2022 Conference
Registration is now open for TOHA 2022! This year’s conference will be held in Houston, TX! Houston is the 4th most populous city in the United States and is known as the energy capital of the world. Lovingly known as “H-Town”, Houston is home to a variety of cultures, and this blend has created an environment that is rich with unique food, art, music, science, technology, and more. We are excited to host our 11th annual conference in this city!
Students : We welcome students to attend our conference! Students receive 20% off registration with promo code “TOHAStu22”.
Current TOHA Members (2022) : Please double-check your emails for a special members-only discount on registration! If you are not a current member and would like to join or renew your membership, please visit our Membership page for more information.
Here’s a sneak peek of events for this year’s conference :
Friday, September 9th
*Please note that all Friday events will be held at the African American Library at the Gregory School located at 1300 Victor Street. Parking is available on the backside of the building.*
Pre-Conference Workshop
The year’s workshop will be presented by Dr. Debbie Harwell, Samantha de Leon, and Dr. Todd Romero from the University of Houston’s Center for Public History. The workshop will cover their work on several community projects documenting stories of Houstonians including Resilient Houston: Documenting Hurricane Harvey, the San Jose Clinic Oral History Project, 100 Years of Stories for the University of Houston’s Centennial Oral History Project. Participants will be able to learn how to work with communities effectively to develop meaningful oral history projects. The cost of the workshop is $25 and can be paid with registration. Space is limited, so register early!
TOHA Social – Networking Mixer
The social mixer will be held at the African American Library at the Gregory School following the workshop. Attendees will enjoy lite bites and have the opportunity to network with other oral historians from across the state and beyond. We will also be able to view the wonderful and informative galleries at the Gregory School and learn about the history of the school, Freedman’s Town, and Fourth Ward.
Saturday, September 10th
*Please note that all Saturday events will be held at the Holocaust Museum Houston located at 5401 Caroline Street. Onsite parking is available. *
Conference Sessions
We have a full slate of over a dozen presentations covering a range of topics including oral history methodology, music, health, activism, vulnerable populations, and more.
Along with these presentations we have a couple of special events for Saturday’s programming :
Keynote
Our keynote address will be given by Sarah Canby Jackson, co-founder of the HIV/AIDS OH Project-- an oral history project dedicated to preserving and making accessible the history of the AIDS epidemic in Houston, Harris County, and Southeast Texas. Those registered for the conference will have the option to enjoy lunch included with the keynote address.
Spotlighting Houston History
TOHA will present a special session highlighting oral history in Houston. This session will spotlight different oral history projects across the city that are dedicated to documenting the diverse histories and stories of the people of Houston.
Spotlight on the venues :
This year we have two amazing venues for our two-day conference!
The African American Library at the Gregory School is a research library within the Houston Public Library that is dedicated to promoting and preserving the history of African Americans in Houston and the surrounding areas in Texas. The library is located in Freedman’s Town, which was the first settlement for emancipated slaves in Houston and is in the heart of Houston’s Fourth Ward.
To learn more about the resources available to the African American Library at the Gregory School, please visit https://digital.houstonlibrary.org/gregory. You can learn about the work and legacy of the Gregory School here : https://rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov/2021/09/01/preserving-a-communitys-legacy-the-history-of-the-gregory-school/
Holocaust Museum Houston is located in the Museum District of Houston and is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust and strives to build a more humane society by promoting responsible individual behavior, cultivating civility, and pursuing social justice. The museum features interactive galleries and spaces to promote learning and engagement for patrons.
To learn more about Holocaust Museum Houston, please visit their website at https://hmh.org/.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there!