Contested Legacies: The Counterculture After Fifty

In the half century since its emergence, the counterculture has greatly shaped and influenced all aspects of society. To examine the social and historical implications of this event, Northwestern University’s Center for Civic Engagement, Northwestern University Library, and SF Heritage are partnering to host a two-day, interdisciplinary academic conference celebrating and reexamining the counterculture and its lasting impact on society.

The conference will take place from Friday, September 30 – Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Northwestern University’s conference and networking center, located at 44 Montgomery Street in the heart of downtown San Francisco, the city that was ground zero of the counterculture.

Contested Legacies: The Counterculture After Fifty will explore the lasting impact of the counterculture through numerous themes. Renowned experts are collaborating in Working Groups dedicated to Music, Design, Posters, Journalism, Technology, Community, and Livelihoods. Through these themes, the conference will explore key issues and priorities for future research about the impact of this period on American society and culture. Presentations from each Working Group will aim to develop an understanding of the influence and meaning of the counterculture over the last half century.

To confirm your participation in the conference, please RSVP below:

David Farber, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas

Michael J. Kramer, Assistant Professor, Dept. of History, State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport

Dan A. Lewis, Professor, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy

Nicholas G. Meriwether, Director of Museum Planning, Haight Street Art Center

Abe Peck, Professor Emeritus in Service, Northwestern University Medill School, Author, Uncovering the Sixties: The Life and Times of the Underground Press

Peter Richardson, Lecturer in Humanities and American Studies, San Francisco State University

Steven Savage, Executive Director, Blue Bear School of Music

Reach out to Arleigh Truesdale, Conference Coordinator at arleigh.truesdale@northwestern.edu.