2027 International Congress on Medieval Studies: Call for Papers

July 9, 2026 in Announcements, Call for Papers, Co-Sponsorships with the RGME, Conference Announcement, International Congress on Medieval Studies, Postal History at Kalamazoo

Call for Papers

Sessions Sponsored and Co-Sponsored by the RGME
at the
62nd International Congress on Medieval Studies
May 13–15, 2027

(Hybrid sessions)

Proposals due by 15 September 2026

[Posted on 10 July 2026]

2026 Congress Posters: Magic MSS Poster 2

Following the successful accomplishment of RGME activities at the 2026 ICMS, we announce the Call for Papers for the Sessions (Panels of Papers) to be sponsored and co-sponsored by the Research Group on Manuscript Evidence for next year’s  International Congress on Medieval Studies (ICMS).

The general Call for Papers for 2027 appears on the Congress website.

To find our Sessions there, search under Sponsoring Organization for RGME:

Now we present our two sessions and invite you to send your proposals for papers for them. Remember, these proposals are due by 15 September 2026, with submissions to the 2027 ICMS Confex proposal portal.

RGME Sessions for 2027

I. Ecologies of the Book:
Materials, Environments, Representations
(ID: 8530)

Organizers

Description

Books in the medieval context are not neutral objects: made of materials extracted from the natural world, their production had a profound impact on the local ecosystems. However, books have been critical for disseminating knowledge, including about the natural world and its conservation. This session calls for 20-minute papers examining the roles of books imagined within ecologies broadly: how did the production and consumption of books impact the (perceived) ecosystem around them, for better or worse? We welcome proposals in any methodological lens for any geographic region in the long Middle Ages, and encourage junior/emerging scholars to apply.

See also Cortney’s other session:

  • Patris, Matris, Monstri: Depictions of Monstrous Parents and Parental Monsters
    (description here)

This will be the second year of sessions organized for the RGME by Cortney. See:

We thank Cortney for her exemplary organizational skills.

II. Moving the Mail:
Letters, Couriers, and Post Offices in the Medieval World
(ID: 8600)

Co-Sponsor

  • Postal History at Kalamazoo

This will be Year 4 of ICMS Sessions on this subject co-sponsored by Postal History at Kalamazoo and the RGME. (See RGME activities at the 2026 ICMS). We thank David for his continued initiative.

Organizer

  • David W. Sorenson (Allen G. Berman, Professional Numismatist)

Description

In a world in which long-distance communication was of necessity through the written word, getting “hard copy” from sender to recipient could be a complicated process. While royal and other “important” messages might be sent post-haste, ordinary letters would be much lower priority, and much less speedy. Government mail might be sent via special courier in a dedicated system, but other mail would typically travel in a less efficient, more ad hoc process. This session is intended to examine the process of transport and delivery of mail, whether in Europe or elsewhere.

Submit an Abstract to this Session

Send your Proposals

Proposals for contributions are due by September 15 2026. For directions, see above.

Questions?

Contact us or the Session organizers.

We look forward to your proposals and your participation in the 2027 ICMS.

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