Event Detail

Abortion in American History: Intimate Decisions, Medical Knowledge, and Legal Decrees in the Two Centuries Before Roe v. Wade

Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $35.00

Sponsor: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

For more information call: 626-405-3432

Or click here: https://huntington.org/event/abortion-in-american-history

This conference brings together leading scholars to explore the multifaceted history of abortion in 19th- and 20th-century America. Building on the Longo Collection in Reproductive Biology, this conference will explore the underlying history that can deepen public understanding of the controversial politics of abortion law. New academic research on abortion history has surged in recent years, spurred by the lead-up to the Dobbs decision in 2022. Dobbs arrived at a time when a solid court majority professed reliance on originalism, a form of legal analysis that uses constitutional history and its presumed original meaning as the basis for court decisions. Historians have been busy presenting amicus briefs, both in Dobbs and in a continuing flurry of state court cases since the ruling returned abortion law to the states. Accurately understanding both legal and reproductive history has never been more important. Key Details: • Conference registration is good for both days and includes general admission to The Huntington. • Lunch reservations close on Jan. 13 at noon. • A limited number of lunch tickets will be available for purchase day of at the conference. For questions about this event, please contact researchconference@huntington.org or 626-405-3432.