Association for Documentary Editing

The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Association for Documentary Editing (ADE) will take place at the University of Houston, uniting scholars, archivists, editors, students, and community practitioners from October 8-10, 2026. This historic collaboration between the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Program and the ADE aims to explore the diverse foundational figures and documents that have shaped the histories, literatures, and identities of the United States. The conference, titled 'Record Keepers of Nation: Diverse Foundational Figures and Documents of the US', will delve into the intersections, conflicts, and compromises of various voices, papers, and biographies that contribute to the collective memory and national narratives of the country. Attendees will focus on recovery, preservation, and dissemination of historical records that broaden and challenge the conventional understanding of the nation’s foundation.The conference will facilitate discussions on critical themes such as the recovery and analysis of foundational US documents, including petitions, letters, legal texts, and manifestos. It will highlight the roles of printing, journalism, literature, and oral traditions in shaping community histories, as well as the impact of US independence on Latin American independence movements. Topics will also cover the experiences of exile, activism, and organizing for Latin American independence within the context of the United States. Furthermore, the event will address methodologies in documentary editing, preservation, and digital archiving, while exploring the social, cultural, and political implications of archival recovery. The ADE's commitment to promoting the publication of historically valuable materials in both print and digital formats will be a cornerstone of this meeting, fostering collaboration and idea exchange among a diverse community of editors.