The Stowe Center for Literary Activism, in partnership with the New England Quarterly invites papers for the 2026 “Stowe in Context & Conversation: Understanding Harriet Beecher Stowe in her historical context and ours” symposium. We invite submissions of conference paper abstracts that examine Harriet Beecher Stowe, the larger historical context that she lived and worked within, those who inspired or interacted with her work, what this means to us today, and other related topics and themes. Submitted abstracts will be reviewed and selected by leading Stowe scholars.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Tiya Miles as our keynote speaker. Additionally, accepted papers will be eligible for two special opportunities. First, one paper delivered at the symposium and selected by a panel of judges will receive special recognition and a $1,000 prize from the Stowe Center. Second, The New England Quarterly will consider all unpublished papers for a special issue of the journal devoted to the symposium theme.

We encourage people to think broadly about Stowe, what she meant in her time, and what she means in our time. Our 2025 program included such varied topics as 19^th century women’s domestic sphere; author and Stowe contemporary Charles Chesnutt; the Martin Delany and Frederick Douglass debates around Uncle Tom’s Cabin; and Stowe’s feminist theology.