History of the Big Berks
The Big Berks, formally known as the Berkshire Conference on the History of Women, Genders, and Sexualities, is a triennial event hosted by the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians. First held in 1973 at Douglass College, the conference quickly became a landmark gathering for scholars in the fields of women’s, gender, and sexuality history. Over the decades, it has grown into the largest and most prestigious academic conference of its kind, drawing thousands of participants from around the world. The Big Berks has consistently served as a vital space for intellectual exchange, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-building, while also evolving to reflect new directions in feminist and historical scholarship. Each conference is typically hosted by a different academic institution and includes hundreds of sessions, plenaries, workshops, performances, and social events that foster scholarly rigor and transformative dialogue.
Cancellation of the 2026 Big Berks
The Berkshire Conference of Women Historians Board of Trustees made the difficult decision not to hold the Big Berks in 2026 and instead engage members in a conversation about how to move forward after the planned 2026 conference at Northwestern did not come to fruition.
Future of the Big Berks
Even as we pause to reflect and reimagine the future of the Big Berks, the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians remains active and committed to fostering scholarly community. In 2026, we will host our annual Little Berks meeting in Norfolk, Virginia, and are partnering with the American Historical Association to organize affiliate panels, a plenary session, a dance, and a reception at the AHA Annual Meeting. In addition, we are pursuing collaborations with other national organizations to sustain the momentum and intellectual synergy that have long defined the Berks.
Planning for the next iteration of the Big Berks is already underway. We are committed to preserving its scholarly rigor, generative collaborations, and vibrant networking opportunities—now with renewed emphasis on disciplinary support, mentorship, and inclusive access for all historians. We expect to announce the format and location of our next large-scale gathering in 2026. Until then, we thank you for your ongoing support and engagement, and we invite you to be part of shaping the next chapter of the Berks.