The Mid-America Medieval Association, affectionately known as MAMA, was established in 1977. Founded by University of Missouri-Kansas City Associate Professor of History, Jim Falls, and University of Kansas Professors of History, Lynn Nelson and Richard “Skip” Kay, the organization strives to enhance medieval studies in the Midwest region through events, membership and the yearly MAMA Conference.
MAMA Membership
Membership in MAMA will keep you up-to-date on upcoming events and conference plans. There are no annual dues. A minimal registration fee covers conference expenses, with a little help from the host institution.
Contact us to join the MAMA email list.
Mailing address:
Mid-America Medieval Association
203 Cockefair Hall
5121 Rockhill Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110
Fax: (816) 235-5723
MAMA Conference
Members of MAMA hail largely from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa. With Kansas City as the geographical center of the membership base, it has become the group’s nexus and the host city for the annual convention, held at UMKC every other year. In alternate years, the annual meetings take place at one of the universities in the MAMA region. The host institution will also provide the MAMA President for that year.
The conference, which now usually falls on a Saturday end-of-September/beginning-of-October, includes a plenary address by a nationally-known medievalist and a presentation of papers on any medieval topic. Of the 30+ papers typically presented, the Jim Falls Paper Prize (see below) is awarded to the best graduate student paper.
With an average attendance of 80-100 people, the conference includes papers from academics presenting their latest research, and encourages M.A. and Ph.D. students to deliver their research as well.
A list of past plenary speakers and programs may be found at the MAMA Conference Archive.
2024 MAMA Conference: The Medieval Out of Time & Place
When: September 20-21, 2024
Where: University of Missouri-Kansas City
View the 2024 conference program
Jim Fall Paper Prize
In 2001, the members of MAMA created the Jim Falls Paper Prize, to be awarded to the best paper delivered at the annual conference by a Graduate student.
The prize includes a monetary award of $100.
How to Submit Your Paper
Graduate students are encouraged to send a completed copy of the accepted MAMA paper (10 pages not including notes) along with their name, university institution and graduate status and address to the MAMA email address. Please include in the subject line: Jim Falls Graduate Prize.
The paper you submit should be the paper you intend to present at the MAMA Conference.
Submission deadline: TBA
Please do not submit an entry if you have previously received this award.
Donate to the Jim Falls Paper Prize
Tax-deductible donations are gratefully accepted for the Jim Falls Paper Prize Fund. Click "Designate" on the following form and insert "Jim Falls Paper Prize Fund" in the text box to direct your contribution toward our graduate prize.
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