The submission portal is now open! The deadline for proposals is February 21, 2025.
Considering a Proposal?
These guidelines are intended to provide information about how to submit a proposal for the 2025 OHA Annual Meeting. They explain the different types of sessions that the Planning Committee will consider, as well as information about submission content, logistics, and evaluation criteria.
Concurrent Session Types
Individual Presentation: A single presentation lasting approximately 10-15 minutes. Individual presentations will be topically or thematically paired with 2-3 others to form a complete panel, with an assigned chair who will facilitate. An audience discussion typically concludes the set of presentations.
Those considering submitting an Individual Presentation proposal are encouraged to find other individuals to present with to increase panel coherence. Connect with others on a shared topic/theme by utilizing the OHA 2025 Proposal Brainstorm Board to list a theme you would organize a session around or to find someone whose listed theme fits your area of interest.
Panel: 3-4 panelists share their presentations for approximately 10-15 minutes each, followed by discussion amongst the panelists and the audience. Panel proposals should exhibit a coherent topic or theme, and include a non-presenter to serve as panel chair.
Listening Session: 1-4 presenters share excerpts from oral interviews and then generate a conversation with the audience. This format invites researchers and audiences to discuss the ethical, interpretive, and/or pragmatic issues that arise in the oral history process. Researchers may engage the audience in shared interpretation of interviews and related issues, or to provide feedback on their methods and practice.
Roundtable: 3-4 speakers provide up to 15 minutes of introductory remarks (if needed) and then use the majority of the time to engage with each other and the audience in discussion on a common topic, problem, or theme. It is advised that a roundtable moderator is selected to facilitate discussion.
Hands-On Session: 1-2 facilitators share knowledge and expertise about a particular oral history or community engagement tool, technology, technique, lesson plan, or software in a short “how to” session. Attendees of a hands-on session will have a chance to try out what is being discussed, make a plan for how they would use it, or otherwise engage with the content presented in this session.
Other: The OHA Conference Committee is encouraging proposals for non-traditional/creative alternatives to the above session types. This could include (but is not limited to):
- Performances
- Short video/documentaries
- Lightning Talks/PechaKucha – fast paced visual-oriented storytelling showing 20 slides for 20 seconds per slide
- Campfire Sessions – an informal way of presenting and discussing topics to break down the barriers of the lectern
- Birds-of-a-Feather gatherings – An informal discussion group based on a shared interest or identity without a fixed agenda.
Please note the following:
Timing: The descriptions of many session types include approximate allotted times for each presentation. The times included are suggestions to ensure equity for all involved, including giving the audience time to ask questions.
Accommodation: The Planning Committee may reach out to applicants to discuss feasibility regarding space and technology. OHA will do its best to provide accommodations. If you have any questions or concerns about accessibility that cannot be addressed in the submission portal, please contact the OHA Office at oha@oralhistory.org
Roles/Responsibilities
Session Chair: This person assumes the leadership role for the group and makes sure the session is organized and cohesive. They will 1) be the liaison between the panel and OHA, 2) make sure all presenters are informed about and prepared for the conference, 3) steer the session (introduce the topic and the participants and hold presentations to agreed upon time limits), 4) moderate the session’s question-and-answer period, and 5) conclude the session on time.
Roundtable Moderator: This person moderates the roundtable discussion, ensuring active and equitable participation from the roundtable presenters and the audience. Typically, this person assumes the same duties as the Session Chair, described above.
Other Session Types
Pre-Conference Workshop: 1-3 workshop facilitators provide 3-4 hours of instruction. Emphasis should be placed on developing a knowledge base or skill set related to oral history practice or useful to oral history practitioners. Topics should be appropriate to the time allotted and facilitators should plan for active audience participation. Pre-Conference Workshops are offered at an additional fee to attendees, and facilitators are provided a stipend for their time. You can find examples of previous Pre-Conference Workshops here.
Poster: 1-4 people present a poster that is a visual representation of a topic or project. An effective poster presentation highlights, with a visual display, the main points or components of a project. Text and images should be large enough to be seen from a distance of several feet. Information about size and technical specifications will be shared when presenters are informed of their acceptance. Printed posters and digital and multimedia displays are welcome. Electricity and internet access will be available. The submission portal will remain open until May 1, 2024 for poster submissions only.
Submission Content Guidelines
In addition to selecting your submission category from the options above and providing contact information, you will be asked to provide the following for your proposal:
Title (required): The title should convey the essence of the presentation’s subject. Remember that in the conference program and quick guide, on the meeting room signs, and in other documents and materials, the title will appear alone without the abstract. The title should therefore be sufficient to inform conference planners and attendees what the presentation is about.
Brief Summary (required): 1-2 sentences. This summary will be included in the program so that participants have basic information about the content of your session
Abstract (required): Limit 300 words. Abstracts for proposal submissions to the Oral History Association Annual Meeting serve two purposes. First, they are the basis upon which the Conference Committee evaluates and selects items for inclusion in the meeting schedule. Secondly, they serve to inform conference attendees about the content of sessions. Composing an informative and concise abstract is key to having your proposal fairly evaluated and selected, AND for having a well-attended session with an engaged audience.
Recommended elements for abstracts:
- Context: Provide a sentence or two about the larger issues, events, time period, or population within which the presented work is considered.
- Relation to theme: Each OHA conference has a theme, described in detail in the call for papers posted on the OHA website. There is always considerable leeway within the stated theme for presentation subjects, and Planning Committees give careful consideration to all proposals. However, relating your proposal to the conference theme can be beneficial.
- Oral history component: The most important criterion for OHA proposals is a clear connection to some aspect of oral history.
- Engagement or Interactive component: Provide some information about what tools, technologies and/or strategies you will use to engage participants.
- Summary, Conclusions, and Audience Takeaways: Concisely summarize the content of the proposed presentation and state the conclusion, result, policy, action, or next steps and what audiences will gain by attending this session.
Tags (required): The Planning Committee will use these selected tags to help with programming, and conference-goers will use them to learn more about scheduled sessions.
Participant Bio(s) (required): Limit 250 words each. Bios will be used internally by the Planning Committee and not shared with Annual Meeting attendees.
Preferred Session Length (required): Your options for preferred session length are 60 or 90 minutes. Your preference will be considered but cannot be guaranteed.
Special Requirements/Accommodations (optional): If you/your presentation requires special equipment beyond the standard audio/video/projection technology which OHA makes available in all presentation rooms, or if you have special requirements for room size or arrangement or other facilities, you may note those requests here. OHA will do its best to accommodate such requests and needs.
Submission Information & Evaluation Criteria
All submissions must be submitted through the MemberClicks Submission Portal by February 21, 2025. All submitters will need to log into their MemberClicks account or create a new MemberClicks user account. You do not have to be or become a member in order to submit a proposal.
Emailed, faxed, or scanned proposals will NOT be accepted. The OHA staff is eager to help people navigate the submission site. Please contact us at oha@oralhistory.org.
Submission Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated by the Conference Committee using the following criteria:
1) Overall clarity and completeness of submission. Incomplete proposals will not be considered;
2) Use of and contribution to Oral History;
3) Importance and relevance of topic to the conference theme and the field of Oral History.
Questions about submitting a proposal for the Oral History Association Annual Meeting? Contact Conference Co-Chair, Alissa Rae Funderburk at annualmeeting@oralhistory.org or the OHA Executive Office at oha@oralhistory.org
