The 57th Annual Meeting
University of the West Indies, Mona
Jamaica, May 24-28, 2026

CALL FOR PAPERS

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“Slavery, its Legacies, Labor, and Maritime History in the Caribbean”

The ACH Executive Committee is pleased to announce that its 57th Annual Conference will be held at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, from May 24-28, 2026. (There will be an optional field trip on Friday, May 29.)

For the 57th Annual Conference, the Executive Committee is particularly interested in papers and panels on slavery, its legacies, labor, and maritime history. As always, proposals on any aspect of Caribbean history are welcome. We invite submissions for papers, posters, and panels that engage with the conference theme, as well as on other topics in Caribbean history.

For those proposing panels, please note that we seek linguistic and geographic diversity and representation. Applicants may also wish to consider that the ACH promotes diversity among panelists regarding institutional affiliation and academic experience.

Preference is given to applicants who did not present at the previous conference (2025).

The deadline for proposal submission is October 15, 2025.

***DEADLINE EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 31, 2025!***

Detailed instructions can be found below. Please use the online forms linked below to make submissions.

Any questions can be communicated to José A. Fernández Montes de Oca, Conference Coordinator at achconference@gmail.com.

Application Instructions

There are THREE WAYS to participate in the 2026 ACH Conference:

A) PAPER: You can apply to present an individual paper. These applications are reviewed by the Executive Committee by theme and composed into panels. This requires: 

  1. The appropriate form for a paper proposal;
  2. A 250-word abstract (abstracts must indicate what new information or approach the work provides as well as the archival or oral sources consulted). Abstracts must be submitted in 3 languages: English, French and Spanish. Proposals that are submitted in less than 3 languages will not be considered for the conference.
  3. A brief CV (no more than 3 pages)
  4. A brief bio (no more than 300 words)
  5. Please note that all documents should be combined into ONE (1) Microsoft Word file (please do not submit as a PDF).

B) PANEL: You can also apply as part of a panel of 3 or 4 papers. This requires: 

  1. A panel proposal
  2. A 250-word abstract for each proposed presenter (abstracts must indicate what new information or approach the work provides as well as the archival or oral sources consulted. Abstracts must be submitted in 3 languages: English, French and Spanish. Proposals that are submitted in less than 3 languages will not be considered for the conference.
  3. A brief CV (no more than 3 pages)
  4. A brief bio (no more than 300 words)
  5. Please note that all documents should be combined into ONE (1) Microsoft Word file (please do not submit as a PDF).

Please note that while panel organizers may propose a chair, final assignment of chairs is the prerogative of the Executive Committee. Proposed chairs should be experts in the panel field.

C) POSTER: You can also apply to participate in our poster session. This is intended as a fast-paced, fun session for newer scholars or for those embarking on a new project. This requires: 

  1. A poster proposal form; this is the same as the paper proposal form—just check that you are applying to offer a poster.
  2. An abstract of no more than 250 words (Abstracts must be submitted in 3 languages: English, French and Spanish. Proposals that are submitted in less than 3 languages will not be considered for the conference).
  3. A brief CV (no more than 3 pages)
  4. A brief bio (no more than 300 words)
  5. Please note that all documents should be combined into ONE (1) Microsoft Word file (please do not submit as a PDF).

 A few important notes: 

  • Graduate students in advanced stages of their studies are encouraged to submit papers based on substantial dissertation research.
  • All participants must be current members of the ACH by the time they present.
  • ACH presentations include (1) a pre-circulated paper written in English, French, or Spanish, which must be no longer than 25 typed, double-spaced pages using 12-point font, including notes and references and (2) a brief presentation of no longer than 4 pages.
  • Presentations are intended to introduce the highlights of this written work and so are strictly limited to 10 minutes.
  • Poster presentations require a short pre-circulated paper summarizing research to date (maximum 10 typed, double-spaced pages in 12-point font, including notes and references). Conference presentations will be limited to 5 minutes and up to 10 PowerPoint slides.
  • Papers for both panels and for poster presentations will be made available online at the ACH website in advance of the conference and can be accessed only by those who pay their registration fees.
  • To allow time to format and post material, presenters should email papers (as a Microsoft Word file) NO LATER THAN March 13, 2026 to: José A. Fernández Montes de Oca, ACH Conference Coordinator, at achconference@gmail.com.
  • If, after your proposal has been accepted, you find you are unable to attend, please inform the ACH Conference Coordinator as soon as possible in order to allow us to adjust the program.