Category: Announcement

The Midwest Conference on British Studies—the Midwest affiliate of the North American Conference on British Studies—will hold its annual meeting on September 25-26, 2026, at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center on the Wayne State University Campus. Wayne State is in Detroit, easily accessible by plane, train, and car.

The MWCBS defines British Studies broadly, both chronologically and geographically, and as such we welcome proposals for papers from a broad array of disciplines and time periods:  history, literature, gender studies, art, music, political science, philosophy, anthropology, and more. Proposals for roundtables, posters, and papers exploring specific pedagogies, methodologies, outreach, and employment are also encouraged. Scholars at all stages of their careers are welcome, including graduate students and independent scholars.

Proposals for individual papers/posters and for full panels are equally welcome.  We strongly encourage presenters to use H-Albion and the discussion board at the conference blog, to find additional panelists. If needed, our organization can help to find chairs, commentators, and additional panelists.

The MWCBS has a limited number of Jim Sack Travel Awards, distributed to graduate-student participants who can demonstrate need, in order to help offset travel costs. Graduate students are also eligible to compete for the Walter L. Arnstein Prize, awarded to the best graduate student paper(s) presented at the conference. Further details will be available on the MWCBS website: https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

To submit proposals, please send the following to Program Chair Anne Rodrick at rodrickab@wofford.edu by Monday, April 13, 2026.  Use Microsoft Word or PDF format and indicate if any technology will be required.

Individual paper proposal:

• An abstract of approximately 200 words and
• A one-page c.v. for the author.

Panel or roundtable proposal:

• A 200-word abstract for each paper and a 1-page c.v. for each participant, including chairs and commentators, and
• A 200-word abstract for the panel as a whole.

Combine these documents into one Word or PDF file and submit to rodrickab@wofford.edu by April 13.  Indicate the panel contact person in the email.

A draft program will be available on our website by mid-summer.

For conference updates and to find fellow panelists, visit the MWCBS website at https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

For the 2026, 73rd Annual Midwest Conference on British Studies, we are making it easier for scholars to connect and form panels. If you are interested in finding other scholars to form a panel with, please comment on this post with the following information:

• • Name
  • Institutional affiliation (if applicable)
  • Paper topic
  • Proposed panel theme
  • Other relevant details

View the final program for this year's MWCBS. We look forward to seeing you in a few days!

Dear Members of the MWCBS,

The MWCBS Executive is seeking membership approval to add the position of Membership Secretary to the Executive and to alter the current duties assigned to the Secretary-Treasurer position, as described by the language below. Voting on this revision to the constitution will be an order of business at the MWCBS annual Business Meeting during the luncheon in Elmhurst on Saturday, 18 October 2025.  Any questions regarding this proposed revision can be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer or the President.

Current language:

Officers: There is a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and a President Emeritus/Emerita. The President presides at the annual conference and business meeting. The Vice President is also President-elect. They serve terms of two years, the Vice President being nominated as President automatically when the term of office of the President expires. The Vice President is responsible for selecting conference sites for the annual conference.

…

The Secretary-Treasurer keeps the records and mailing list, maintains the funds of the organization, pays the honoraria of speakers and other expenses. The Secretary-Treasurer provides, at the annual conference, a financial accounting to the members. The Secretary-Treasurer is nominated by the President subject to approval at the annual business meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer serves for a term of five years.

...

Website: The Midwest Conference will maintain a website. The website will include the annual call for papers, announcement of the annual conference, list of officers, a history of the Midwest Conference, a copy of the constitution, and any other relevant material.

...

Amendment: These procedures have developed over the years and should not be changed materially without consulting the membership. The Secretary-Treasurer shall inform the membership of any proposed changes prior to the next conference.

Proposed language:

Officers: There is a President, a Vice-President, a Membership Secretary, a Secretary-Treasurer, and a President Emeritus/Emerita. The President presides at the annual conference and business meeting. The Vice President is also President-elect. They serve terms of two years, the Vice President being nominated as President automatically when the term of office of the President expires. The Vice President is responsible for selecting conference sites for the annual conference.

…

The Membership Secretary keeps the records and mailing list. The Membership Secretary serves as the main communications officer for the organization, sending notices and updates to the membership throughout the year and assisting with the dissemination of information concerning the annual conference, in conjunction and consultation with the Program Committee Chairperson. The Membership Secretary is nominated by the President subject to approval at the annual business meeting. The Membership Secretary serves for a term of three years.

The Secretary-Treasurer keeps the records and mailing list, maintains the funds of the organization, and pays the honoraria of speakers and other expenses. The Secretary-Treasurer provides, at the annual conference, a financial accounting to the members. The Secretary-Treasurer is nominated by the President subject to approval at the annual business meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer serves for a term of five years.

...

Website: The Midwest Conference will maintain a website. The website will include the annual call for papers, announcement of the annual conference, list of officers, a history of the Midwest Conference, a copy of the constitution, and any other relevant material. The website and other technology-related tasks will be managed by the Technology Chair. 

...

Amendment: These procedures have developed over the years and should not be changed materially without consulting the membership. The Membership Secretary-Treasurer shall inform the membership of any proposed changes prior to the next conference.

MWCBS Conference Location:

Elmhurst University
190 Prospect Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Elmhurst is 10 miles south of O’Hare Airport and 17 miles from downtown Chicago, easily accessible via train and car.

Hotel Suggestions: 

The conference will take place on the Elmhurst campus in the Frick Center. If you are traveling to Elmhurst and need lodging, the conference organizers suggest the following nearby hotels. Book a room early to secure the best rates. Parking will be available on campus for conference events.

Springhill Suites by Marriott
Address: 410 W Lake St, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone: (630) 782-6300
($139/night; breakfast)
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chiem-springhill-suites-chicago-elmhurst-oakbrook-area/overview/

Clarion Elmhurst
Address: 933 S Riverside Dr, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Phone: (331) 209-4853
($99/night; breakfast)
https://www.clarioninnelmhurst.com/

Hilton Garden Inn
Address: 1000 Drury Ln, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 941-1177
($130/night; no breakfast)
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chiobgi-hilton-garden-inn-chicago-oakbrook-terrace/

Courtyard Marriott
Address : 6 Trans Am Plaza Dr, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 691-1500
($142/night; no breakfast)
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chiot-courtyard-chicago-oakbrook-terrace/overview/

Doubletree Hilton
Address: 1909 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: (630) 472-6000
($159/night; no breakfast)
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/chioadt-doubletree-chicago-oak-brook/

Le Meridien
Address: 2100 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: (630) 368-9900
($230/night; no breakfast)
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chimb-le-meridien-chicago-oakbrook-center/overview/

 Registration:

Please use the following link to register for the conference: Registration through Eventbrite. The rates this year are the following:

Faculty:

• Early Registration (through September 15): $135.00
• Late Registration (beginning September 16): $150.00
• Saturday Luncheon and Keynote Address: $30.00

Graduate Students & Independent Scholars:

• Early Registration (through September 15): $90.00
• Late Registration (beginning September 16): $110.00
• Saturday Luncheon and Keynote Address: 30.00

Please note: All panelists must register for the conference before Monday, October 13 2025.

Student Travel Grants: The registration process will also allow you to donate to the MWCBS James Sack Graduate Student Travel Grants, which helps subsidize costs to the annual conference for the youngest members of our organization, who find it increasingly difficult in these times of shrinking university budgets to secure conference funding. The MWCBS relies on member contributions to fund the grants, and the donations we receive will determine the number of awards we are able to give out. Donations are tax deductible since the MWCBS is an official 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Please scroll down while registering to find the Travel Grant donation field.

Register now!

Conference Program:

The draft program is available here. Please note that it is subject to change. A final draft will be posted prior to the conference

*****

For program related questions, please contact:

Dr. Anne Rodrick
Program Committee Chairperson, MWCBS
Reeves Family Professor of History and Humanities

Wofford College
RodrickAB@wofford.edu

 For all other conference related questions, please contact:

Dr. Jen McNabb
President, MWCBS
Professor and Head of History
University of Northern Iowa
jennifer.mcnabb@uni.edu

72ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MIDWEST CONFERENCE ON BRITISH STUDIES
Elmhurst University, Illinois
October 17-18, 2025

Call for Proposals: Deadline Extended to June 6, 2025

The Midwest Conference on British Studies—the Midwest affiliate of the North American Conference on British Studies—will hold its annual meeting on October 17-18, 2025 at Elmhurst University. Elmhurst is 10 miles south of O’Hare Airport and 17 miles from downtown Chicago, easily accessible via train and car.

The MWCBS defines British Studies broadly, both chronologically and geographically, and as such we welcome proposals for papers from a broad array of disciplines and time periods: history, literature, gender studies, art, music, political science, philosophy, anthropology, and more. Proposals for roundtables, posters, and papers exploring specific pedagogies, methodologies, outreach, and employment are also encouraged. Scholars at all stages of their careers are welcome, including graduate students and independent scholars.

Proposals for individual papers/posters and for full panels are equally welcome. We encourage presenters to use H-Albion and the discussion board at the conference blog, https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/, to find additional panelists. If needed, our organization can help to find chairs, commentators, and additional panelists.

Graduate students may apply for a limited number of Jim Sack Travel Awards and are also eligible to compete for the Walter L. Arnstein Prize, awarded to the best graduate student paper(s) presented at the conference. Further details will be available on the MWCBS website: https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

To submit proposals, please send the following to Program Chair Anne Rodrick at rodrickab@wofford.edu by the extended deadline of Friday, June 6, 2025. Use Microsoft Word or PDF format and indicate if any technology will be required.

Individual paper proposal:
• An abstract of approximately 200 words and
• A one-page c.v. for the author.

Panel or roundtable proposal:
• A 200-word abstract for each paper and a 1-page c.v. for each participant, including chairs and commentators, and
• A 200-word abstract for the panel as a whole.

Combine these documents into one Word or PDF file and submit to rodrickab@wofford.edu by June 6. Indicate the panel contact person in the email.

A draft program will be submitted by mid-summer.

For conference updates and to find fellow panelists, visit the MWCBS website at https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

The Midwest Conference on British Studies—the Midwest affiliate of the North American Conference on British Studies—will hold its annual meeting on October 17-18, 2025 at Elmhurst University. Elmhurst is 10 miles south of O’Hare Airport and 17 miles from downtown Chicago, easily accessible via train and car.

At this year's conference, the plenary will be presented by Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Associate Professor of British History at the University of Chicago, and the keynote will be delivered by Lara Crowley, Professor of English at Northern Illinois University.

The MWCBS defines British Studies broadly, both chronologically and geographically, and as such we welcome proposals for papers from a broad array of disciplines and time periods: history, literature, gender studies, art, music, political science, philosophy, anthropology, and more. Proposals for roundtables, posters, and papers exploring specific pedagogies, methodologies, outreach, and employment are also encouraged. Scholars at all stages of their careers are welcome, including graduate students and independent scholars.

Proposals for individual papers/posters and for full panels are equally welcome. We encourage presenters to use H-Albion and the discussion board at the conference blog, to find additional panelists. If needed, our organization can help to find chairs, commentators, and additional panelists.

Graduate students may apply for a limited number of Jim Sack Travel Awards and are also eligible to compete for the Walter L. Arnstein Prize, awarded to the best graduate student paper(s) presented at the conference. Further details will be available on the MWCBS website: https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

To submit proposals, please send the following to Program Chair Anne Rodrick at rodrickab@wofford.edu by Monday, May 5, 2025. Use Microsoft Word or PDF format and indicate if any technology will be required.

Individual paper proposal:
• An abstract of approximately 200 words and
• A one-page c.v. for the author.

Panel or roundtable proposal:
• A 200-word abstract for each paper and a 1-page c.v. for each participant, including chairs and commentators, and
• A 200-word abstract for the panel as a whole.

Combine these documents into one Word or PDF file and submit to rodrickab@wofford.edu by May 5. Indicate the panel contact person in the email.
A draft program will be submitted by mid-summer.

For conference updates and to find fellow panelists, visit the MWCBS website at https://mwcbs.edublogs.org/.

Contact Information
Anne Rodrick
Wofford College
429 North Church Street
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Contact Email
rodrickab@wofford.edu

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Wondering what an MWCBS conference entails? Read this blog post from Amy Stanning, a Lancaster University graduate student who attended and presented at the 2024 conference.

For the 2025, 72nd Annual Midwest Conference on British Studies, we are making it easier for scholars to connect and form panels. If you are interested in finding other scholars to form a panel with, please comment on this post with the following information:

• Name
• Paper topic
• Proposed panel theme
• Other relevant details

The final program for the 71st  annual conference is now available! You may view the program at your convenience.

The preliminary program for the 71st annual conference is available! You may view the program at your convenience. We will finalize this program soon.