The Albany Institute of History & Art will host historian (and regular New York History Blog contributor) Dr. Bruce W. Dearstyne for a lecture and book signing on Sunday, June 7 at 2 pm for his recently published book The Spirit of New York: Defining Events in the Empire State’s History.
The lecture is open to the public and is free with museum admission. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
The Spirit of New York explores the history of New York State through an examination of sixteen dramatic events that happened between the late 1700s and the early 2000s. Dearstyne will give a presentation about the ways in which the Empire State – and Albany, its capital – have played a key role in the course of American history. He will share insights into events in Albany and the upper Hudson Valley that affected the course of New York State history as well as stories of fascinating people such as Jackie Robinson and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, whose leadership brought changes not to just New York but to the whole country as well.
Dearstyne is the author of several books, including Railroads and Railroad Regulations in New York State, 1900-1913. He is the former program director at the New York State Archives and was on the staff of the Office of State History. He has taught New York State history at several colleges, including the University at Albany, State University of New York, Russell Sage College, and the State University of New York at Potsdam and is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland in the College of Information Studies. He lives in Guilderland, New York.
The Albany Institute of History & Art is located at 125 Washington Avenue in Albany, New York. There is limited parking available in the museums lot, located at the corner of Dove and Elk Streets in Albany (just behind the museum). There is also on street parking available. The Albany Institute is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday until 8 pm*, and Sunday Noon – 5 pm. On Tuesdays, the museum is open to registered groups only. The museum is closed on Mondays and some holidays. Admission is FREE for Albany Institute members; $10/adults; $8/seniors and students with ID; $6/children 6-12; FREE/children under 6. The museum is now offering free admission on Thursdays from 5 pm – 8 pm.
For more information, visit www.albanyinstitute.org or call (518) 463-4478.
Is the Anti-Rent War of the 1840s among the 16 events included in this new book? The conflict, which culminated in the killing of the Delaware County Undersheriff, resulted in legislative change of this feudal land leasing system to allow farmers to actually own the land they had worked and developed.