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Municipal Historians

A Historical Perspective on Historical Societies

May 6, 2013 by Bruce Dearstyne 4 Comments

Hancock House,Ticonderoga, NY (NYSHA)Many of the posts on this New York History website highlight the programs of historical societies or raise issues about their mission, funding, and impact.

Sometimes, a look back in our own history is useful in reminding us how enduring some of the issues are, and perhaps reminding us of strategies that have been up for discussion before. [Read more…] about A Historical Perspective on Historical Societies

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Municipal Historians, New York State Historical Association, Public History

Peter Feinman: Whither the Public Historian?

April 4, 2013 by Peter Feinman 6 Comments

APHNYS-Regions-Map1With the annual meeting of the Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) fast approaching and the centennial of the local government historians law on the not so distant horizon, as Bruce Dearstyne just reminded us, it is appropriate to examine just what is expected from municipal historians.

One may ask the proverbial question, “How are you doing?” – and take an opportunity to address what the guidelines say, what is being done, and what should be done. [Read more…] about Peter Feinman: Whither the Public Historian?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Academia, Association of Public Historians of NYS, Education, Municipal Historians, Public History, Publishing

NY Public Historians: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

April 2, 2013 by Bruce Dearstyne 2 Comments

albany_state_education_buildingApril 11, 2013 marks the 94th anniversary of Governor Al Smith’s signing the law that established New York’s system of local government Historians (Laws of 1919, Ch. 181). Smith was a history-minded leader.

As an Assemblyman, he had sponsored the bill in 1911 that moved the State Historian’s office to the State Education Department and initiated the state’s local government records program. In 1919, his first year as governor, he was preparing to reorganize and modernize state government.

His approval of the Historians’ Law was a milestone event. New York was, and still is, the only state in the nation to declare preservation and dissemination of local history to be a public purpose so important that it is embodied in statute.
[Read more…] about NY Public Historians: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Al Smith, Association of Public Historians of NYS, Municipal Historians, New York State Education Department, Political History, Public History

Community Narratives: The Importance of Story-Telling

March 26, 2013 by Peter Feinman 4 Comments

Cheers historic Bar ShotWe are a story-telling species. Storytellers need an audience. Storytellers and the audience need a place to meet. The venue may vary, the technology may change, the message evolves, but somehow, in some way, we will tell stories. They define who we are as individuals and as members of something larger than ourselves, a family, a community, a county, a state, a country, or a religion.

How exactly would we celebrate Easter or Passover without a story to tell? Would we even celebrate them if there were no story?  With these thoughts in mind, I would like to turn to some examples of the importance of storytelling and community which I have noticed. [Read more…] about Community Narratives: The Importance of Story-Telling

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Common Core, Genealogy, Historic Preservation, Industrial History, Municipal Historians, Oral History, Path Through History, Public History, Tourism

The Leadership Role of Municipal Historians

January 24, 2013 by Peter Feinman Leave a Comment

19120822As the new year gets underway, it is appropriate to pause and reflect on open issues from years gone by. I am referring now to the role in 2013 of the county historian as a custodian for New York State history as we forge ahead with our Path through History Project.

The starting point for this investigation is an article which appeared on September 12, 2012 just after the summer launch in August entitled “New York State’s Curious, Century-Old Law Requiring Every City and Town to Have a Historian” by Amanda Erickson in The Atlantic Cities. [Read more…] about The Leadership Role of Municipal Historians

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: Association of Public Historians of NYS, Bob Weible, Long Island, Municipal Historians, Otsego County, Political History, Public History, Schenectady County, Uncategorized

Bob Weible: Making History in Difficult Times

November 14, 2012 by Robert Weible 2 Comments

I was disappointed to hear the recent news that Schenectady County officials have chosen to cut funding for their county historian. This decision appears to have less to do with the historian than it did with the county’s fiscal problems.

Many of us are familiar with the state law that requires municipalities to appoint historians, and as Gerry Smith has pointed out, NYS County Law, section 400, also requires counties to make similar appointments. Many counties and many municipalities comply with these laws. Many don’t. But that’s not what’s at stake here. [Read more…] about Bob Weible: Making History in Difficult Times

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: Association of Public Historians of NYS, Bob Weible, Municipal Historians, Public History, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, Suffolk County, Wayne County

Is November New York State History Month?

October 31, 2012 by Bruce Dearstyne Leave a Comment

Is November New York State History Month?

Section 57.02 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law says that it is:

57.02 New York state history month

1. Each month of November following the effective date of this section shall be designated as New York state history month. [Read more…] about Is November New York State History Month?

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Bruce Dearstyne, Municipal Historians, New York State Museum, Online Resources, Public History, Tourism

Planning Your Spring County History Conference

September 27, 2012 by Peter Feinman 1 Comment

Summer is over. Fall is upon us. Schools are back in session (even in Chicago), and now is the time to start planning a Spring 2013 County History Conference.

It is a time of breaking bread and sharing stories among people with similar interests. We are a social species so bringing people together is good and it has advantages as people plan for collaborative activities in the future. [Read more…] about Planning Your Spring County History Conference

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Academia, Education, Municipal Historians, Peter Feinman, Public History

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