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Rebecca Rector

Rebecca Rector is a genealogy & history researcher and retired librarian. She has published genealogy articles in American Ancestors, plus historical articles in New York History Review and New York Almanack.

Louis Riel: A Canadian Rebel’s Exile in Northern New York

October 31, 2023 by Rebecca Rector Leave a Comment

Louis Riel in 1873 (Provincial Archives of Manitoba)Louis Riel (1844-1885) a founder of the province of Manitoba in Canada and a political leader of the Métis people (mixed Indigenous and European ancestry) at a time when they actively resisted the Northwest Territories integration into the Dominion of Canada in the late 1860s and 1870s. [Read more…] about Louis Riel: A Canadian Rebel’s Exile in Northern New York

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, History Tagged With: Canada, Catholicism, Clinton County, Cultural History, Essex County, French History, Glens Falls, Indigenous History, Keeseville, Military History, Montreal, Plattsburgh, Poetry, Political History, Quebec, Religious History

French Canadians in Northern New York: A Primer

October 10, 2023 by Rebecca Rector 4 Comments

Two French Canadian Renaud-King-Lavigne family members arm wrestling in Cohoes (Courtesy Siena College Je me Souviens)Although a few arrived in the 150 years before to exploit the region’s natural resources, French-speaking Canadians began settling in New York in larger numbers during and after the American Revolution (many as refugees from English power in Canada). [Read more…] about French Canadians in Northern New York: A Primer

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History Tagged With: Albany, Albany County, Canada, Catholicism, Clinton County, Cohoes, Cultural History, Essex County, Franklin County, French History, Genealogy, Glens Falls, Immigration, Keeseville, Labor History, Lewis County, Logging, malone, Mooers, New France, Patriot War of 1837-38, Plattsburgh, Quebec, Religious History, Rensselaer County, Schuylerville, Siena College, St Lawrence County, Troy, Warren County, Washington County, Waterford, watertown, Whitehall

The Many Mangiones of Rochester

August 24, 2023 by Rebecca Rector Leave a Comment

Gap and Chuck Mangione from the cover of Rivereside album Hey Baby! The Jazz BrothersMost people have heard of the musical Mangione brothers – Jazz artists Chuck and Gap of Rochester, New York. But there was also an interesting uncle – a writer, who was quite famous in his day. I first encountered Jerre Mangione while transcribing his handwritten letters to Jack Conroy, author of The Disinherited. [Read more…] about The Many Mangiones of Rochester

Filed Under: Arts, History, Western NY Tagged With: Genealogy, Immigration, Italian History, Jazz, Monroe County, Musical History, Performing Arts, Rochester, Writing

The Story of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream

July 27, 2023 by Rebecca Rector 2 Comments

Rueben and Rose Mattus (courtesy Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream company)Many people have heard of and enjoyed Haagen-Dazs ice cream, but the story of its beginning is equally cool. A headline in JGirls+ Magazine from 2022 says it all: “Haagen-Dazs: A Jewish Story of Immigration, Entrepreneurship, and Ice Cream.”  The story began with Reuben Mattus (originally Nifka Matus), born in Grodna, Poland in 1913 who arrived in New York City in 1921 with his widowed mother and older sister. [Read more…] about The Story of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream

Filed Under: Food, History, New York City Tagged With: Brooklyn, Culinary History, Diary Industry, Immigration, Jewish History, New York City, The Bronx

New Yorkers Serving in Alaska Territory, 1908-1910

May 14, 2023 by Rebecca Rector 1 Comment

Schmitter_divorceWhile transcribing Alaska Territory records for the National Archives, I noticed two interesting men who were working with the native tribes. A little research revealed they were both from New York State. Here are their stories. [Read more…] about New Yorkers Serving in Alaska Territory, 1908-1910

Filed Under: Capital-Saratoga, History, New York City Tagged With: Albany, Albany County, Cultural History, Folklore, Herkimer COunty, Indigenous History, Montgomery County, Religious History

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