Every two years the Journal of Policy History and the Institute of Policy History sponsors a Policy History Conference. The intention of the conference is to provide a forum for presentations and round table discussions on policy history topics and recent policy history research.

The 2006 Policy History Conference was held June 1-4 in Charlottesville, VA, co-hosted by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. Over 275 participants were on the program, including distinguished historians, political scientists, social scientists, lawyers, education scholars, and policy experts. The Journal of Policy History and the Miller Center was pleased to present former CBS journalist and current NPR commentator Daniel Schorr for a special presentation and a question & answer session.

At each Policy History Conference, the Journal of Policy History presents the Ellis Hawley Prize, awarded to a junior scholar contributing the most outstanding article published in the Journal during the past two years. The Hugh Davis Graham Travel Grant is also awarded at each conference to a graduate student or junior scholar in order to assist in travel expences to conduct archival research.