November 1-2, 2018
National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Washington DC
Theme of the Symposium: WWI and its Immediate Aftermath
Sponsored by
the American Philatelic Society,
the American Philatelic Research Library,
and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum
On Monday, November 11, 1918, World War I came to an end. Wrought from militarism, nationalism and imperialism, the Great War broke empires, challenged established gender and race relations, and destroyed millions of lives. Mail became the critical link for the families separated and desperate for news. Governments responded to these developments and the disruption of communication networks, and struggled to determine who should be able to communicate with whom and about what.
Deadlines for proposals:
One-page proposal and CV due June 15, 2017. In addition to a one-page proposal, each individual should submit a one-page curriculum vitae with contact information (e-mail, phone, address).
Send proposals or questions to: NPMResearchChair@si.edu
Notification of acceptance will be mailed on or about August 1, 2017.
Papers due by September 1, 2018. Accepted proposals must result in papers of 4500-5500 words, including bibliographic material, citations, and image titles. The articles must be formatted according to the guidelines of the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. Images should be placed and discussed within the text and image permissions must be acquired. Writers will have the opportunity to revise their papers after the symposium and before the papers are considered for publication.
For more information on formatting and permissions, please see the call for papers for 2018 at http://postalmuseum.si.edu/research/symposiums-and-lectures/
Possible topics include:
Disruptions and shifts in mail transportation systems
Communication alternatives to the mail
Censorship of and by postal systems
War-saving and thrift-saving stamp programs
War propaganda and the mail
War-time supply issues (inks, papers, etc.)
Changing demographics and policies towards postal employees
Postal systems in occupied territories
Rise of airmail
Stamps of the new countries