Women's History Symposium

Saturday, November 16 , 2024 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
History Colorado Center | In-Person
Member: $35 | Non-Member: $40

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The Women’s History Symposium is a gathering of educators, museum professionals, researchers, and individuals from all walks of life who explore how women’s history is found in unexpected places and through non-traditional techniques. The day features multiple panel discussions, presentations, lunch, and a keynote by award winning artist Chloé Duplessis. This year's theme, "Framed in Time" explores the history of women’s agency in Colorado.

The Center For Colorado Women's History is accepting submissions for the annual Women's History Symposium. Click here to learn more & submit your proposal. Proposals are due on September 23, 2024, at 12:00 PM MDT.

About the Keynote Speaker

Chloé Duplessis creates images that elevate the unknown, illuminate the forgotten, and mindfully address the present. In doing so, Duplessis seeks to center the importance of shared history, and erode the social constructs that oppress people of color and those navigating disability. She is a legally blind artist, curator and historian committed to creating work that centers equity, accessibility and healing. With over twenty years of experience in intercultural engagement, arts administration and advocacy, she has traveled to nine countries and 24 states in support of her work. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Studies from The University of New Orleans, and studied art and history at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Duplessis is the creator of Denver's first accessible "I VOTED" sticker and co - creator of the noted Holding Hope mural located in RiNo Art District. She is also the 2023 recipient of Denver Mayor's Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Chloé has been featured in The Denver Post, 303 Magazine, The Independent and on Colorado Public Radio, CBS 4 News Denver, and NBC 9News Denver. She is the founder of Duplessis Art, an arts studio and consultancy based in Colorado.

Use discount code Access40 if you are experiencing financial hardship and the price of the ticket is a barrier to your participation.

For questions contact HC_COWomensHistory@state.co.us

Call for Proposals

Click Here to Submit Your Proposal→

The Center for Colorado Women’s History welcomes session and presentation proposals for the 2024 Women’s History Symposium - a presentation of History Colorado’s of Bold Women. Change History speaker series. The 2024 Symposium, “Framed in Time,” gathers scholars, researchers, and those who wish to explore the history of women’s agency in Colorado. Through examples of individual women, the theme focuses on untangling myths and public perceptions to consider the available choices women used to navigate their lives in Colorado, from early history to July 14, 1978.* Proposals for the 2024 Symposium presentations are due on September 23, 2024, at 12:00 PM MDT.

The 2024 Symposium is an all-day event featuring multiple panel discussions, presentations, lunch, and a keynote presentation by award-winning artist and historian, Chloé Duplessis. It will take place on Saturday, November 16 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the History Colorado Center in Denver, CO.

Examples of historical figures to explore the following topics: Baby Doe Tabor, María Josefa Jaramillo Carson, Clara Brown, Cathay Williams, Chipeta, Laura Evans, Katherine McHale Slaughterback (Rattlesnake Kate), Teresita Sandoval, Mamie Eisenhower, and others

Agency in marriage and motherhood
Internalized oppression, identity, and individuality
Voice and choice, agency in speaking out
How the chosen historical figure navigates patriarchal culture
Gender normalization and testing social expectations
Women’s self-determination
Agency in appearance and aging
Work/earning and wage agency
Reimagining or challenging reputation
Role of media and journalism in public perception

Symposium Background:

The purpose of this Symposium is to approach women’s history through a broad and critical lens and to challenge the iconic narratives and myths often associated with this history. The Symposium will examine the intersections of race, gender, socio-economic conditions, religion, and citizenship in the Colorado and national women’s history narratives. The scholarship presented at the Symposium will inform the “Framed in Time,” exhibition scheduled to open at the Center for Colorado Women’s History in Spring of 2025. The daylong event will provide a platform for discussion and exploration of Colorado women’s experiences.

The Symposium is a forum for sharing new research, reinterpretation of established research traditions, and newly collected artifacts and archives. Organizers have designed the Symposium for educators, museum professionals, researchers, and individuals from all walks of life. We welcome people of all ages, from middle school to 100+, to participate. We stand for diversity and inclusion. We welcome people of all genders and seek to uplift the experiences of those who identify as women, femme folx, transwomen/transfeminine, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and genderqueer.

The Symposium seeks to explore women’s history through visual art, creative writing, music, or other non-traditional methods. Presenters may find women’s stories by studying court records, architecture, archaeology, culinary history, interactions with the land, and re-examining traditional archives in new ways. We strongly encourage using the History Colorado Collection and the resources at the Stephen H. Hart Research Center.

Scheduled presenters receive a registration code for complimentary admission to the Symposium activities.

Panel Format:

Panels will last approximately 60 minutes and consist of 3 to 4 speakers. Each presenter will each have about 15-20 mins with time reserved for Q&A. Proposals will be accepted from individual presenters and/or a full panel proposal. Symposium organizers will assemble individual presenters into appropriate panel topics.

Submission Process:

Submissions will be accepted beginning June 1, 2024. Presenters can expect responses to submissions by October 15, 2024.

Click Here to Submit Your Proposal→

*Date that the Women’s Bank opened in Denver.

The 2024 Symposium is an all-day event featuring multiple panel discussions, presentations, lunch, and a keynote presentation and will take place on Saturday, November 16 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the History Colorado Center in Denver. Tickets are $40 for non-members ($35 for members, scholarships and student pricing available).