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Advocacy

A New Phase For New York’s Historical Enterprise?

August 8, 2016 by Bruce Dearstyne 3 Comments

Cultural Education Center State Museum ArchivesThere is encouraging evidence that we may be moving toward a turning point for New York’s historical enterprise.

During the last several months:

The Education Department made the State Historian an independent, full-time position. This is unlike the previous situation, where the State Historian, Bob Weible, also served as Chief History Curator of the State Museum. In effect, that was two jobs rolled into one. The curatorial work left little time for the state history work. Creating a new, dedicated position required approval of the Director of the State Museum, the Commissioner of Education and the Division of the Budget. Those are positive signs of interest and support. [Read more…] about A New Phase For New York’s Historical Enterprise?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Public History, State Historian

NYS Women’s Suffrage Commemoration Update

March 22, 2016 by Editorial Staff 4 Comments

Photo courtesy the National Susan B Anthony Museum & House.In 2017 it will be 100 years since New York State signed woman’s suffrage into law, three years before the US passed the 19th Amendment. This was a milestone for the state and a transformative moment in American democracy.

Thanks to public help last November, Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther circulated letters outlining a $3.9M request to support the centennial. This funding would support grants, programs, and statewide events and activities at cultural heritage sites, museums, libraries and other community organizations. Signers from both houses added their support to these letters, but thus far no funding has been included in either the Senate or House budgets. [Read more…] about NYS Women’s Suffrage Commemoration Update

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Gender History, New York Council for the Humanities, Political History, Suffrage Centennial, Suffrage Movement, womens history

Former NYS Historian Weible On State Ed Bureaucracy, Responsibilities

February 22, 2016 by Robert Weible 3 Comments

State Education BuildingWhen New York’s governor appointed the first State Historian in 1895, the Progressive Era was just getting underway. The appointment was part of a much larger reform movement to strengthen American democracy by professionalizing government and promoting more active and knowledgeable civic participation in public affairs.

Progressives were especially focused on public education, and in 1911 – seven years after the establishment of the State Education Department  – New York moved its State Historian from the Governor’s office to the newly formed department. [Read more…] about Former NYS Historian Weible On State Ed Bureaucracy, Responsibilities

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Education, Municipal Historians, New York State Education Department, New York State Museum, Office of Cultural Education, Public History, State Historian

National Parks Maintenance Backlog Reaches $11.9 Billion

February 22, 2016 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

National Park Service NPSThe National Park Service (NPS) has released its Fiscal Year 2015 deferred maintenance statistics for national parks. The $11.9 billion nationwide total was up from the $11.49 billion reported at the end of FY2014.

Locally, Women’s Rights National Historical Park has $1.4 million in deferred maintenance – part of the $11.9 billion deferred maintenance backlog across the National Park System. [Read more…] about National Parks Maintenance Backlog Reaches $11.9 Billion

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, National Park Service, Public History

Erie Canal Bicentennial Offers Historical Opportunities

January 28, 2016 by Bruce Dearstyne 3 Comments

Lockport erie canalNew York is fortunate in having a robust history and so many historians, over the years, preserving, writing about, interpreting, and presenting it. But sometimes we concentrate repeatedly on some aspects of history and under-emphasize others that are equally as important.

The history of the Erie Canal and other canals might be a good example. [Read more…] about Erie Canal Bicentennial Offers Historical Opportunities

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Erie Canal, Transportation History

History Resources To Watch In 2016

January 7, 2016 by Bruce Dearstyne 3 Comments

New-York-State-Map1As we look forward to the new year ahead, we continue to search for and try out ideas that will strengthen state and local history here in New York.  What follows is a short list of resources that might be of interest:

Of course, the best place to publicize, monitor, and comment on historical programs and issues in our state is this New York History Blog. John Warren continues to provide a unique forum here to keep up with history community news and exchange ideas. Without this blog, we would not have any way to keep in touch. We wouldn’t be able to follow news from historical programs, updates on the work and role of local historians, or discussions of New York History Month, Path Through History, the State Historian’s position, or the proposed Museum Education Act, just to cite a few examples. But keeping the blog going requires support from the state’s history community. [Read more…] about History Resources To Watch In 2016

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Online Resources, Public History

Regents Makes Museum Education Act A Priority

December 18, 2015 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

CapitolThe New York State Board of Regents has made the Museum Education Act (MEA) a Legislative Priority for 2016. The Act would provide museums and other eligible institutions access to grant funding to conduct curriculum-based educational programs for students and teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through grade twelve and adults enrolled in continuing education programs.

The grants are expected to be competitive in nature and could be used for a variety of curriculum-based educational programming, including funding for the transportation of students to museums or museum staff to classrooms. [Read more…] about Regents Makes Museum Education Act A Priority

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Board of Regents, MANY, Museum Education Act, Museums, Public History

Johanna Yaun On Municipal Historians

December 1, 2015 by Johanna Yaun 19 Comments

hathornhouseNew York has 932 towns, 547 villages, and 62 cities. Each one of them is required by State law to appoint a Municipal Historian.

To most people, this sounds like a quirky mandate, especially considering that there’s no requirement to provide a salary or storage space to maintain local records. Also, you may remember a Municipal Historian presenting a slide show at your elementary school or at a community festival where you may have developed an appreciation for their work – or perhaps been unimpressed because of how out-of-touch they were. [Read more…] about Johanna Yaun On Municipal Historians

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Municipal Historians, Public History

NY History Blog, History Community Updates

November 29, 2015 by John Warren 4 Comments

NYS MapAs we near the end of the year I thought I’d offer some updates about the status of the New York History Blog, and at the same time, some important news for the history community.

Those who attended the Researching New York Conference in Albany recently may be aware of the following developments, but this will no doubt be the first time many have heard these important announcements. [Read more…] about NY History Blog, History Community Updates

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Twitterstorians

NY State History Month: Another View

November 19, 2015 by Peter Feinman Leave a Comment

New York State History MonthNovember is New York State History Month. The goal of this initiative certainly is a worthy one. Naturally as historians, a primary source document such as a press release invites a close reading of the text. That’s what historians do and government publications are not exempt from such scrutiny. The exercise is quite productive and one can learn a lot from doing it.
[Read more…] about NY State History Month: Another View

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Advocacy, Empire State Development, New York History Month, New York State Museum, Path Through History, Public History, Tourism

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