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.
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.
Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Amber Bales