2022 Call for Papers

Maritime Commerce and Trade: North American Waterborne Supply Chains in Historical Context

Cape Fear Community College will host the 2022 Annual Conference of the North American Society for Oceanic History. It will take place 22-25 June 2022 in Wilmington, North Carolina.  At this time, the conference will be in-person only, but subject to change if warranted due to updated local COVID-19 protocols or requirements and at the discretion of NASOH.

From MV Ever Given’s grounding in the Suez Canal to shipping backlogs off the world’s container ports, global oceanic commerce has recently received renewed public attention and scrutiny. Ninety percent of the world’s commerce travels by sea, yet the maritime connections that thread the global economy remain poorly understood and only partially recognized. Indeed, shipping as an agent and network of global trade has deep historical roots, and maritime archaeologists and historians are well-situated to provide insights on the emergence of our modern world. 

The NASOH 2022 Program Committee invites papers, in particular, that shed light on the North American maritime dimensions of trade and commerce, including activities on both fresh and saltwater. Papers may focus on economic, political, and military aspects, but the committee also welcomes social, cultural (including race, class, and gender), and environmental analyses as well as interdisciplinary approaches.   

The 2022 NASOH Conference also 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 encourage scholarship related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and identity, and class.  

Papers from graduate students and junior scholars are especially 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. 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, 2022. Please submit proposal packets electronically to the Program Committee. These should be sent to: nasohweb@gmail.com.