Open Call for Early-Career Researchers
Conference: “Jewish Archives. Historical and Contemporary Perspectives” (22–23 October 2026)
On the occasion of the exhibition “Literature & Attitude. The Archive of Rachel Salamander,” the Monacensia Literary Archive and the Chair of Jewish History and Culture at Ludwig Maxi-milian University of Munich invite early-career researchers to participate with a paper presenta-tion at the interdisciplinary conference “Jewish Archives. Historical and Contemporary Perspec-tives.”
The conference is dedicated to archives as central sites for the preservation, organization, and remembrance of Jewish history and the present. Taking the Salamander Archive as a paradigmat-ic example of documentary self-assertion, it asks what function archives assume in different his-torical contexts and what constitutes the “Jewish” aspect of an archive: is it found in its contents, in practices of collecting, or in institutional and cultural frameworks? What role do archives play in the production of knowledge? How do they contribute to the formation of Jewish history and memory?
The conference focuses on contributions that understand archives not only as places of preserva-tion, but as dynamic processes that enable, structure, or also delimit historical narratives. Particu-larly welcome are perspectives that examine the material, institutional, and epistemic conditions of Jewish transmission up to the present, as well as reflections on the embedding of archives in polit-ical, social, and memory-cultural contexts.
We welcome submissions from the following fields:
• Jewish history and culture
• Literary studies
• Cultural studies
• Archival studies
• Digital humanities and related disciplines
Papers may address, among other things, the following questions:
• How do Jewish archives and collections emerge, and which practices shape them?
• Which narratives are enabled or excluded by archives?
• How do archives operate across historical ruptures and spatial contexts?
• What role do archives play in current debates on memory culture and politics?
Format and Framework
• Selected early-career researchers will present their work in a short talk of approximately 15–20 minutes as part of the conference.
• The conference will provide space for interdisciplinary exchange and discussion (confer-ence languages: English and German).
• Travel and accommodation costs will be covered with certain restrictions.
Who can apply:
• Early-career researchers (doctoral researchers, early postdoctoral researchers, or Master’s graduates with a relevant project)
• Applications from interdisciplinary contexts are explicitly encouraged.
Application Materials
• Abstract of the planned presentation (300–500 words)
• Short biographical note (max. 150 words)
• Optional: brief outline of the research project or institutional affiliation
• Submission of the materials in a single PDF file to:
monacensia.programm@muenchen.de
Applications must be submitted in German or English.
Deadlines
• Application deadline: 31 July 2026 at 12pm (GMT+1)
• Notification of outcome: approximately 4–6 weeks after the application deadline
The conference will take place in Munich and is organized by the Monacensia Literary Archive in cooperation with the Chair of Jewish History and Culture at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.