Cfp: "Then and Now," Second Annual U.S. Intellectual History Conference, Center for the Humanities, CUNY Graduate Center, November 12-13, 2009.

The Conference is being organized by the editors of the U.S. Intellectual History (USIH) weblog in coordination with CUNY's Center for the Humanities (The Graduate Center). The theme for 2009 is "Then And Now." The "Now" aspect of the theme invites papers tracing the outlines and intellectual roots of contemporary ideas, institutions, and significant thinkers. "Then" invites both works in U.S. intellectual history broadly conceived and historiographic analyses of U.S. intellectual history—a timely topic with 2009 marking the 30-year anniversary of John Higham and Paul K. Conkin's landmark edited collection of essays, New Directions in American Intellectual History. We seek fresh, interdisciplinary scholarship exploring either new subjects or innovative methodologies in relation to U.S. intellectual life. The potential for inter-disciplinary work honors the mission of this year's host, The Center for the Humanities. Finally, while "Then and Now" constitutes our vision for 2009, feel free to inquire about departures. The first USIH Conference held October 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, attracted 32 paper presenters from 33 different institutions across the United States. Examples of topics covered in the 11 resultant panels include: Cold War liberalism, the politics of publishing and mass media, political conversions, friendship and masculinity, historiography, Progressive Era reform, multiculturalism, higher education, pragmatism, and anti-intellectualism. For the 2009 Conference, please submit digital abstracts for papers, panels, or both by Monday, June 15, 2009. Proposals should be approximately 200 words and include a concise curriculum vitae for each participant. Be sure to include your postal and e-mail addresses, as well as a phone number. Those interested in chairing a session or commenting should send a CV indicating areas of expertise and interests. Papers must take no longer than 30 minutes in a 2-paper session or 20 minutes in a 3-paper session. Sessions will last 120 minutes. Conference headquarters will be The Center for the Humanities in CUNY's Graduate Center. Suggestions for nearby hotel accommodations will be available at a continuously updated USIH link after the new year. Please address all inquiries and abstracts to: Paul Murphy (murphyp@gvsu.edu) or Tim Lacy (timlacy@uic.edu). Further information may be found here: http://us-intellectual-history.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-usih-conference-useful-information.html.