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Society of Ohio Archivists & Midwest Archives Conference Joint Annual Meeting 2026
The Midwest Archives Conference and the Society of Ohio Archivists will hold a joint 2026 Annual Meeting on May 14-16, 2026, at the Ohio Union, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, THE Ohio State sits a few miles north of downtown Columbus. A city unto itself with an enrollment of over 65,000, Ohio State is known for its top-ranked academic programs in engineering, agriculture, and business, its world-class research endeavors, and, of course, football. For more information about the host and the conference, see the meeting website.
From 2015 until 2023, Ohio’s tourism slogan was “Find it Here.” As a slogan, it raised the obvious question, “Find what here?”; but as an archives motto…well, to “Find it Here” is an archivist’s greatest hope for anyone exploring their collections. Join us as we explore the myriad ways in which archivists and memory workers make their collections accessible, discoverable, and usable.
SOA Meet-up on May 14
During the meeting, SOA will host a meet-up on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 11:30a to 12:30p in the Third Floor Lounge. Meet and greet your fellow SOA members before the conference starts. See who’s in town or meet new friends before heading off to lunch, on your own or with a group.
Call for Poster Presentations
The 2026 Program Committee invites poster proposal submissions on all aspects of archival practice and research, as well as on topics from allied and related fields. The Program Committee seeks a diverse slate of presenters, representing a variety of personal and institutional backgrounds, perspectives, and voices. We seek to foster a culture of inclusion in the MAC-SOA program and encourage submissions from students, new professionals, first-time presenters, and those from allied professions. Membership in MAC and/or SOA is not required to present. Poster presentations will be onsite only, and at least one author must be present.
Proposals are due by 11:59p CST February 8, 2026. There will be no deadline extension.
The Program Committee invites poster proposals touching on the theme “Find it Here.”
Potential areas of focus include:
- Distinct approaches to collecting, reference, and instruction
- Overcoming challenges to making collections accessible and discoverable
- Successful community archiving projects and partnerships
- Utilizing facilities in unique ways to highlight and provide access to collections
For more ideas, see the earlier conference Call for Session Proposals here.
Authors are required to present their posters in person during scheduled times during the meeting, Thursday 3–3:30 pm and Friday 3-3:30 pm. These presentations are more like elevator speeches that summarize the poster content with attendees who stop by the poster to view it and ask questions.
Proposal Evaluation
The MAC-SOA PC Poster Subcommittee will evaluate all proposals submitted by the deadline. Proposals will be evaluated in two ways: 1) merit and clarity of the 1750-character abstract; and 2) completeness of the proposal, particularly having well-developed content to understand all relevant aspects of the topic. Authors of posters accepted for inclusion in the MAC-SOA 2026 Annual Meeting will be notified in February 2026.
To submit a proposal, please fill out the MAC 2026 Poster Proposals Submission Form. The deadline for submitting poster proposals for the 2026 MAC-SOA Annual Meeting is February 5, 2026. We look forward to seeing you in Columbus!
Poster Prizes
MAC memberships will be awarded to a select number of posters based on the following criteria:
- Originality
- Relation to meeting theme (“Find It Here”)
- Creativity displayed in the poster
Poster Session Tips
Poster sessions are a means to communicate and exchange ideas, programs, research, and projects to fellow MAC-SOA meeting attendees
Posters typically include pictures, data, graphs and/or diagrams with narrative text on paper backing that are approximately 36×24 inches. MAC will provide easels, thumb tacks, and appropriately sized foam board.
Helpful tips on creating posters are available at these links:
- ALA Poster Presentations (at conferences)
- The Writing Center at UW-Madison: Creating Poster Presentations
- UNC Grad School Poster and Presentations Resources
Poster sessions cannot be used to advertise products or to display vendor items. If you are unsure if your proposal qualifies or if you have questions about the poster submission process, please email Adam Wanter, Poster Coordinator, at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Will MAC pay my travel expenses and/or registration fee to attend the annual meeting if I am presenting a poster?
Answer: No, MAC cannot reimburse you for your travel or conference registration expenses. However, MAC offers travel scholarships for first-time meeting attendees. Applications for the Mark A. Greene Award for First-Time Meeting Attendees are due March 16, 2026. SOA also offers a variety of scholarship opportunities.
- Question: What if I have a conflict with poster session presentation time?
Answer: At least one author of the poster must be present during the poster sessions. This is an opportunity to engage with conference attendees who stop to ask questions and provide further details about poster content. Poster sessions cannot be presented unless at least one author is present during the allotted times.
- Question: What happens if I must cancel my poster session because I can’t attend the conference?
Answer: Please plan on a backup person who will be able to represent your poster if an emergency arises. If an alternate presenter is unable to be arranged, your poster will not be included in the poster session.
- Question: Can I have an internet connection or other electrical or technical support?
Answer: If your poster session includes electrical equipment, you may need to provide your own source of power (e.g., batteries). We cannot guarantee electrical support or Internet connections in the poster session area. Audio-visual presentations that include sound are not encouraged, as they can be distracting to the other presenters and attendees. However, if you can supply headphones for viewers/listeners, sound is acceptable.
Please note in your proposal if you request specific electrical support.
- Question: What about simultaneous submissions? Can I submit a poster session proposal about a project for which I’ve also submitted a manuscript for publication in a journal?
Answer: Yes, poster submissions for articles that have been simultaneously submitted for publication are welcomed, if you note the simultaneous submission on the proposal form.
- Question: What is the difference between the MAC Exhibit area and the MAC Poster Session Area?
Answer: The exhibit area is designed for vendors or organizations to promote their wares or groups. The poster session area is expressly for authors to present their work on research or projects.
- Question: Can I present a session and a poster?
Answer: Yes, but submission preference will be given to authors who are not already presenting.
Follow the conversation online at #soaam26 on Instagram and Facebook.
COMMITTEE | HOTELS | KEYNOTES | LOCAL AMENITIES | PARKING | PROGRAM | REGISTRATION | SILENT AUCTION | VENUE
Keynotes
Details coming soon.
Registration
Details coming soon.
Program
Thursday, May 14, 2026
During the meeting, SOA will host a meet-up on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 11:30a to 12:30p in the Third Floor Lounge. Meet and greet your fellow SOA members before the conference starts. See who’s in town or meet new friends before heading off to lunch, on your own or with a group.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Venue
Conference workshops, sessions, and meetings will be held in the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University. Hotel accommodations and the reception will be held at the University’s hotel, the Blackwell Inn.
Parking
Details coming soon.
Sponsors
Details coming soon.
Hotels
MAC/SOA has a room block available at the Blackwell Inn. The room rate is $175.00 per night for either a king or double queen room. (Please note that the rate with taxes and fees is $207.00 per night.) The hotel does not charge a deposit at the time of booking. They do, however, require holding a credit card on file when booking.
To reserve a room:
- Click on https://theblackwell.com/
- Click the red BOOK NOW button in the upper right corner
- Select desired dates in the Reservations box (anytime between May 12–17, 2026)
- Click BOOK NOW
- Under the section with Guests, Check-In, Check-Out: Click SPECIAL CODES OR RATES
- Click Corporate/Promotion Code; select Group Code from the dropdown
- Enter MACMAY26; click APPLY
- There will be a mixture of queen double beds or single king beds; select your desired room type and continue with the reservation.
You can also use the link: MAC Conference May 12–17, 2026. (Please note that this link automatically applies the conference code and rate. It also auto-fills the dates; however, you can adjust these to your desired dates so long as they fall within the May 12–17, 2026 window.
Local Amenities Map
Details coming soon.
Silent Auction
Each year SOA offers four scholarships, two to current students and two to recent graduates, using funds from our raffle / silent auction. The scholarships consist of conference registration (including lunch), a one-year membership to SOA, and a $100 travel stipend. The funds raised from the silent auction are critical to SOA’s support of students and new professionals. This year we are putting together a fun group of items. You will be able to bid on the silent auction items in person on Friday.
Committee
Midwest Archives Conference Local Arrangement Committee Members:
- Stacy Chaney-Blankenship, Ohio Wesleyan University (representing SOA)
- Michelle Ganz, Dominican Sisters of Peace
- Kayla Harris, University of Dayton
- Steve Hausfeld, Nationwide Insurance
- Stefanie Hunker, Bowling Green State University
- Mandy Jennings, Nationwide Insurance
- John Joseph, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Kristen Newby, Columbus Metropolitan Library (representing SOA)
- Dan Noonan, Ohio State University (representing SOA)
The SOA Educational Programming Committee members have been working hard to bring you an amazing conference. Thank you to our committee members:
Nora Blackman, Case Western Reserve University
Stacy Chaney-Blankenship, Ohio Wesleyan University
Meghan Crawford, Capital University
Matt Francis, Ohio Northern University (SOA Past President)
Betsy Hedler, Ohio History Connection (SOA/OHC Liaison)
Riza Miklowski, Akron-Summit County Public Library (2022-2024)
Jennifer Long Morehart, Bowling Green State University (SOA President)
Sara Mouch, University of Toledo (2021-2023; cochair 2025-2027)
Kristen Newby, Columbus Metropolitan Library (SOA Vice President)
Dan Noonan, The Ohio State University
Adam Wanter, MidPointe Library System (cochair 2025-2027)
Questions? Contact the Committee Cochairs Sara Mouch and Adam Wanter.
Last Updated on January 8, 2026 by Emily Gainer