The New York State Museum has announced the creation of the New York State History Advisory Group. The group is expected to meet, according to an announcement sent to the press, “periodically to advise the New York State Historian on issues related to the history field in New York State, including suggestions pertaining to local and municipal historians, academic history, historic preservation, and heritage tourism.” The Advisory Group’s suggestions and recommendations are “purely advisory in nature and are nonbinding” the announcement said.
The Advisory Group consists of the following people:
– John Bonafide, Historic Preservation Office, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation,
and Historic Preservation
– Ross Levi, Vice President of Marketing Initiatives, Empire State Development/NYS Division of Tourism
– James Folts, PhD Head of Researcher Services, New York State Archives; Fellow,
New York Academy of History
– Bob Radliff, Executive Director, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
– Amy Bracewell, Superintendent, Saratoga National Historical Park
– Kenneth T. Jackson: PhD Jacques Barzun Professor of History & Social Science, Columbia University; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Lisa Keller, PhD Professor of History, SUNY Purchase; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Paul D’Ambrosio, PhD President and CEO, NYS Historical Association/Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers Museum
– Marci Reaven, PhD Vice-President for History Exhibitions, New-York Historical Society; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Gerald Smith, Past Board President, Association of Public Historians of NYS; Broome County Historian
– Jay Di Lorenzo, President, Preservation League of New York State
– Amie Alden, Executive Chair, Government Appointed Historians of Western NY; Livingston County Historian
– Alexandra Parsons Wolfe, Executive Director, Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities
– Sara Ogger, PhD Executive Director, Humanities New York
– Craig Steven Wilder, PhD Professor of American History, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Bruce Dearstyne, PhD Author and Historian Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland
– Stefan Belinksi Community Historian The People of the Colonial Albany Live Here Website; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Carol Kammen Tompkins County Historian; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Judith Wellman, PhD Professor Emerita, SUNY Oswego; Director, Historical New York Research Associates; Fellow, New York Academy of History
– Ivan D. Steen, PhD Director, Center for Applied Historical Research; SUNY Albany
– Melissa Brown Executive Director, The Buffalo History Museum
– John Haworth Senior Executive, National Museum of the American Indian-New York City
– Monica Mercado, PhD Assistant Professor, Colgate University
– Eva M. Doyle Retired Teacher, Historian and Columnist
We in the northeastern corner of New York State hope that this august group recognizes the existence of and contributions to history of Clinton County. Many of us in Clinton and surrounding counties, and, indeed, all the counties north of Albany, have been overlooked by those in the capital and are working very hard to achieve the recognition we deserve.
Once again (Path of History being the first), the line of important history is drawn at Albany/Saratoga – with two major wars fought on our lake and a county (plus Essex) with a history going back to 1609. We appear to have no representation in this group. Have a good meeting. We’ll be watching because we care about our history and will not be overlooked.
The New York State History Advisory Group needs to take a position against tearing up any of the former New York Central Adirondack Division Rsilroad tracks between Utica and Lake Placid that is currently being operated by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
And especially the 34 mile section between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid that is in the most immediate danger of being torn up to be replaced with yet another recreational trail.
The whole rsilroad, including the rails, the ties, the roadbed and the structures are on the National Historic Register and are listed on the Top 10 to Save.
There are already thousands of miles of trails in the Adirondacks, but only one Railroad through the middle of the Adirondacks.
The Trail Advocates and New York State have not developed a plan to deal with the historical preservation issue of tearing up the rails and the ties and other portions of the historical nature of the Railroad. A half-baked plan of putting up signs describing what once was there has been mentioned as a method of historical preservation.
If the historical structure presently exists, to tear it up and replace it with a sign is ludicrous.
Does that mean it would be alright to tear down the Empire State Building to put in a parking lot as long as a sign is put up describing that the Empire State Building used to be there. I think not.
The New York State Historical Afvisory Group needs to take a vigorous and strong stand against tearing up any of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad tracks.
Dear Julie, dear Helen–please consider Humanities New York a resource. In the last two fiscal years, we gave grants to the Kent-Delord House Museum and the Battle of Plattsburgh Association, who reached about 2000 residents with their activities. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Plattsburgh used one of our Community Conversations, and the Alice T. Miner Museum booked Dave Ruch through our program to perform there. The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System ran one of our book discussion programs, a $2600 investment on our part. We can always use more partners in Clinton County and it sounds like you can use the help. To schedule an appointment with Lauren or Scarlett to talk through possible grant projects, you can do so on line. http://humanitiesny.org/our-work/grants/
Northern NY needs representation on this board. lake Champlain was the water highway throughout much of NY history. Pivotal battles were fought on the lake. In addition, the Adirondack Park is historic in itself. We have local historians and heritage tourism just like the rest of the state, and, in my opinion, it is short sighted to leave the area of the Battle of Valcour, Macdonough’s victory during the War of 1812, Underground Railroad history, etc., out of this advisory group.
Please attend, more painstakingly to recognizing, supporting, preserving, and promoting the historic contributions of northern counties. The historically pivotal contributions of our Northern NYS counties have been underrepresented for too long. There are graves of both Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldiers that lie neglected, headstones broken and forgotten (one particular cemetery is the Highland/Douglass Cemetery in Altona, Clinton County, NY). Historic preservation in these locales has fallen to a few local volunteers and local societies. These relatively few persons have – for decades – painstakingly done all they can to recognize and preserve a rich cache of critical and relevant NYS historic content – often with minimal resources. Northern NY Counties need and deserve your zealous attention and support. Thank you.
Does the Mohawk Valley have any representation on the advisory board?
History is an important part of the Mohawk valley especially this year when we will be celebrating the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Oriskany
How is it possible that so much of the state, rich in history, has been ignored in the formation of this group? Will someone email/fax/call the new members of this group along with the leaders of the NYS Museum to call their attention to the gaps??