Events Curation

The Events Committee is responsible for designing and producing live conversations that directly inform and steer the Society’s curatorial and research priorities. These events are not intended to be generic lectures or retrospectives. They are structured discussions with people whose lived experience, technical authority, and historical perspective can help ITHS answer hard questions: what should we preserve, how should we describe it, where did key ideas originate, and which contributors have been overlooked.

The outline below reflects an initial working model; the incoming Events Committee is encouraged to refine this approach and propose alternatives. The Board is seeking committee members who will bring judgment, creativity, and ambition to building an events program whose outputs become lasting historical assets.

• Define the purpose and format of ITHS events
  • Focus on single-topic, Zoom-based meetings designed to advance ITHS’s mission
  • Prioritize conversations that address:
    • how specific domains should be curated (what to include, exclude, or reframe)
    • what data structures, fields, and relationships matter for long-term historical understanding
    • the identification of “unsung heroes” and under-credited contributors
    • the origins of ideas: where concepts came from, what influenced them, and how they evolved
  • Select formats appropriate to each topic:
    • single-speaker, moderated conversations
    • small panels when multiple perspectives add value
• Curate speakers and topics
  • Identify speakers whose expertise and historical role can help guide ITHS decisions, not merely recount history
  • Work with curators and other committees to define:
    • why a given speaker is relevant
    • what specific guidance or insight ITHS hopes to extract
  • Develop topic briefs that frame each event as a collaborative inquiry rather than a one-way presentation
• Establish and maintain an event workflow with clear calendar markers
  • Ensure that every event follows a defined timeline, adjustable by the committee but explicit and documented
  • Coordinate responsibilities across volunteers, moderators, speakers, and staff
• Oversee production, documentation, and reuse of event content
  • Ensure events are properly recorded and archived, recognizing them as long-term historical assets
  • Decide on technical platforms and practices:
    • video recording quality and formats
    • audio capture
    • use of AI note-taking and transcription tools
    • options for higher-quality local recording by speakers when appropriate
  • Coordinate post-event content creation in collaboration with the Editorial Committee

Illustrative Event Timeline (draft)

• t–6 weeks:
  • Announce the upcoming topic to the community
  • Solicit volunteers to help curate and/or moderate the discussion
• t–4 weeks:
  • Begin community discussion around framing and questions (e.g., “What should we ask the speaker?”)
  • Select and confirm the moderator
  • Launch promotion planning, including outreach beyond ITHS-owned channels
• t–4 to t–2 weeks:
  • Promote the event via appropriate channels (newsletters, social platforms, forums, relevant online communities)
  • Refine the question list and discussion outline
• t–1 week:
  • Provide the speaker with the final list of intended questions so they can prepare
• Event day:
  • Moderator leads the conversation
  • Designated note-taker (or AI system) is active and monitored
  • Video and audio recording are confirmed and tested
• t+1 day:
  • Capture key screenshots and identify pull-quotes for short-form sharing
• t+1 week:
  • Publish a written summary of the conversation
• t+2 weeks:
  • Prepare and queue video clips, stills, and quotes for ongoing distribution across channels

As the program matures, the Events Committee may refine formats, cadence, and technical approaches. The core principle is that each event should produce insight, documentation, and reusable material that strengthens the historical record, includes valuable content, and advances ITHS curatorial judgment.