Call for Papers, Proposals, and Participation:
The 2025 Josiah Royce Society Virtual Conference
Fri Oct 11, Sat Oct 12, Fri Oct 18, Sat Oct 19, 2025
The Josiah Royce Society announces its plan to hold a virtual conference in October 2025.
With the aim of increasing participation among scholars worldwide, the tentative plan is for the conference to take place in three-to-four-hour blocks across two Fridays and Saturdays in October 2025 (Fri Oct 11, Sat Oct 12, Fri Oct 18, and Sat Oct 19). We welcome traditional paper presentations, presentations of work-in-progress, and participants in possible sessions such as:
Traditional papers or works-in-progress: Present your research and works-in-progress to our community of supportive Royce scholars.
Honoring John Clendenning, Jackie Kegley, and Mary B. Mahowald—great Royce scholars whose contributions the JRS would like to recognize. Papers/presentations on their work are welcome, however, participation is not limited to this format. For example, participants could share personal reflections of ways in which these scholars have been influential to them.
Royceana Show-and-Tell: Share your unique or rare Royce items and tell us the story behind it and how it came into your possession.
Breakout Sessions: Work in groups to decipher perplexing passages in Royce’s work, apply Royce’s theories to contemporary issues, or some other creative activity that takes advantage of the virtual environment.
The Society may award one or both of the Harry Todd Costello Prize and John J. McDermott Prize at this conference:
The Harry Todd Costello Prize
To be awarded approximately annually to a graduate student or recent PhD presentation at a conference or other event sponsored by the Society. Prize Amount: $300
The John J. McDermott Prize
To be awarded approximately every 2 years to an undergraduate, graduate student, or recent PhD no more than 5 years out of graduate school for a substantive paper on Royce's philosophy of loyalty and community. Prize Amount: $300
Papers (up to 3,000 words) and proposals (abstracts, up to 300 words) should be prepared for anonymous review with identifying information appearing only on a cover page. If applicable, please also describe on the cover page your eligibility for the Costello and/or McDermott Prizes. To submit a paper or proposal, or to express your interest in participating in this conference in any other way, please notify Mat Foust, President of the Josiah Royce Society: foustma@appstate.edu. To facilitate planning, we ask for all such communications by June 1, 2025.
