CfP Workshop »Spaces of Education – Boarding Schools and Residential Educational Institutions in the German-Speaking World (19th–20th Century)«

For centuries, boarding schools have shaped the educational and social lives of children and adolescents. As spaces of education, discipline, everyday life, and social control, they raise a wide range of historical questions – concerning pedagogical concepts, social backgrounds, disciplinary practices, gender roles, or material culture. This workshop invites historical and educational perspectives on boarding schools in the German-speaking world during the 19th and 20th centuries. Contributions may also address developments in Austria, Switzerland, German-speaking institutions in parts of East-Central Europe, or in former German colonies.

The workshop adopts a broad but historically grounded understanding of »boarding school«, encompassing various institutional forms of residential education for children and youth – including traditional boarding schools, Alumnate, Konvikte, collegia, and school-affiliated homes. We welcome contributions from researchers at all career stages who explore the diversity and transformation of these educational and residential settings. Please submit an abstract (approx. 300–500 words) and a short biographical note (max. 150 words) by November 1, 2025. Submissions should be sent to Dr. Daniel Watermann (watermann(at)francke-halle.de). Further details and suggested topics can be found in the full Call for Papers.