ELMIRA 2026 INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

Archives – The Elmira College Mark Twain Archives will be open during the conference by appointment only.  Attendees should have a legitimate research inquiry and have accessed the finding aids prior to arriving to Elmira.  If you need to schedule an appointment, contact Katy Galvin, Collections Manager, at kg*****@****ra.edu.

Books for Purchase – A wide variety of new and gently used books focusing on Mark Twain Studies are available for purchase in the Gannett-Tripp Library.  Mark Twain Studies reference sets are also available at a special discounted price.

Campus Safety – The Office of Campus Safety is available throughout your entire stay on campus.  Campus Safety is located in Cory House (710 Park Place, Elmira, NY).  Campus Safety can be reached at (607) 735-1777, or at se******@****ra.edu.

Food, Special Requests – If you have any special food requirements, contact Director Joseph Lemak (jl****@****ra.edu) as soon as possible.  Every effort will be made to accommodate your request.  It is imperative that you let the CMTS staff be aware of your food request before you arrive to Elmira.

Food on Wednesday, July 29 – The conference will be serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks starting Thursday morning and ending Saturday night.  For conference attendees arriving Wednesday, here is a list of recommended eating spots:

• • Easy Walking Distance:
    • Chiltepin Mexican Restaurant (456 W.Washington Ave., Elmira)
    • Pietro and Sons Italian Restaurant (400 W. Washington Ave., Elmira)
    • 7-11 Convenient Store (865 Davis St., Elmira) Open 24 Hours
  • Easy Driving Distance
    • Centertown Social (8 Clemens Square, Elmira)
    • Ill Eagle Taphouse (200 East Church St., Elmira)
    • Rye Bar and Restaurant (365 Davis St., Elmira)
    • Siam Elephants Thai Restaurant (200 West Water St. Elmira) Good vegan and vegetarian options
    • Patrick’s Bar (303 College Ave., Elmira)
    • Wegmans Grocery Store (1100 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira)

Information Technology – If you have any tech problems, feel free to stop by the IT Help Desk, located in the basement of the Gannett-Tripp Library, next to the Tripp Lecture Hall.  Hours of operation are Thursday (9:00am – 4:00pm) and Friday (9:00am – 12:30pm).

Linens and Towels – Fresh linens, towels, and pillows will be included in all Meier Hall campus lodging.

Mark Twain Exhibit – The Exhibit on the second floor of the Gannett-Tripp Library focuses on Mark Twain’s legacy in Elmira, as well as the author’s and the Langdon family’s special relationship with Elmira College.  A current temporary exhibit highlights caricatures of Mark Twain from Louis J. Budd’s expansive collection.

Mark Twain Study – The iconic Study, once located at Quarry Farm, now on the Elmira College campus, will be open and staffed by a Mark Twain Ambassador on Thursday and Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.  More information HERE.

Parking – Conference attendees should park in the Meier Hall parking lot, adjacent to Meier Hall.

PowerPoint, Google, and Keynote Slides – Each lecture space will have the capability of supporting PowerPoint and Google Slide presentations.  All presenters wishing to show images should email their presentations to Director Joseph Lemak (jl****@****ra.edu) before they arrive to Elmira.  It is also recommended that presenters bring a backup of their presentation in case of an emergency.  Please note that Keynote presentations will not be accessible.  Make sure to convert all Keynote presentations to PowerPoint before you arrive to Elmira.

Quarry Farm Shuttle – Conference attendees wishing to attend the Saturday evening picnic are strongly encouraged to take the shuttle located in the Meier Hall parking lot.  Not only is the preservation of Quarry Farm paramount, but parking is limited.  Pick-up will start promptly at 4:15pm and run until 9:15pm.

Registration Check-In – Registration check-in will be Wednesday, July 29 (8:00am to 8:00pm), Thursday, July 30 (8:00am to 8:00pm), and Friday, July 31 (8:00am to 12:30pm).  The Check-in Table is located at the Gannett-Tripp Library Main Desk. Attendees lodging in Meier Hall will receive a key to their room at this time.

Registration Check-In (Outside of Designated Hours) – Conference attendees lodging in Meier Hall and arriving outside the designated registration hours can pick up their room keys at the Office of Campus Safety, located in the Cory House (710 Park Place, Elmira, NY).  It is strongly recommended that you notify Director Joseph Lemak (jl****@****ra.edu) if you plan to arrive outside of designated registration hours.

Registration Check-Out– For those attendees lodging in Meier Hall, please return your room key at the Gannett-Tripp Library Main Desk by 12:00pm on Sunday, August 2.

Walking/Running Map – The Clemens/Langdon funerary plot is located 1.2 miles away (25 minute walk) in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Here is a map.

Wi-Fi Access –  Log on to “EC_Guest.”  Follow all directed prompts.  If problems continue to persist, consult the IT Help Desk.  Please see the “Information Technology” section above.

Woodlawn National Cemetery – The picturesque cemetery famously contains the Clemens/Langdon funerary plot, as well as other important people associated with Mark Twain and his extended family, including Thomas K. Beecher, Mary Ann Cord, Rachel Gleason, John W. Jones, Charles Klapproth, Ernest Koppe and John T. Lewis.  Here is an interactive map.