History, Natural History & the Arts
Built as a Presbyterian Church in 1820, the 200 year-old Smithfield Community Center has also served as a school, and currently as the town municipal building and the home of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.
In 1835 the structure was the site of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society. [Read more…] about Historic Building Housing Abolition Hall of Fame Marking 200 Years
Retired Naval Commander Owen Corpin has once again arranged the annual Watch Night in Peterboro on Monday, December 31, 2018 to commemorate the wait on December 31st, 1862 through the night to see if President Abraham Lincoln would release the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on the first day of January 1863.
The free program begins at 11:30 am on Monday, December 31, at the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro, at which time a copy of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation from the NYS Museum will be on exhibit. [Read more…] about Emancipation Proclamation Watch Night New Year’s Eve
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) has announced the induction of three nineteenth century abolitionists on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in Peterboro NY.
The Inductee Committee recommended these three inductees to the NAHOF Cabinet of Freedom according to the results of reviews of public nominations by scholars in the field: [Read more…] about Hall of Fame Inducts Three Who Resisted Fugitive Slave Laws
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) will commemorate its 2016 abolition inductees October 21 & 22, 2017 at 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, in Peterboro NY, the site of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society in 1835. 2017 is the last year of the two year cycle that NAHOF has used since 2005: one year to induct and the second year to commemorate with the unveiling of the Hall of Fame banners for each inductee. [Read more…] about National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum Commemoration Weekend
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) will host the culminating event for its CHANGING AMERICA exhibit and programs: a Community Conversation on the subject of “Resisting the New Jim Crow” on Saturday, July 9, at 2 pm.
NAHOF invites the public to join in sharing thoughts about the ways to engage in the work of racial justice at this time. This conversation will aim to help each be active, in many small ways, in standing together to work toward an end to such things as the school-to-prison pipeline, police brutality, and the legacy of white supremacy that still perpetuates racism and de-values black lives. [Read more…] about Civil Rights: Resisting The New Jim Crow Rules
In commemoration of the end of the Civil War, the death of Lincoln, and the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) has suspended its 2015 induction ceremonies to address the matter of President Lincoln as “The Great Emancipator.” Several programs will provide opportunity for the public to study Lincoln as an abolitionist.
The Thirteenth Amendment (“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude,… shall exist with within the United States..”) was proposed by the U.S. Senate on April 8, 1864. The movie Lincoln features the historical drama of securing the votes needed in the House of Representative to pass the resolution. The Thirteenth Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. [Read more…] about Lincoln Weekend Celebrates Great Emancipator
Thirteen bell rings signaled the commencement of morning and afternoon sessions of Peterboro Emancipation Day 2015. Thirteen recognized the Sesquicentennial of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which was introduced in Congress January 31, 1865 and ratified December 6, 1865, abolishing slavery in the United States. [Read more…] about In Peterboro, Freedom Celebrated and Questioned
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) in Peterboro, NY has suspended its two year cycle of inductions and commemorations in 2015 in order to address President Abraham Lincoln as The Great Emancipator.
During this Sesquicentennial year of Lincoln’s death, the end of the Civil War, and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, NAHOF and its Peterboro heritage partners will provide public programs on Lincoln from March to October 2015. [Read more…] about Lincoln Featured in 2015 Peterboro Programs
Through the night of December 31, 1862, people of the North and South waited through the night to see if President Abraham Lincoln would issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves in the states of rebellion.
On Wednesday, December 31, 2014, Retired Navy Commander Owen Corpin, a member of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum and a descendant of 19th Century freedom seekers who came to Peterboro, will prepare the watch fire and provide the program for the Watch Night commemoration. [Read more…] about Emancipation Watch Night Event in Peterboro
Meeting in the same Central New York church that hosted the state’s first Anti-Slavery convention in 1835, a group of Underground Railroad-related organizations (museums, churches, and associations) assembled on November 13th to formalize a statewide network to better promote this key part of New York’s heritage.
Twenty different vetted organizations were represented, from Long Island to Jamestown, and Elmira to the northern shores of Lake Champlain. Hosted by Dot Willsey, president of the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum, located in the Peterboro church were the NYS Anti-Slavery Society met 179 years ago, this month’s conference resolved on the need for a statewide consortium to share programs and projects, enhance efforts to publicize resources available around the state, and communicate with educators, public officials and the traveling public. [Read more…] about Statewide Underground Railroad Group Forming