These conferences resemble family reunions, and as such have enabled the global H.I.V. family to understand and celebrate the breakthroughs, honor the departed and recommit to the hard work at home.

The binational conference has honored the painter and held talks about his life and work.

The conference will also honor such prominent blacks as Leon A. Higginbotham Jr., former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals; Maya Angelou, the poet, and Johnnetta Cole, president of Spelman College in Atlanta.

The conference also honored former Senator Bob Dole, Elizabeth Dole, and Senator Richard G. Lugar, all prominent fraternity and sorority members.

The conference honored American women sculptors ages 67-88.

The 2007 conference honored "progressive bloggers" with the Paul Wellstone Award, crediting them for driving the political debate.

At halftime, the conference honored the surviving members of C.C.N.Y.'s 1949-50 N.I.T. and N.C.A.A. championship teams.

Besides yesterday's academic conference honoring Professor Schlesinger at the university where he was the Albert Schweitzer Professor of Humanities for nearly 30 years before his retirement, other tributes are planned in the months leading to his birthday on Oct. 15.