Organized by the Caribbean Genealogy Library in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen’s “In the Same Sea,” Caribbean genealogists and historians of the Lesser Antilles will hold a conference about how the archipelagic setting of the Lesser Antilles shaped island existence in the past and how it influences families, friends and institutions today.
For centuries, islanders living on small islands in close proximity and with a limited resource base have turned towards their neighbors across the sea. They have crossed formal and informal borders to carve out places for themselves and their loved ones.
It is this dynamic of inter-island movement that the conference will explore, participants will discuss what conventional historical and archeological evidence tells us about inter-island movements and how family histories and genealogical research can enrich, complicate and qualify the historical record.
For these reasons, the Caribbean Genealogy library invites historians, archaeologists, genealogists, public historians and university students to share their knowledge, training and personal histories and speak about inter-island experiences in the Lesser Antilles. The historical time periods for papers may include colonial and modern times.
Some of the relevant themes the conference hopes to explore include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Reasons for traveling to nearby islands
- Family on other islands
- Enslaved escape and maritime marronage
- Seeking work across the sea
- Religious communities and inter-island faith
- Family conflicts and island movement
- Shoreline memories: fishing together, relaxing together
- Crisis and inter-island movement
- Identity and island belonging
- Female friendships
- Sports development, travel for sports
- Educational networks
- Conducting research across the Lesser Antilles: methods and resources
- Future of Research in Lesser Antilles/What’s New in the Field/Challenges
While papers and panels on these themes are preferred, applicants are welcome to submit proposals on other related subjects for consideration.
The organizers especially encourage genealogical researchers to submit in the hope that their research can enrich, complicate and qualify the historical record.
Presentations can have a number of formats, including:
- 20 minutes papers
- 5-10 minutes presentations
- Short videos of oral history interviews
- Poster presentations
Presentations will be followed by a Q&A.
Abstract submissions should be sent to Hannah Hjorth (hhjorth@hum.ku.dk) by Nov. 25, 2022.
The submission should include:
- A short description of the topic of the presentation (c. 150-250 words), including the anticipated sources.
- Indicate the format of the presentation (papers, panel, short film, etc.)
- A brief bio of the person presenting (c. 100 words). Please include the languages you know and your proficiency.
- Abstracts and presentations must be in English.
- Format: Microsoft Word document
Any questions can be sent to Hannah Hjorth (hhjorth@hum.ku.dk).
The conference will be an in-person event, with the possibility of a hybrid format. Changes to the virtual format will be announced as needed. Unfortunately, the organizers will be unable to accept all submissions. Individuals who are accepted will be notified by e-mail.
