Submission Guidelines

We are soliciting proposals for 20-minute individual presentations or 50-minute group panels of three or four speakers. You will receive a timely acknowledgment that your proposal has been received. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please send e-mail proposals as attachments in Microsoft Word or PDF format to: proposals@printinghistory.org.

All proposals must include the following: name(s) of presenter(s) (if proposing a group panel, include names of all group participants); contact information (mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address); short biography (100 words maximum for each participant); title of presentation or panel; and abstract (500 words maximum).

We look forward to celebrating fifty years of APHA with you!