“Maritime Connections: History, Heritage and the Maritime Landscape”

NEW DATES: 8-10 July 2021

The University of West Florida will host the 2021 Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History. The conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, Pensacola, Florida.  Due to Covid-19, conference organizers decided to push back the conference in hopes of being able to meet in person, however conference organizers are exploring provisions for both virtual and in-person presentations.

Following Native Americans’ use of the bay for its natural resources, the Spanish recognized the importance of a protected and deep water port.  More than 60 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and almost a half century before the English planted the Jamestown colony, Tristán de Luna brought his fleet of Spanish ships into Pensacola Bay. Luna sailed into the bay in the summer of 1559 to claim the territory for Spain. Although Luna’s colony lasted only two more years, it is “America’s First European Settlement,” and represents Spain’s first attempt to control North American territory.  Since that fateful storm, the Spanish, English, French, Americans and the Confederacy, recognized the importance of the area’s natural resources as each fought for control of Pensacola, both as a military asset and for financial gain.  Despite several military conflicts, numerous hurricanes, malaria outbreaks, yellow fever epidemics, and other disasters, Pensacola remained steadfast in rebuilding and recreating its community.  More recent events, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, severe weather events, and the effects of climate change have continued to challenge, not only Pensacola, but maritime communities throughout the world. 

Using Pensacola as an example of the importance of maritime connections, the 2021 NASOH Conference invites paper and session proposals that explore maritime history and archaeology as they relate to larger connections concerning landscapes, heritage and the preservation of cultural resources.  Suggested topic areas include, but are not limited to, maritime landscapes, archaeology, empire, race, gender, military, cultural contact, environmental impact, public history, cultural resource management, and historic preservation.  NASOH is also committed to promoting and including papers/panels that provide diverse perspectives and encourages scholarship related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and identity, and class.

Papers from graduate students and junior scholars are greatly encouraged.   Students may apply for a Chad Smith Travel Grant to assist in travel to present a paper at the conference. Additionally, the Clark G. Reynolds Student Paper Award is provided each year to the author of the best paper by a graduate student delivered at the society’s annual conference. Please see the awards section of the NASOH website for details. Individual paper proposals should include a.) An abstract, not to exceed 250 words b). A 250-word presenter bio c.) Contact information including phone number, address, affiliation, and email d.) Preference for presenting in person, virtual, or flexible. (Final decisions about virtual or in person will be made closer to the conference dates.) Panel proposals of 3-4 papers may also be submitted inclusive of the above information for each paper.

The deadline for proposal submission is April 1, 2021. Please submit proposal packets electronically to the Program Committee. These should be sent to: amitchellcook@uwf.edu, Program Chair.