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 on The Ohio State University’s campus in Columbus, Ohio.

Founded in 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, The Ohio State University sits a few miles north of downtown Columbus. A city unto itself with an enrollment of more than 65,000, Ohio State is known for its top ranked academic programs in engineering, agriculture, and business, its world class research endeavors. For more information about the host and the conference, see the meeting website.

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 3:00 – 3:30 pm and Friday 3:00 – 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Question: Can I present a session and a poster?

Answer: Yes, but submission preference will be given to authors who are not already presenting.

Last Updated on January 8, 2026 by Emily Gainer