Call for Papers | Society of Early Americanists
American Literature Association | 37th Annual Conference | May 20–23, 2026 | Chicago, IL

Placing Chicago in Early American Studies

Acknowledging our conference setting and anticipating the 2027 SEA Biennial, this panel invites papers and presentations that explore the literature, culture, and history of Chicago prior to its March 1837 incorporation. What is (or should be) Chicago’s place within the field of early American studies? Topics might include (but are not limited to):

• Pre-1837 literary depictions of Chicago – as well as Chicago’s presence in early American newspaper/magazine/periodical culture.
• Maps (and mapping) of early Chicago and other spatial/visual representations.
• Indigenous Chicago and/or Chicago’s history of Indian Removal.
• Connections between pre-1837 Chicago texts and the literature of the Chicago Renaissance.
• Natural histories and/or environmental histories of early Chicago.
• Chicago and New France; missionary work/writing; Chicago and settler colonialism.
• Recent developments in early Chicago archival work and/or digital humanities project.

Please send short abstracts (no more than 250 words) and brief bios to Joshua Bartlett at jcbartlett@gmail.com by Monday, January 26, 2026.