Category Archives: SOA Spring Conference

Society of Ohio Archivists Call for Proposals: SOA 2027 Annual Meeting and OLHA 2027

The Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) is pleased to welcome proposals for our SOA 2027 Annual Meeting and for the SOA sessions presented during the Ohio Local History Alliance (OLHA) Annual Meeting in 2027. 

Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Annual Meeting – What Makes Us Special

The Society of Ohio Archivists will hold our Annual Meeting on Thursday and Friday, May 20-21, 2027 in Columbus, Ohio. The in-person workshop portion of the conference (Thursday, May 20) will be held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The general conference (Friday, May 21) will be held at the Martin de Porres Center. #soaam27

This year we welcome proposals that explore the theme of What Makes Us Special. We encourage presentations that highlight different types of archives and special collections and their unique challenges and stories. 

Proposals may speak to any or all of the following topics: 

  • Distinctive collections and the histories, communities, or missions they document;
  • Case studies tackling specific problems and unique situations, such as processing, description, and preservation challenges across different repository types;
  • Creative approaches to access, instruction, digitization, and public engagement;
  • Advocating for specialized collections through funding and institutional support; or community partnerships that enrich collections and broaden representation;
  • Meeting recent transitions in user needs, whether that be the general public, students, remote users, or anyone else;
  • Celebrating the wins – everything from launching big ideas to accomplishing everyday small victories;
  • Other presentations of interest to SOA members and fellow archivists. Thinking outside of the box, both literally and figuratively!

 

The Educational Programming Committee encourages proposals of panel sessions, as well as alternative formats that encourage interaction between presenters and attendees. Please see the proposal form for more detailed information about alternative sessions. If you are curious about the proposal form, a PDF version is available for reference.

A separate call for posters will be sent out in February 2027.

Follow the conversation online at #soaam27

 

Proposal Guidelines 

Proposals will be evaluated on interest, creativity, relevance, diversity of content and speaker representation, and completeness of proposal. The Educational Program Committee also encourages proposals from students, new professionals, first-time presenters and attendees, individuals from related professions, as well as those from outside the state of Ohio. Deadline to submit proposals: January 25, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Proposal Form

 

Proposals must include:

  • Session title and type;
  • Preference (if any) for an in-person or virtual session;
  • Abstract (250 words) describing the session/poster and how it will be of interest to SOA attendees, how it relates to this year’s theme, and how presenters will engage with participants;
  • Session description (150 words) for the program;
  • Contact information for the primary presenter and any other participants;
  • A/V or technology requirements; and
  • Any additional special needs.

Presentation Time Slots:

  • SOA Annual Meeting – 45-60 minutes
  • OLHA Annual Meeting and Conference – 40-50 minutes

We welcome proposals from presenters who may not be able to complete a time slot on their own and will work to combine presentations, where possible. Please indicate on the proposal form if you would like to be combined with another presentation to round out a slot. Proposals must be submitted by January 25, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. 

Proposal Form

Further meeting details will be posted on the meeting website as they develop. Accepted presenters will receive a discount on registration fees at a rate to be determined.

Questions? Please contact Adam Wanter or Meghan Crawford, Co-Chairs, Society of Ohio Archivists Educational Programming Committee. 

 

Registration Open for SOA/MAC Joint Annual Meeting 2026

Registration is now available for the 2026 Midwest Archives Conference/Society of Ohio Archivists joint annual meeting! The meeting will be held on May 14-16, 2026, on the campus of The Ohio State University. Conference workshops, sessions, and meetings will be held in the Ohio Union. 

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. Come to Columbus to find information and insights on a wide range of topics central to all archivists.

To register, see the program, and for more information, visit the Annual Meeting website. NOTE: You do not need to be a MAC member to create an account to register. SOA members receive the MAC member rate at registration.

During the meeting, SOA will host a meet-up on Thursday, May 14, from 11:30am to 12:30pm 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. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Scholarships to Attend the SOA/MAC Annual Meeting 2026

The Society of Ohio Archivists is pleased to announce six scholarships available to students and archivists to attend the SOA/MAC joint annual meeting on May 14-16, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio:

  • Student Scholarship Award – 2 awards for enrolled graduate students.
  • New Professional Scholarship Award – 2 awards for new archival professionals with three years or less experience in the workplace.
  • Ohio Preservation Council Student/New Professional Scholarship – 1 award for either students or new professionals.
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Award – 1 award.  This is an identity-based scholarship designed to help diversify the profession.

This year’s scholarship consists of full registration to the MAC/SOA annual meeting, a per diem for lunch costs, hotel accommodations, a one-year SOA membership, and a $100 travel stipend. Awardees are required to submit a photograph and write about their experience for publication in the Ohio Archivist newsletter.  Deadline to apply is March 13, 2026.

The Membership & Awards Committee is responsible for soliciting applications and submitting recommendations to Council. The awards will be presented at the SOA annual business meeting on May 15, 2026.

How to Apply

A PDF Scholarship application is available to download. The Scholarship rubric is available for your reference. Applications and inquiries can be sent via email to Membership & Awards Committee co-chairs Stephanie Shreffler and Julia Teran. See more details on the scholarships webpage. 

Call for Nominations for the 2026 Merit Award

The SOA Membership & Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 2026 Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award.

The award is given to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year. The award will be announced at the SOA and MAC Joint Annual Meeting, which will be held on May 14-16, 2026, at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

A fillable PDF Merit Award nomination form is available to download. The Merit Award rubric is available for your reference. Deadline to apply is March 13, 2026.

Nominations should include the following information:

  • Name of nominee;
  • Nominee’s employer or institution;
  • Nominee’s mailing address, phone number, and email address;
  • Brief reason for nomination;
  • The nominator’s contact information so that the awards committee may contact you for additional information.

See the list of past awardees on the Merit Award page.

Applications and inquiries can be emailed to Membership & Awards Committee co-chairs Stephanie Shreffler and Julia Teran.

Call for Nominations to SOA Leadership 2026

The SOA Nominating Committee announces a call for nominations for:

  • Vice President/President-Elect,
  • Treasurer,
  • Member of Council, and
  • JEDAI Committee Co-chair.

Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcomed and encouraged. We also encourage nominations from new professionals and/or individuals seeking to get involved in a professional organization for the first time. All positions are for two-year terms of office, except for the VP/President/Past President cycle, which is one-year in each position (a total commitment of three years).

If elected, you must be a current SOA member in good standing by the beginning of your term and willing and able to attend monthly council meetings and business activities (virtually or in person).

The election will be held during the SOA Annual Business Meeting, which will occur during the SOA Annual Meeting on May 14-16, 2026. Prior to the election, candidates will be required to respond to a question printed in the Ohio Archivist.

More details about responsibilities and terms can be found in the SOA Constitution and Bylaws.

Please send nominations or questions to the Nominating Committee Chair Matt Francis by Friday, February 27, 2026.

Annual Meeting: Call for Poster Presentations 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 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. Continue reading →

Meet-up at MAC/SOA Annual Meeting 2026

Save the date! May 14 for an SOA meet-up at the annual meeting

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.

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.

Questions? Contact the Educational Programming Committee cochairs Sara Mouch and Adam Wanter.

Call for Session Proposals: MAC/SOA Joint Annual Meeting, May 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. For more information about the host and the conference, see the meeting website: https://www.midwestarchives.org/2026-annual-meeting

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.

Call for Session Proposals

The Program Committee encourages submissions from newer professionals, first-time presenters, and colleagues from non-academic institutions. A MAC or SOA membership is not required. Presenters may submit more than one proposal, but may present only one session OR poster. We also encourage those from smaller shops to submit presentations for a focused SOA track. We want to hear from the solo archivists or from those with more limited institutional support! Continue reading →

Save the Date: SOA & MAC Joint Annual Meeting 2026

Save the Date: May 14-16, 2026

The Society of Ohio Archivists and Midwest Archives Conference will hold a joint meeting on May 14–16, 2026, on the campus of The Ohio State University. Conference workshops, sessions, and meetings will be held in the Ohio Union. Hotel accommodations and the reception will be held at the University’s hotel, the Blackwell Inn.

The MAC 2026 annual meeting website is live and will continue to be updated as more details become available. Already available is the hotel booking information. The Blackwell Inn does not charge a deposit at the time of booking, so please consider booking a room now.

The Program Committee will be issuing a call for proposals soon. Check back for additional details!

Questions? Contact the Educational Programming Committee cochairs Sara Mouch and Adam Wanter.

Recordings & Speaker Slides from 2025 Annual Meeting Available

The 2025 Society of Ohio Archivists Annual Meeting was held on Thursday (virtual only) and Friday (hybrid), May 15-16 with the theme of Show Me the Money: Sustaining Archives and Archival Programs

Recordings for 6 session presentations, including the keynote speaker Patricia Hswe, are now available on the SOA YouTube channel.

See the Annual Meeting page for more details and links to the speaker slides.

If you have any questions, please contact the EPC co-chairs Sara Mouch or Michelle Sweetser.