The Slave Dwelling Project Conference

250 Years and Counting: Reckoning, Resilience, and Remembrance

October 1-3, 2026 in North Charleston, South Carolina

WELCOME

The 9th national Slave Dwelling Project Conference will take place October 1-3 in North Charleston, SC in collaboration with the South Carolina 250th Anniversary Committee (SC 250.) This year’s theme, 250 Years and Counting: Reckoning, Resilience, and Remembrance explores South Carolina’s fertile grounds for juxtaposing its Black colonial era scholarship with other colonies of that era. From 1708 when Blacks became the majority population in South Carolina, their presence has factored in significantly to this nation’s history. South Carolina and other states have become more active in commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. “250 Years and Counting: Reckoning, Resilience, and Remembrance,” will showcase South Carolina’s commitment to telling the complete story of its participation.

Banner Image: Marion crossing the Pee Dee by William T Ranney, Amon Carter Museum

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Slave Dwelling Project (SDP) invites scholars, historians, preservationists, educators, genealogists, students, and public history practitioners to submit proposals for its 9th conference, “250 Years and Counting: Reckoning, Resilience, and Remembrance,” to be held in Charleston, South Carolina.

This conference commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, emphasizing the significant yet often overlooked contributions and experiences of enslaved and free African Americans in South Carolina during the Revolutionary Era (1770-1783). Presenters are encouraged to explore and critically engage with themes of historic preservation, public history, memory, resilience, reconciliation, and the continuing legacy of slavery.

Proposal Themes and Topics:
We seek proposals specifically related to the Revolutionary Era in South Carolina (1770-1783), addressing the following areas:

  1. Spaces of Memory:

    • Preserving and interpreting African American heritage sites, including slave dwellings, plantations, burial grounds, and colonial ports such as Charleston.

  2. Hidden Stories, Visible Legacies:

    • Uncovering and sharing lesser-known narratives of resistance, resilience, and the everyday life of enslaved and free African Americans.

  3. Reframing Revolution:

    • Examining critical perspectives on the roles and contributions of African Americans during the Revolutionary War period in South Carolina.

  4. Global Connections and Continuities:

    • Exploring historical, cultural, and spiritual linkages between African, Caribbean, and Afro-Indigenous communities and their influence on Revolutionary-era South Carolina.

Proposal Submission Guidelines:

  • Sessions may be 60 or 90 minutes, including scholarly presentations, panels, roundtables, interactive workshops, or cultural offerings (e.g., genealogy, culinary history).

  • Proposals must clearly demonstrate relevance to South Carolina from 1770 to 1783.

  • Each selected presenter agrees to submit post-conference materials, such as an article, “how-to” guide, or a slide deck summarizing their session, which the SC 250th Committee will publish submissions, citing each of the presenters.

Submission Timeline:

  • Proposal submission opens: September 15, 2025, @ noon

  • Proposal submission deadline: November 21, 2025, @ 5pm EST

  • Notification of acceptance: January 12, 2025

Evaluation Process: Proposals will be evaluated by the SDP Conference Committee, SC 250th Committee representatives, scholars, and historic site managers. We aim for 25% to 50% representation from South Carolina institutions, historic sites, and educators.

How to Submit: Submit your proposals, including session title, abstract (250 words), presenter(s) bio(s), and session format (60 or 90 minutes) at bit.ly/sdpconf2026 or by clicking the button below.

Significant funding and support provided by the South Carolina 250th Anniversary Committee.

Click Here to View Submit a Session Proposal

Significant funding for the conference has been generously provided by

 

Additional Support provided by

 

The 2026 Slave Dwelling Project Conference will be the 9th National Conference. Previous Conferences include the following: