Call for Papers: Mark Twain Circle at ALA, May 20-23, 2026 (Palmer House, Chicago)

The Mark Twain Circle invites proposals of 250-500 words for 20-minute presentations at its two guaranteed ALA panels. Panelists who are Circle members (and MTC policy calls for all panelists to be current members) may apply for up to $400 in travel reimbursement if they lack  institutional funding. (See marktwaincircle.org for membership info.)

1. Teaching Mark Twain Today

We invite submissions that explore the evolving ways Mark Twain’s works are taught and understood in today’s classrooms, with special interest in (a) how political, technological, and cultural contexts shape the act of reading Mark Twain’s works; (b) which works are taught and why; and (c) what methods excel for teaching Mark Twain’s life and works. Send proposals as an email attachment in Word or PDF to Jeanne Campbell Reesman, Professor of English Emerita, University of Texas at San Antonio, <Je************@**sa.edu>, by January 20, 2026. We welcome perspectives of high school and community college instructors as well as those from various types of four-year institutions.

2. Open Topic

We invite submissions that explore any biographical, textual, thematic, or critical issue(s) relevant to Samuel Clemens or his activity as Mark Twain. Send proposals as an email attachment in Word or PDF to Judith Yaross Lee, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Ohio University, le**@**io.edu, by January 20, 2026.

Whichever panel you apply to, be sure to specify any a/v needs, keeping in mind that the ALA can provide projectors for PowerPoint and the like, along with screens, but will not supply computers, audio/cassette players, or other a/v equipment, so please bring your own. Panel details are due to the ALA by the end of January, so decisions will be made—and communicated to authors—promptly after the due date.