Eighth Maritime
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Heritage Conference 9-12 October 2007
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reparations are well under way for the Eighth Maritime Heritage Conference to be held in San Diego, California, next fall. Conference sessions will take place onboard the historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum. Participating organizations include: the National Maritime Historical Society, The American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee, the Council of American Maritime Museums, the Historic Naval Ships Association, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Museum Small Craft Association, the National Park Service, the Naval Historical Foundation, the North American Society for Oceanic History, the Nautical Research Guild, the US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association, and the US Lighthouse Society. Given its historic location and the breadth of its focus, this conference will offer an extraordinary opportunity to learn about current research and educational programming and to celebrate the importance of maritime heritage in our society. The conference kicks off on Tuesday, 9 October 2007, with an evening reception onboard the historic 1863 barque Star of India, the museum's flagship. The next morning, sessions will get underway with more than seventy panels scheduled for three days. The conference will conclude with a formal banquet and twilight cruise on San Diego's Big Bay. Dr. Alex Roland, professor of History at Duke University, has agreed to be one of the keynote speakers at the conference. A distinguished author, Dr. Roland is one of the nation's leading historians of technology. His wide-ranging and imaginative research focuses upon the relationship between science, technology, and warfare in the Western experience. Before teaching at Duke University, he worked for nearly a decade as historian with the National SEA HISTORY 118, SPRING 2007
Aeronautics and Space Administration. He is currently editor and lead writer for the American Maritime History project. A number of participating organizations have already gathered presenters into potential panels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is also planning a series of panels, reflecting that organization's celebration of the bicentenary of its foundation. This year, the Second Maritime Heritage Education Conference will be held conjointly with the Maritime Heritage Conference and promises a stimulating series of workshops for those who work and are interested in maritime education. S Conference organizers are also hoping to form panels reflecting the history of maritime endeavor around the Pacific Rim. Members of participating organizations interested in presenting a paper at the conference should contact
their respective organizations for further details. The Program Chair will also entertain submissions from individuals. The deadline for the Call for Papers is 1 June 2007. Inquiries concerning all panels and papers should be directed to the Conference Program Chair, Kevin Sheehan, at librarian@sdmaritime.org; Ph. 619 234-9153 ext. 118. Participating organizations are invited to highlight their contribution to the conference through a variety of sponsorship packages. Details can be found on the conference website (see below) and also by contacting the Conference Coordinator, Robyn Wilner at rwilner@sdmaritime. org; Ph. 619 234-9153 ext. 106. The Radisson Harbor View Hotel, eight blocks from the waterfront, is offering rooms at a special rate of $129 per night. Be sure to mention the Maritime Heritage Conference to be eligible for the special rate (Ph. 619 239-6800; www.radisson.com/ sandiegoca_harborview). Details, including the official call for papers, the conference schedule, accommodations, sponsorship packages, opportunities for vendors, and conference highlights, can be found at the San Diego Maritime Museum's website at www.sdmaritime.com-follow the link to the Maritime Heritage Conference. 41