Some Interesting History Anniversaries in 2017

Plans are being developed for commemoration of at least three significant historical events next year – the centennial of women’s suffrage in New York State, the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, and the centennial of the United States’ entry into World War I. These are all exciting opportunities to call attention to New York’s history.

But the New York historical community might consider going even further with these three events. In fact, the historical community might consider making 2017 a special year for New York history.  Here are a few possibilities:

Examine the careers of prominent women coming into leadership positions around the time of the suffrage act, e.g., Francis Perkins and the first women elected to the legislature.

The story of the origin and early years of the Erie Canal has been told many times. Of course, revisiting and highlighting it would be useful. But we might use the bicentennial to tell the story that has not been told, e.g, the last 125 years or so of the canal system, the 1903 vote to authorize bonds to build the Barge Canal (the largest bond issue in the state’s history up to that time), or the opening of the Barge Canal in 1918. Or, broader yet, a conference on the state’s transportation history which might include coverage of canals, railroads, and highways, including the State Thruway (the state’s largest public works project in the 20th century).

The Thruway was officially completed in 1956 but in August 1957, part of the Erie section section opened, from the Pennsylvania state line to Silver Creek, and in December, the final sectioned opened, from Silver Creek to the main line at Buffalo, establishing a complete route from New York City to the Pennsylvania state line. Attention to Thruway history might be planned to coincide with the opening of the new Tappan Zee Bridge (the schedule is a bit uncertain, but it looks as if one span will open in 2017 and the second span, completing the bridge, in 2018). Of course, these are just a few possibilities. All of this shows the importance of transportation in New York history and also New York’s leadership role.

1907, 110 years ago, was the year of the passage of the state Public Service Commissions law, a pioneering act that brought state regulation of railroads and public utilities, part of New York’s suite of progressive reforms initiated by governor Charles Evans Hughes. The state Division of the Budget originated on January 1, 1927, following amendments to the state constitution to consolidate state agencies under the governor and authorize the governor to submit an annual plan of state revenues and expenditures, initiatives of governor Alfred E. Smith. This was the beginning of modern New York state government.

There might be lots of law-and-order topics. For instance, the first state constitution was promulgated on April 22, 1777, 240 years ago. Looking at that document would be particularly useful next year because in the fall voters will decide whether to hold a constitutional convention to revise the existing state constitution. (Plans are under way for a combined Conference on New York State History and Researching New York Conference this November, 2016, with sessions on topics related to constitutional history.)

The New York State Police were officially established on April 11, 1917, another notable centennial. From a much different perspective, Bill Bryson, in his book One Summer: America, 1927, relates the story of the arrest, trial and conviction of Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray for the murder of Snyder’s husband in New York City, a media sensation in 1927. They were executed in January 1928.

1927 was an exciting year in sports, with the New York Yankees’ great players Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig competing with each other for the most home runs. The Yankees won the World Series that year, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates. April 15, 1947, 70 years ago, was the opening day of baseball, with the Brooklyn Dodgers playing the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. It was a historic day. Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play major league baseball, debuted for the Dodgers. Robinson made history that day, the “color line” in professional baseball was broken, and Robinson went on to become one of the most skilled and accomplished players in the game’s history and, later, a leader in the civil rights movement.

1927 was the year of Charles Lindburgh’s historic flight from Long Island to Paris. That story is a familiar one. But we might use it to call attention to New York’s aviation history.

August 8, 1757, 260 years ago, was the date of the surrender by the British of Fort William Henry to French forces during the colonial wars. It was a major setback for the British (and their American allies), but it proved to be the high point for the French. Spurred by the loss of the fort, British colonial authorities increased their forces, redoubled their efforts, and began a long advance which culminated in triumph over the French in 1763. After the surrender, disarmed British forces and civilians trying to make their way to the secure British outpost at Fort Edward were attacked by Indian allies of the French. This is the pivotal event in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826, one of the first novels based around an American frontier story, and one of the most influential novels in American history. The Fort Wiliam Henry Fort and Restoration sponsors events each August to commemorate the surrender of the fort. This all points to New York’s strategic position in the colonial wars (and in American colonial history generally), and also to our state’s leadership in literature.

We could also plan now for activities for New York History Month (November) to call attention to neglected aspects of New York history, strengthen the teaching of history in the schools, and commend the work of local historians and historical programs. There may not be a historical event ending in “7” that seems quite appropriate. But the New York historical community could use it as a lead-in to one two years later, the law that established the position of local government historians in New York state, passed in 1919.

Of course, all of these are just a few possibilities. New York’s state and local history is so robust that there is always something worthy of attention, in 2017 and every other year.