Call for Proposals is Out! Submission Portal to Open Soon!

We look forward to hosting the 2026 OHA Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon from October 14-17, 2026. You can find the Call for Proposals HERE.

Check back in December for the official opening of the Proposal Submission Portal!

Frequently Asked Questions

An FAQ pertaining to conference planning is posted below. For any other questions, please contact oha@oralhistory.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the OHA Annual Meeting?
  • The Annual Meeting encapsulates both the typical conference sessions and events we host in a different city every year as well as the business and committee meetings that are typically only held in-person at that same time. If you have more questions about what a typical annual meeting is like, this FAQ is for you: Conference Basics for First Timers.

• What is the local arrangements committee?
  • The local arrangements committee are folks living and working in and around the host city, who can help orchestrate the optional activities, tours, and other opportunities for attendees to participate in before and after the annual meeting. They also help to promote the annual meeting within their local communities and sometimes involve their organizations and institutions. They typically begin meeting in earnest 6-7 months before the conference.

• What is the work of the planning committee?
  • The planning committee reviews all the proposals and works to select the best ones for inclusion in the program. They also work to construct the program itself, scheduling all the panels and events.

• What are the benefits of joining a committee?
  • You get to share ideas that help shape the annual meeting, to make it more inclusive and welcoming.

• What is the time commitment of serving on the committee?
  • The time needed to serve on  the committee varies throughout the year based on the various deadlines and division of labor though meetings tend to be more frequent the closer the annual meeting is.

• Do I have to attend the annual meeting if I’m on the committee?
  • No, however all program committee members will receive comped registration.

• Do I have to be a member of the OHA to help?
  • While you do not have to be a member of the OHA to attend the conference or lend a helping hand, only OHA members can serve on the actual committee. Find out more about OHA membership: https://oralhistory.org/membership/

• How else can I participate if I’m not on the committee?
  • Attend the conference as a general participant (come for 1 day or all 3-4 days)
  • Propose an individual or panel presentation through the open “call for proposals” (deadline early 2026)
  • Propose a poster presentation
  • Propose a mini-workshop or pre-conference workshop
  • Volunteer to lead a “dine-around” group one evening of the conference
  • Volunteer to chair a panel
  • Propose to lead or coordinate a local tour

• What is the theme for the 2026 Annual Meeting?
  • For the 2026 Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, we invite contributions from around the world—from those working in academia, advocacy, education, and community-based practice—that speak to how people shape and are shaped by the landscapes they inhabit, traverse, defend, or are forced to leave behind. We welcome proposals that explore relationships to land, memory, and movement across shifting environmental, political, and cultural boundaries.

• When will the call for proposals go out?
  • The call for proposals is now live! You can find it HERE

• Can I submit more than one application?
  • Yes, however only one proposal of each kind by a single applicant may be presented. I.E. you may submit a workshop, one poster, one panel and/or individual paper, but proposals for multiple papers, posters, or workshops will not be accepted. 

• Do you need suggestions for possible event sponsors or organizational partners?
  • Yes! Please share any ideas for local sponsors or partners to our email: oha@oralhistory.org