May 31 - June 3, 2012 - Annual SIA Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio, including Dayton and Northern Kentucky.

John R. Roebling Bridge, Covington-Cincinnati, image by Rick Dikeman

Since the SIA last met in Cincinnati in 1978, the skyline has changed and much of the heavy industry is gone, but many IA attractions remain.  Cincinnati has an unusual stock of 19th-century commercial buildings, a surprising amount of industrial activity, and Art Deco masterpieces such as Carew Tower, the Hilton Netherland Plaza (conference headquarters), Union Terminal, and Lunken Airport.  The vast Union Terminal complex now contains three museums, including the Cincinnati History Museum where our Saturday banquet will be held.  In addition to Cincinnati and its Ohio suburbs, tours are planned to include sites in Kentucky and as far north as Dayton.  The area’s industrial heritage includes many examples of water, rail and air transportation infrastructure and component manufacturing, food processing, and production of parts for motor vehicles. Watch the SIA website (www.sia-web.org) and eNews for more details as they become available. Registration materials will be sent to all members in the late March.

CALL FOR PAPERS

The SIA invites proposals for papers and poster displays to be presented at the 41st Annual Conference on Saturday, June 2, 2012, in Cincinnati. Poster displays can be works in progress. Presentations on all topics related to industrial archeology, technology, social change related to industry, and bridges are welcome. Papers about regional industries and transportation are encouraged. All papers and poster displays should offer interpretation and synthesis of data. Paper sessions will be held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza.

Presentation Formats: Proposals may be for individual papers, 20 minutes in length, a group of themed papers filling a 90-minute session, or organized 90-minute panel discussions (formal commentator optional).

Proposal Formats: Proposals should be submitted electronically (Microsoft Word.doc, or OpenOffice Open Document Text.odt) unless special arrangements have been made. Each proposal must include: 1) title; 2) a 300-500 word abstract with a detailed discussion of points, findings, or conclusions; 3) brief résumé(s) for the presenter(s), including postal address, telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail; 4) a list of visual-aid requests. Facilities for media formats other than Microsoft PowerPoint.ppt or OpenOffice Open Document Presentation.odp may not be available.

For 90-minute sessions, a panel organizer should submit all paper proposals as a group, accompanied by a title and a brief description of the theme or purpose. If any of these items are missing, the proposal cannot be considered.

Presenters are encouraged to consider transforming papers into an article for IA: The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology. No conference proceedings are published.

Deadline for paper proposals: Mar. 31, 2012. Send proposals or questions to: secretary@siahq.org; Justin M. Spivey, SIA 2012 Paper Sessions Chair, 405 North Main St., Hightstown, NJ 08520; (609) 751-6915.

TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS

The SIA awards travel scholarships to help full-time students and professionals with less than three years of full-time experience to attend annual conferences. Scholarships are a cash stipend that typically covers some, but not all, of the costs of travel and lodging. Those interested in applying for a travel scholarship to attend the 2012 Annual Conference in Cincinnati should submit a concise letter outlining their demonstrated interest in and commitment to industrial archeology or a related field, and one letter of reference. Deadline for applications is Mar. 31, 2012. Apply to Patrick Harshbarger, SIA Scholarship Committee, 305 Rodman Rd., Wilmington, DE 19809; (302) 764-7464; phsianews@aol.com.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Our conference headquarters is the historic Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in the city’s vibrant downtown area, part of the Carew Tower complex, an art deco masterpiece completed in 1930. Carew Tower looks like a 49-story model of the Empire State Building, and includes an observation deck, classic urban retail mall, Rookwood tile mural and downtown Cincinnati’s only food court.

Here is the informational link to use for the name of the Hotel (Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza)

Rooms are available for SIA members at group rates, while supplies last. The rate for regular rooms is $139 per night, and for junior suites (perfect for families) is $169. SIA members also receive free high-speed internet access and other amenities. (There is a $10 surcharge for rooms occupied by more than two people, not counting children under 18 unless the children require additional bedding.) The quoted rate does not include state and local taxes, currently at 17%.

Here is the link to reserve a room online

or phone at 800-HILTONS (800-445-8667). If reserving by phone, you must identify your SIA affiliation at the time your reservation is made.

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Society for Industrial Archeology Email: sia@mtu.edu Tel.: 906-487-1889