Four roundtables celebrating the Champlain Canal Centennial have been set for May, each will feature a presentation, an information sharing session, networking opportunities, and a discussion period.
The roundtables are designed to bring together museum professionals, historical societies, archivists, local historians, and community members to foster collaboration and to create unique thematic experiences for visitors.
On May 4, 2018 from noon to 3 pm, at the Waterford Harbor Visitor Center, 1 Tugboat Alley, Brad Utter will present Community Building: The Growth of Canal Communities. Brad Utter is Senior Historian/Curator for Science and Technological History at the New York State Museum. His research focuses on the New York State canal system and its impact on the community. He was curator for the exhibit marking the 200th anniversary of the canal, Enterprising Waters: New York’s Erie Canal.
On May 8, 2018 from noon to 3 pm, at The Silos, Maple Street, Hudson Falls, Jeanne Williams and Kim Harvish will present Immigration, Industrialization, and Innovation. Jeanne Williams is Executive Director of the Feeder Canal Alliance, and Kim Harvish is Educator at the Chapman Historical Museum. Williams focuses on the past, present, and future of the Feeder Canal that was once the economic engine of the area. Harvish uses the resources of the Chapman Historical Museum to integrate local history into programs that incorporate visual literacy components and primary documents.
On May 17, 2018 from noon to 3 pm, at the Schuyler Room of the Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring Street, Schuylerville, Craig Williams will present Building the Champlain Barge Canal: Treasures in the NYS Archives. Craig Williams is retired senior historian at the New York State Museum and a trustee of the Canal Society of New York State. He has spent over 50 years researching and documenting New York’s canal heritage. Using the unique resources of the New York State Archives along with oral histories, Williams will present stories about the engineering achievements and the people involved in the construction of the Champlain Canal.
On May 19, 2018 from 1 to 4 pm, at Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen St, Glens Falls, Erica Wolfe Burke will present Researching the People of the Feeder Canal. Erica Wolfe Burke is an archivist and special collections librarian at the Folklife Center at the Crandall Public Library. She assists families and genealogists researching upstate New York ancestry and has offered a series of family history workshops. Her presentation will culminate in a community archiving event with the Folklife Center as the repository for the images shared.
Preregistration is required for all events. $15 includes material and lunch. “Researching the People of the Feeder Canal” is free and does not include lunch.
Preregister by emailing mgibbs@lakestolocks.org. For questions, call (518) 597-9660.
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