Harper Eternal: New Inquiries on Frances E.W. Harper 

Commemorating her 200th birthday, we are seeking short pieces for a digital zine on the work, contemporaries and life of Frances E.W. Harper,  titled Harper Eternal: New Inquiries on Frances E.W. Harper.  Harper Eternal is proposed as a dedication to Harper’s centennial, and a dynamic space to think with her work within new lines of inquiry. We welcome brief musings on Harper from a wealth of perspectives: academic, creative, or blended works using inter- or cross-disciplinary methods are all welcomed. We also look forward to receiving interviews, reviews, bibliographies, multimedia and other critical/creative treatments of Harper. Submissions from K-12 faculty, students (grad and undergrad) and independent scholars working on Harper and her literary contemporaries or descendants, such as Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Ida. B Wells-Barnett, Mary Church-Terrell and others, are especially encouraged.  We ask that you please share this cfp widely with friends and colleagues who may be interested as well. This zine is the first initiative out of the new Frances E.W. Harper Society, currently being established.

Submissions should be 750-1500 words (if a video, the run time should fall under 20 minutes), cited properly and follow MLA 9th edition guidelines. Because we are a very small team, we ask that submissions be edited and proofread beforehand. Thank you!

Submissions are due August 31st, 2025, and can be emailed to myw8198@nyu.edu. Questions can be sent to the same email.