“Evolving Forms” – 2024 Conference Webpage

19-21 April 2024, University of Iowa

Detail from “The Prince of Wales in the Highlands.” Prince of Wales in the Highlands (Supplement). Illustrated London News, 16 Oct. 1880.

The 2024 MVSA conference will take place on the campus of the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, Iowa, from April 19-21, 2024.

Conference Highlights:
  • Stedman Lecture by historian Elizabeth Yale: “Human Evolution in the Popular Press: Victorian Women on Mother Love, Mutual Devotion, and Moral Murder”
  • Guided tour of Macbride Museum of Natural History
  • Dinner in the main hall of historic Old Brick Church
  • Victorian Dancing under the Crystal Chandelier in the Old Capitol
Please see the draft program here (v. April 9, 2024).

Please send corrections to president@midwestvictorian.org by March 1, 2024.

Registration

The early-bird conference registration fee is $175 for tenure-track faculty and $125 for graduate students, non-tenure-track faculty, and independent scholars. The registration fee covers all conference events. For purposes of local planning, we request that you register by March 22, 2024. Attendees are kindly asked to become MVSA members when registering ($40 for tenure-track faculty; $30 for graduate students, non-tenure-track faculty, and unaffiliated scholars). Please note: A late fee of $50 will be added to all registrations after March 22, 2024. After March 22, 2024, no refunds will be issued for cancellations of conference participation. For cancellations before March 22, 2024, registration fees can be refunded but membership dues cannot.

To register, please fill out this Registration Form, which includes places to enter information about dietary restrictions as well as any accommodations you might need during the conference. Then, use the “Pay now” button below to enter the registration and membership fees appropriate to your membership category, and complete the transaction securely online. Please note: it may take up to ten minutes for the system to process the payment and email your receipt. If you do not receive an emailed receipt, we can rectify that when you check in at the conference.

Some of our members make annual donations to MVSA, for which we are very grateful. If you would like to make a donation, that amount can be added to the same transaction as your registration payment.

MVSA 2024 Conference Registration

MVSA 2024 Conference Registration

Pay now
Accommodations:

Three hotels have reserved room blocks for those attending the MVSA 2024 conference, with rates available Thursday night (April 18) through Sunday morning (April 21). All three are quite close to (or on) campus, where events will be held.

  1. Iowa House Hotel, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City, IA 52245.
    • The Iowa House Hotel is located in the Iowa Memorial Union on the UI campus, beside the Iowa River. The $95 rate is inclusive of covered parking, WiFi, continental breakfast, and access to the campus recreation and wellness center.
    • Check-in time is 3 p.m. with check-out being 11 a.m. Parking is extended to 3 p.m. the day of departure.
    • Guests may use the group code 041824 when visiting https://iowahousehotel.com to secure reservations at the discounted rate. [Please note that the group code will not work if you paste it into the box labeled “Promo Code”; you will need to use the small link that says “I have a Group Number” to access the group rate.] They may also call 319-335-3513, referencing the MVSA group block.
  2. Graduate Iowa City, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240.
    • The rate for a room with queen/queen or king bed is $119/night, excluding taxes & fees.
    • Parking is available at the attached city garage, at $15/day.
    • Check in time is any time after 4:00 p.m.; check out will be any time before 11:00 a.m.
    • The fitness center is open 24/7 and complimentary for guests. The Poindexter Coffee Shop is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving breakfast and lunch options. Wilder Bar & Restaurant is open seven days a week, 4 p.m. – close.
    • Guests may use this link to book reservations or call Reservations, at (319) 337-4058. Mention the group code: 6861592 to book reservations.
    • If planning to arrive on April 18th, please select “edit” and include April 18th. The nightly rate will stay the same.
    • The cutoff date to book reservations is 3/20/2024.
  3. Hilton Garden Inn, Iowa City, 328 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52240.
    • The rate for a room with queen/queen or king bed is $119/night, excluding taxes and fees.
    • Parking is available at the attached city garage, at $15/day. Bookings include free WiFi, non-smoking rooms, on-site restaurant, indoor pool, fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and a business center.
    • Guests may use this link to book reservations. If planning to arrive on April 18th, please select “edit” and include April 18th. The nightly rate will stay the same.
Travel to and from Iowa City:
  • The closest airport is Cedar Rapids. Please see the following link to information regarding transportation options: https://flycid.com/travel/ground-transportation/. Cabs await passengers outside Door E by the baggage claim. There is also an area for Uber and Lyft drivers outside the baggage claim.
  • ACS Airport Shuttle Service (https://anamancs.com/acs-airport-shuttle/; (319) 382-5839) will make reservations a week or two ahead. The current one-way cost is $40 per person for transportation between Iowa City and the CID Airport.
  • There is also an Airport Express service (https://www.cidairportshuttle.com/; (319) 626-5466; (800) 383-2219) for $55 per person (one-way) which can be reserved ahead of time.
  • The organizers will have rides available to return attendees to the airport on Sunday afternoon. There will be a sign-up sheet available at the registration desk.

For information on past MVSA conferences, visit the Archives section of the website.