November was designated as New York State History Month by the New York State Legislature in 1997 with the addition of Section 57.02 to the state’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
New York State History Month represents an opportunity for historians and cultural institutions to assert the vital importance of preserving and learning about our state’s history. It is also a time to engage with the public through programs and learning opportunities about the history of New York State and the ways to help preserve our history.
Historians, museums, historic sites, archives, and libraries across the state are invited to present events, tours, lectures, discussions, publications, and exhibitions that highlight the importance of New York State history and the role the history community (and the public) play in preserving it.
Any historical or cultural organization hosting programs for New York State History Month is encouraged to use the New York State History Month logo in their marketing. It is recommended that Path Through History sites also use the Path Through History logo.
To submit your New York State History Month event for inclusion in the statewide calendar sponsored by I LOVE NY and Path Through History click here. Check the criteria for “Event Submission” first to make sure your event qualifies. When completing the online form, select “NYS History Month” in the Event Category dropdown menu. The submission will go through a quick approval process and you will be notified when the event has been processed.
Sites and historians should use their usual marketing tools to promote their programs, including websites, social media (#NYSHistoryMonth), and press releases. The following paragraph about New York State History Month may be used for this purpose:
In 1997, November was established as New York State History Month by the New York State Legislature. The goal was “to celebrate the history of New York State and recognize the contributions of state and local historians.” New York State History Month provides the opportunity for historians, museums, and cultural institutions to highlight the ways in which history is vitally important in our lives as New Yorkers, and the ways we can all work to preserve it.
How typical of the state government – November, NYS History Month takes place when almost all of the historic sites, local museums and historical societies have closed for the season. The disconnect between the “Path Trough History” project and the actual history community gets wider and wider.
Assemblyman Jack McEneny, a historian, was the sponsor of the bill. See the Governor’s Bill Jacket, L. 1997, ch. 113
The Sponsor’s Memo is considered part of the legislative intent of the bill. http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/legint.htm Quoting from Robert Allan Carter’s Legislative Intent In New York State (linked from that webpage) one of the powerful statements:
“In construing a statute its purpose may not be ignored. Rather, its object should be the polar star of the court, when the course has become obscured by decisions where, manifestly, the port for the time has been lost. (Failing v. National Bond and Investment Corporation, 168 Misc. 617, 621, 6 NYS 2d 67, 1938)”
The best I can gather from the Governor’s Bill Jacket http://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/33977 is that November might have been chosen to enable the NYS Education Department to focus school year activities and possibly for textbook publishing purposes. Whether November would make the most sense for that, or whether in practice that has happened much (if ever) since the law was enacted, I don’t know.
The justification for the bill reads (minus the typos):
“The recognition of a month where we can celebrate history and those of historical importance is appropriate. This legislation will allow the Commissioner of the Department of Education to undertake efforts to recognize the historical achievements of New Yorkers and New York as a State. Various organizations have expressed an interest in the designation of a month as New York state history month and this legislation will meet the goals of such organizations.”
Kathy A. Ahearn of the State Education Department wrote in part, “The Department supports the bill because it would help to focus school year activities on the historical achievements of New Yorkers and New York as a State. The bill would help foster a valuable educational experience for the students of our State.”
Impressively, it was passed the first year it was introduced. A lot of bills have to be reintroduced year after year. I suppose claiming there were “no fiscal implications” for the bill helped it pass into law, something which in turn unfortunately has not helped the implementation of the law….
“publishers, many of whom specialize in topics of local interest, have banded together to form the New York State Regional Publishers Association, a group that is celebrating its first big victory, New York State History Month.
“The association developed the concept to encourage readers to discover the state’s heritage through books. The Legislature and governor signed on, as did The New York Times, state historical association, state museum and state Education Department.
“The result was a kickoff event Nov. 3 featuring Gov. George Pataki, at which the Times announced it would donate nearly 1,000 copies of a biography published by Black Dome Press Corp. in Hensonville, Greene County, to middle schools.”
Moorse, Alan. “Small publishers battle for shelf life.” Albany Times Union. November 7, 1997: E1. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=5837654
Jack McEneny, Purple Mountain Press, or Black Dome Press could perhaps be contacted for further information about what the reasoning was behind choosing November.
http://www.catskill.net/purple/
http://shop.blackdomepress.com
The NYS Regional Publishers Association apparently no longer exists.