Mormon History Association
2010 Independence Missouri Conference
Call for Papers
The Home and the Homeland:
Families in Diverse Mormon Traditions
The forty-fifth annual conference of the Mormon History Association will be held May 27-30, 2010, at the Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel in Kansas City, MO. It has been twenty-five years since the last MHA conference was held in Missouri. The 2010 theme, ?The Home and the Homeland: Families in Diverse Mormon Traditions? recognizes the family as a central social and religious institution within Mormon traditions. Tanner Lecturer Catherine Brekus of the University of Chicago will address the topic of ?Women in Early Mormonism.? Mormon traditions (also called Restoration traditions) have historically recognized the family and home as the spatial, social, and emotional place where men, women, and children become religious and moral people. Fatherhood and motherhood have been interpreted as religious, as well as biological and social roles. Papers and panels on all aspects of the history and practice of family life in all Restoration traditions are welcomed. Since Independence, Missouri, serves as the ?homeland? to dozens of Restoration traditions, we especially encourage papers that examine or compare lesser studied groups. Of special note, 2010 marks the sesquicentennial of Joseph Smith III?s ordination as leader of the Community of Christ and the twenty-fifth anniversary of its first priesthood ordinations of women. Both events sparked controversy and caused the reexamination of how family roles shaped religious practices. Presenters could explore religious interpretation of the family, gender roles within the family, the Mormon religious experience within families, children and childhood, Mormon domestic architecture, or Mormon material culture.
MHA invites and actively seeks proposals for complete sessions, panels, and other presentations. While we encourage presentations related to the theme, we also welcome other proposals. While the Program Committee will give preference to complete two or three paper session proposals, individual paper proposals will be considered. Please send an abstract of the paper (no more than 300 words) that outlines your argument and the sources that will be used plus a short CV (no longer than two pages) for each speaker. Previously published papers will not be considered.
The deadline for proposals is October 1, 2009. Proposals should be sent by email to: mhameeting2010@gmail.com. Hard copies of proposals can also be sent to: Susanna Morrill, Lewis & Clark College, MSC 45, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd., Portland, OR 97219 or David Howlett, 222 E. Market St. Apt. 32, Iowa City, IA 52245. Notification for acceptance or rejection will be made by January 1, 2010. Additional instructions will be available on the MHA website at http://mhahome.org.
Thanks for the notice, Matt. There’s a great program committee, and thus I expect a great conference in 2010.
Comment by Jared T — July 14, 2009 @ 3:37 pm
Mormon traditions (also called Restoration traditions) have historically recognized the family and home as the spatial, social, and emotional place where men, women, and children become religious and moral people. Fatherhood and motherhood have been interpreted as religious, as well as biological and social roles.
Was this “call for papers” written by a BYU family studies professor, or what? If you’re going to highlight the “diversity” of restoration traditions, it seems odd to imply such a narrow definition of “families.”
Comment by Nick Literski — July 14, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
I apologize, my #2 sounds more harsh than it was intended. I’m sure the program committee won’t interpret the issue in such a specific way, and of course other topics are always included.
I just wish the statement itself had been a little more broad-minded, and reflective of the diversity the topic seems intent on celebrating.
Comment by Nick Literski — July 14, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
Nick, I’m curious to know how you would have written that part of the call for papers (seriously).
Comment by SC Taysom — July 14, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
SC, I suppose I would have substituted “individuals” for “men, women and children,” and “Parenthood has” for “Fatherhood and motherhood have.”
Maybe that’s not a perfect solution, but it wouldn’t seem so much a “definition.”
Comment by Nick Literski — July 14, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
I am getting my proposal ready. Every good history conference could use some history of political thought.
Comment by Chris H. — July 14, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
Nick, thanks for responding–I was honestly puzzled but your clarification helps me see where you are coming from on this.
Comment by SC Taysom — July 14, 2009 @ 10:42 pm
Thanks for understanding, SC. 🙂
Comment by Nick Literski — July 14, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
I have an old paper on metaphysical correspondence in Swedenborg and Smith. anyone have material for a panel to throw together in that general space?
I could probably also throw together a piece on heaven family/sacerdotal kindred/adoption/etc if that worked better.
(have no time to write a new paper or organize the panel but do want to try to make it to this MHA)
Comment by smb — July 15, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
I would like to present on domestic violence and the topice when enough is enough. thanks.
Comment by carolyn moore — January 2, 2010 @ 6:33 pm