CfP: Vietnam War Symposium, Sep 2025

The LBJ Presidential Library and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library are inviting emerging scholars to submit a presentation abstract to be a featured speaker during the National Archives & Records Administration’s first annual Vietnam War Symposium, held on September 24th – 25th, 2025.

For the purposes of these submissions, the term emerging scholars includes, but is not strictly limited to: PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career faculty.

The symposium’s theme is “Forgotten Humanity: The Personal Stories of the Vietnam War.”

This symposium seeks to explore stories of the war not related to combat strategy and tactics. Our goal is to enhance the future of Vietnam War scholarship by examining the human experience and showcasing new and emerging scholars. Presentations might examine, for example, the everyday realities of service in Vietnam, relations between Americans and Vietnamese, veterans’ experiences after returning from Vietnam, and the literature, film, and music of the war.

Each scholars’ program is scheduled for one hour. The guest speaker will present their topic for approximately 40 minutes allowing time for audience participation and questions at the end. Each program also includes a Scholar Spotlight where we get to know a little bit more about each of the up-and-coming scholars.

Submission packets should include the presentation abstract, applicant contact information, education status, and academic goals summary. Email submission packets to the National Archives care of richard.weld@nara.gov with the subject line “Vietnam Symposium” no later than May 30, 2025. Selected participants will be notified by July 4, 2025, and will receive a modest honorarium for their participation.