International AutoBiography Association

Welcome to IABA

What is IABA?

The International AutoBiography Association (IABA) is an interdisciplinary international group founded in 1999 to create a way for researchers and cultural producers in the field of biography, autobiography and life writing to share their work.  

IABA is a way for scholars around the world to

• • • attend biennial international and regional conferences about life writing

    • connect to each other through the IABA-L listserve

    • create collaborative publications and other projects

    • find and support publication venues, networks and research centres dedicated to life writing 

History

Since 2000, members of IABA have run an international conference every two years in locations that have included China, Canada, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Want to know more about the history of IABA? check out About IABA  and Archives or General Meetings and Programs for photos, conference reports, and conference programs.

Structure

 IABA does not have a formal membership process. It has a free listserv that informs its members about upcoming conferences, publications and other events connected to the study of autobiography, life writing and biography. IABA is maintained by an informal executive  group of senior scholars, most of whom have run a IABA conference or event. IABA also has a close relationship with important academic journals.  

Hosting an IABA Conference

The IABA World conference runs every 2 years, and chapter conferences run in the off-year. Do you want to host? See this information page for details.

Chapters and Networks

IABA has several chapters that work in concert with the biannual IABA World conference and hold their own events: IABA Europe, IABA Americas, IABA Africa and IABA Asia-Pacific. There is also the SNS Network for graduate students and new scholars who want to discuss issues connected to the study of life writing.

Keep in Touch

Visit our site for information about upcoming conferences, workshops, projects and initiatives. Join our listserv to get information about member publications and other events. Come to our upcoming conferences.  Be part of IABA! 

This site is maintained by Julie Rak