The Eastern States Archaeological Federation will join Salve Regina's Noreen Stonor Drexel Cultural and Historic Preservation Program for a special joint conference Thursday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. "The Critical Concerns of Preservation" will explore the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy as they relate to preservation and archaeological studies.

Historic preservation intersects with social justice as it strives to help communities both celebrate and confront their pasts. Preservation is moving towards a more socially engaged and merciful viewpoint that emphasizes the diversity of past human experience. For the 2024 conference, we invite papers that explore one of the following Critical Concerns as they relate to preservation studies:

• Immigration and immigrant experiences
• Earth, environmentalism and the natural world
• Nonviolence and the effects of conflict
• Race and racism
• Women and gender 

We are once again pleased to welcome submissions for our student paper symposium. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to submit abstracts that fit the conference themes to present their original or collaborative research. Students selected to present will be eligible to receive our Salve Student Preservation Leader Award.

Papers in any field of academic or applied preservation (e.g. architecture, architectural history, archaeology, museum studies, preservation planning/policy) and public history are welcome. The deadline for individual and session proposals is August 30th, 2024. If you are already a member of the Eastern States Archaeological Federation we ask that you register through their organizational page. 

This event is free for current Salve Regina faculty, staff, and students.

We hope to see you in Newport next fall!