[SIGCIS-Members] Possible coordination re AHA Call for papers

Mon Mar 30 19:04:05 PDT 2026

I am in support of the statement that Theodora proposes here, and would be
happy to help draft such an anti-war statement through the lens of computer
history.

On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 7:01 PM Theodora J Dryer via Members <
members at lists.sigcis.org> wrote:

> Hi everyone - I don’t believe the AHR needs us to coach them on the call.
> I can give them a heads up about SIGCIS literatures. AI is such an
> amorphous subject.
>
>
> Speaking of our role in history. What do you all think about SIGCIS
> finally drafting a statement against the ongoing genocide in Palestine and
> now the US-Israeli imperial war on Iran?
>
>
> Given that we are witnesses to these atrocities, and scholars of how the
> military machinery works, I believe together we can write a powerful and
> lasting statement as computing historians.
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Theodora
>
> On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 5:31 PM James Cortada via Members <
> members at lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
>
>> I find this all interesting, as I smile.  I have been an AHA member since
>> 1969 and have published about a dozen books on technology and computing
>> history with the kinds of presses whose books are reviewed in the AHR:
>> Oxford, Princeton, MIT, and Columbia but the AHR never reviewed them.  So,
>> you are right the AHR has a loooong way to go to catch up with topics
>> engaging more people some times than are subscribers.  Besides technology
>> topics there is the related subject area of information's history, but we
>> can leave that for another day. So, let's help wherever possible.  Jim
>> Cortada
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 3:07 PM Dag Spicer via Members <
>> members at lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Peter,
>>>
>>> Sounds great!
>>>
>>> If you like, take a look at the *AHR History Lab* webpage (link below)
>>> to get an idea of what they’re about / take a deeper dive into why they’re
>>> doing this outreach:
>>>
>>> "The History Lab launched in March 2022 as an experimental space driven
>>> by a single question: how can the AHR help reimagine the practice of
>>> history in the 21st century?  The kinds of field-shaping interventions our
>>> authors make in the Lab involve collaborative projects designed to showcase
>>> transformative approaches to new methods and fields in history, to
>>> reinvigorate more familiar realms of historical study and to expand the
>>> public facing reach of our historical practices."
>>>
>>> Source:
>>> https://www.historians.org/news-publications/american-historical-review/ahr-history-lab/
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.historians.org_news-2Dpublications_american-2Dhistorical-2Dreview_ahr-2Dhistory-2Dlab_&d=DwMFaQ&c=slrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ&r=r2UZmfQXmARstv9eQ1su-qcTMPymdHyxwrfbhuzVkjU&m=1f8v73X45IWNWaLz99X5IXpb4wsmAlyztTcogNMhUJmElo9E0vN5-DGR3iJGVSYC&s=u7L0RBi8SYdOzfMS2IxibfzoZko8JwPws82mq7gKYaY&e=>
>>>
>>> So it sounds like their CFP is really about how we think AI* will
>>> change the practice of history.*
>>>
>>> I’m an AHA member and have to say that AI is a huge stretch for their
>>> membership. Just look at past issues of AHR for articles and book reviews.
>>> There is basically nothing on the history of technology, computing, or
>>> science. Incredible scholarship, of course, but not centered on many of our
>>> concerns. That will be a challenge and an opportunity for writers.
>>>
>>> AHA’s motto is also CHM’s “unofficial” motto: “Everything Has a History.”
>>>
>>> :_)
>>>
>>> All the best,
>>>
>>> Dag
>>> -----
>>> Dag Spicer
>>> Senior Curator
>>> Computer History Museum
>>> Editorial Board, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing
>>> ACM History Committee
>>> 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
>>> Mountain View CA  94043
>>>
>>> “History is a vast early warning system.”
>>> — Norman Cousins, American journalist (1915-1990).
>>>
>>> Join our Mailing List here: https://info.computerhistory.org/subscribe
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__info.computerhistory.org_subscribe&d=DwMFaQ&c=slrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ&r=r2UZmfQXmARstv9eQ1su-qcTMPymdHyxwrfbhuzVkjU&m=1f8v73X45IWNWaLz99X5IXpb4wsmAlyztTcogNMhUJmElo9E0vN5-DGR3iJGVSYC&s=RVfiN5-qblZCu8bulNetwsVWFLap75FKi2lLePejoWw&e=>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 30, 2026, at 11:18 AM, Meyer, Peter - BLS via Members <
>>> members at lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> The AHA call is exciting.  Thank you, Paul Ceruzzi, for alerting us.
>>>
>>> I have in mind to submit a proposal.   My angle would be from economic
>>> history.  I see similarities in the technological histories leading up to
>>> other breakthroughs, and the economic histories that follow them. The AI
>>> “shock” will match some of those.  Economists writing about AI do make
>>> historical comparisons, and they’re not bad (I think), but sometimes they
>>> are too compressed or shallow.
>>>
>>> I like the idea of a little coordination and mutual education.  Perhaps
>>> SIGCIS folks could have a joint video conversation in April or May to
>>> discuss potential submissions, get a sense of the idea landscape, and
>>> coordinate or coauthor if there is overlap.  I will be happy to set up such
>>> a call, or attend if someone else organizes it.  Anyone freely contact me
>>> if interested.
>>> —
>>> *Peter B. Meyer*
>>> Research Economist
>>> U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
>>> U.S. Department of Labor
>>>
>>> *From:* Members <members-bounces at lists.sigcis.org> *On Behalf Of *James
>>> Cortada via Members
>>> *Sent:* Sunday, March 29, 2026 9:31 AM
>>> *To:* Ceruzzi, Paul <CeruzziP at si.edu>
>>> *Cc:* sigcis <members at sigcis.org>
>>> *Subject:* [External Email] Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Call for papers,
>>> American Historical Association
>>>
>>> I agree.  Can we ask our SIGCIS leaders to call the editor of the
>>> American Historical Review and discuss putting some structure around this
>>> interest by the AHA so it doesn't just publish haphazardly whatever someone
>>> wants to?  Jim Cortada
>>>
>>> On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 8:09 AM Ceruzzi, Paul via Members <
>>> members at lists.sigcis.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> I saw this call from the AHA for papers about Artificial Intelligence..
>>> Many of the topics suggested have been well-covered by members of SIGCIS,
>>> but perhaps the AHA membership is unaware of our (your) work.
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.historians.org/news-publications/american-historical-review/how-to-submit/ai-in-historical-perspectives/?_zs=noama&_zl=gfLu4
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.historians.org_news-2Dpublications_american-2Dhistorical-2Dreview_how-2Dto-2Dsubmit_ai-2Din-2Dhistorical-2Dperspectives_-3F-5Fzs-3Dnoama-26-5Fzl-3DgfLu4&d=DwMFaQ&c=slrrB7dE8n7gBJbeO0g-IQ&r=r2UZmfQXmARstv9eQ1su-qcTMPymdHyxwrfbhuzVkjU&m=1f8v73X45IWNWaLz99X5IXpb4wsmAlyztTcogNMhUJmElo9E0vN5-DGR3iJGVSYC&s=GNpR19B7ahjkPZ_c9SbGxo6vS_fiwqVdRgrUri1D3uk&e=>
>>>
>>> Paul Ceruzzi
>>>
>>> --
>>> James W. Cortada
>>> Senior Research Fellow
>>> Charles Babbage Institute
>>> University of Minnesota
>>> jcortada at umn.edu
>>> 608-274-6382
>>>
>>> .
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> James W. Cortada
>> Senior Research Fellow
>> Charles Babbage Institute
>> University of Minnesota
>> jcortada at umn.edu
>> 608-274-6382
>> _______________________________________________
>> This email is relayed from members at sigcis.org, the email discussion
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>>
>
>
> --
> www.theodoradryer.com
>
>
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