The MPCA/ACA is seeking paper proposals that address any aspect of 19th century American popular culture. We are especially interested in papers that focus on culture from a specific critical perspective; however, no particular approach is required. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):
- Literature
- Dime novels
- Politics
- Sports
- Religion
- Westward expansion
- Native Americans
- Women in popular culture
- Entertainment

Send a 250-word abstract along with full contact information to panel chair, Patrick Prominski (pprominski@gmail.com). Be sure to include MPCA/ACA in the subject header. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2009.

Please include name, affiliation, and e-mail address of each author/participant. If you do not include an e-mail address, you must include a postal address. A preliminary version of the schedule will be posted on our website around July 2009. The final version will be distributed in hard copy at the conference. For privacy reasons, we do not publish e-mail addresses in the online version of the program.

Presenters should plan to attend the entire conference. If necessary, indicate and submit potential scheduling conflicts along with your proposal. Panels will run at the following approximate times: Friday 2:30pm-7:30pm, Saturday 8:30am-6:15pm, and Sunday 8:00am-1:00pm. We may begin at 12:45pm on Friday if demand so dictates. Special events will include a luncheon and speaker on Saturday. These events, plus continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, will be free for conference registrants.

The only audio-visual equipment available from the Association will be a DVD player and monitor, and you must ask for it at the time you submit your proposal. With appropriate preparation, a DVD player can play audio, video, and still images.

If you wish your presentation to be listed as Midwest American Culture Association (rather than Midwest Popular Culture Association), please include this request with your proposal.

All participants must be members of the Midwest Popular Culture Association/Midwest American Culture Association. Membership is $50 for students with ID, retirees, and unemployed, and $80 for all others. Membership is for the calendar year through December 2009.

For more information and a complete list of area chairs, visit www.mpcaaca.org.