Welcome to the History of Popular Culture Studies community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

Call for Papers

Popular Culture Association
History of PCA Area
2026 Conference
Wednesday-Saturday, April 8-11, 2026, Atlanta, Georgia

The History of PCA Area is concerned with the history of the study of popular culture and American culture and especially the history of the institutions, entities, and activities associated with Ray Browne, Pat Browne, and the Bowling Green State University tradition of culture studies.

 The Area seeks to encourage historical research and commentary on the Popular Culture Association, the American Culture Association, regional and international popular-culture organizations, areas within PCA and ACA and within the regional and international organizations, journals published by PCA-ACA and affiliated organizations, the Bowling Green State University Popular Press and its successors and publications, the annual PCA-ACA conference, conferences of regional and international affiliated organizations, other relevant conferences and organizations, BGSU degree programs and academic units involved with culture studies, the Ray and Pat Browne Popular Culture Library, the BGSU Music Library and Sound Recordings Archives, and the PCA-ACA Endowment.

 The Area also welcomes biographical research on people who contributed to the development of culture studies or to the development of institutions, entities, or activities associated with the Bowling Green tradition. Submissions might also focus on important books or other individual works in the development of culture studies, or on the historical development of particular ideas, schools of thought, or research traditions in culture studies.

Submissions will only be accepted through the PCA website at pcaaca.org. 

Please send any inquiries to:

Gary Burns, Area Chair

Professor Emeritus of Communication, Northern Illinois University

gburns@niu.edu.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026