The GHA hosts the annual Milton Plesur Graduate History Conference. First held on April 15, 1993, the conference is named in honor of the late Milton Plesur, a distinguished professor of history who taught at UB from 1955 to 1987.

Like the GHA, the conference embraces interdisciplinary approaches to the study of history, and graduate students from a number of different disciplines have presented papers on a wide variety of historical topics.

We are thrilled to announce that the Milton Plesur Graduate History Conference will return March 27 & 28, 2026!
This year, we will be collaborating with other graduate student department organizations to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of our research, teaching, and collegial relationships.
More details are coming soon!

A highlight of the Plesur conference is the keynote address. Past speakers include:

Brianna Theobald (2020)
Katherine Ott (2019)
Robert Deal (2018)
Dr. Mauricio Tenorio (2017)
Jonathan Dewald and Bridget Chesterton (2016)
Tong Lam (2015)
Erin K. Rowe (2014)
Barbara Krauthamer (2013)
Paul Deslandes (2012)
Jelani Cobb (2011)
Jon Sensbach (2010)
Susan Myers-Shirk (2009)
Nan Enstad (2008)
Penny Von Eschen (2007)
Victoria De Grazia (2006)
Hasia Diner (2005)
Matthew Guterl (2004)
David Thelen (2003)
Joseph A. McCartin (2002)
Volker R. Berhahn (2001)