2026 Northern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference

SJSU's Beta-Lambda Chapter Invites You to the 2026 Northern California Regional Phi Alpha Theta Conference!

We look forward to hosting you at our society’s Northern California Regional Conference at San Jose State on April 17th, 2026! We are excited to welcome students from across Northern California (and possibly further afield!) to our campus for a day of panels showcasing student research. This conference provides a wonderful opportunity for students to present in a supportive environment and to network with peers and professionals, activities which are transformative in one’s academic and professional development. Additionally, don’t miss out on exploring San Jose’s History Park and connecting with fellow historians at our reception on the evening of Thursday, April 16th! 

Quick Links

 

Reception Details

On Thursday, April 16th from 5:00PM to 7:00PM we will be hosting a free reception at San Jose’s History Park. We are incredibly grateful to the nonprofit History San Jose for making this evening possible!

Through original and reproduction homes, businesses, and landmarks, History Park reveals Santa Clara Valley’s past. Join us for our official welcome, then peruse the Arbuckle Gallery in the Pacific Hotel and the Bank of Italy, or just enjoy grazing and mingling beside the iconic half-size recreation of San Jose’s light tower! Please note that O’Brien’s Ice Cream Parlor and History Park’s Gift Shop may be open and that items in these shops will not be free.

History Park is located at 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose, CA 95112. 

The park is easily accessible from downtown San Jose via VTA bus 73, which has a stop right off of SJSU’s campus. For more information about Valley Transportation Authority and fares, please see their website. 

If you will be driving or getting dropped off, please use the staff lot past the main entrance on Phelan Avenue, towards the rear of the park. The main gate to the park will not be open, as this is a private event. Parking will be free in this lot, but please do NOT park in spots marked BAGI.

We highly encourage taking the bus or carpooling! Limited carpools between SJSU’s campus and History Park may be available. Please complete this form to indicate your interest in carpooling by Friday, April 10th. Of course, you are very welcome to coordinate your own carpools with students from your university, if able.

 

Conference Details

The conference will begin the morning of Friday, April 17th in San Jose State’s Diaz Compean Student Union with registration, a light breakfast spread, and a welcome address. The day will go on to feature student research panels, professional development workshops, and an awards ceremony in the afternoon. 

We anticipate the conference running from 8:00AM to 5:00PM

Digital program COMING SOON! 

We are thrilled to announce that our luncheon will feature a panel of local guests speaking on their work in the field of public history, including:

  • Ben Leech - Preservation Action Council of San Jose  
  • Margo McBane - Before Silicon Valley Project, SJSU Public History Professor Emerita
  • Bill Schroh, Jr. - History San Jose
  • Ken Yeager - Queer Silicon Valley, Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC)
  • And moderator Alison Laurence - Dinostalgia, incoming SJSU Public History Professor Fall 2026

Registration 

Please register here. Note that, due to an error with our registration page, students should select “Other” for their Affiliation. Students should also select “Yes” to the question “Do you plan to present a paper?” whether they plan to present on a paper OR a project. 

The cost of registration is $35 per attendee through Friday, April 3rd. After April 3rd, the cost of registration will be $40 per attendee. Please note that all panel chairs, presenters, and visitors must register to attend the conference. The registration fee covers breakfast, lunch, and souvenir swag!

The deadline for presenter registration is Friday, April 3rd. Visitors may register through the morning of the conference, though we cannot guarantee lunch or swag for late registrants. Those registering at the door may pay by card via the above site or with cash. 

We expect all registration fees to help cover conference expenses, but any unlikely remainder of funds will benefit our university’s Beta-Lambda Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta.

 

Submissions

We welcome paper and multimedia project proposals on any historical topic, region, or period by both undergraduate and graduate students. Independent scholars are also welcome to participate. You do not need to be a history major or member of Phi Alpha Theta to present. Participants will have about 15 minutes to present their research

Papers are to be written in a 12-point font and double-spaced, with citations in Chicago / Turabian style. Undergraduate papers should be at least 10 pages long, while graduate papers are not to exceed 25 pages. 

In addition to traditional papers, we encourage students to submit multimedia presentations of historical research, such as short documentary-style or educational videos, podcast episodes, websites, or blog series. For videos or podcasts, submissions should be no more than 20 minutes long. For websites or blog series, they should contain content equivalent to a 10 to 25 page research paper. 

Proposal submissions are now closed. We will respond to all proposals shortly after the March 6th deadline.

Full panel proposals are also welcome. If your students are interested in proposing a full panel, please send us an email. Students will submit their proposals and completed works individually

Prizes will be awarded to the best papers in Undergraduate and Graduate categories submitted by Phi Alpha Theta members. Non-members are not eligible for paper awards. A prize will also be awarded to the best submission in the Multimedia Project category, for which you do not need to be a member of Phi Alpha Theta. 

To be considered for a prize, please submit completed papers and multimedia projects here by Friday, April 3rd. 

 

Directions & Parking

For directions, SJSU’s main campus address is One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192.

You will also find our campus map useful. The majority of conference activities will take place in the Diaz Compean Student Union, with some panels being held in Clark Hall. 

The nearest university parking garage to the Student Union is the North Garage, located at 65 South 10th Street. Parking in SJSU garages is $12 (maximum) per weekday and can be purchased via the ParkMobile app or from in-garage permit machines, which accept Visa, Mastercard, and cash. Note that you will need exact change. More information can be found here.

Nearby city garages are also available, the closest being the ParkSJ Fourth Street Garage at 44 South 4th Street. Parking in city garages is $25 (maximum) per weekday and can be purchased from in-garage permit machines. For more information on parking in downtown San Jose, please visit ParkSJ’s website.

SJSU is also accessible via public transit, including bus and light rail. For more information, check out the Valley Transportation Authority’s site here.

 

Lodging

Attendees will find a variety of accommodations in the downtown San Jose area. Particularly close to campus are:

Hotel Clariana - 100 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113

Convention Center Inn & Suites - 475 S Second St, San Jose, CA 95113

Four Points by Sheraton (Marriott) - 211 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

The Westin (Marriott) - 302 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Hotel De Anza - 17 Notre Dame Ave, San Jose, CA 95110

A few additional options can also be found in the same area around Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park.

 

Local Eats

Looking for a bite? Check out these downtown San Jose classics:

BackAYard Caribbean Grill - 457 E San Carlos St
Punjab Cafe (Indian) - 322 E Santa Clara St
Phở Passion and MinTea Bar - 301 E Santa Clara St
The Fab (Mexican & American) - 110 Paseo de San Antonio
Jackie’s Place (BBQ & Soul) - 321 S 1st St
Sushi Confidential (Non-traditional Sushi) - 26 N San Pedro St
Orchestria Palm Court (Continental European Dining) - 27 E William St
Eos & Nyx (Elevated Mediterranean) - 201 S Second St Ste 120
Scott’s Seafood (Elevated Seafood) - 200 S First St, Suite 10

The list goes on! You may also want to check out San Pedro Square Market or take a walk down to Japantown while you’re here.

 

Questions?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at sjsuphialphatheta@gmail.com with any questions you may have. We can’t wait to welcome you to our campus!