The work that historians do influences their lives, especially if they spend a considerable time in a foreign land that they write about. Slowly, their topic of choice becomes an essential part of their identity. Russell Shorto, a renowned writer of narrative history, writes about his own evolution at the intersection of Dutch-American history.
This essay concerns itself with the intersection of Dutch and American history. Previous posts have explored slavery in New Amsterdam, the naming – and renaming – of that city, and John Adams’ role as unofficial ambassador to the Netherlands during the American war of independence. As I pondered the task of contributing to that lineup, and scrolled through a mental list of possible topics, it occurred to me that, as I have lived at the intersection of Dutch and American history for more than twenty years, my own identity, and its evolution over that time, might be a relevant topic. [Read more…] about Russell Shorto: The Dutch-American Perspective
The New Netherland Institute (NNI) has announced the appointment of Ms. Deborah Hamer, Ph.D., as Director of the Institute effective November 1st, 2021. 
The New Netherland Institute has invited the public to their 32nd Annual Meeting on May 10th at the University Club of Albany. The meeting is free to NNI members and $10 for non-members. 
The New Netherland Institute has announced the talk “To Serve in a Free Country: Slavery and Freedom in New Netherland” by Sam Huntington, educator at Crailo State Historic Site, has been set for Saturday, April 27th at the Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston. 
From April to June of this year, the New Netherland Institute will present the 2019 Peter Gansevoort Ten Eyck Lecture Series, which will comprise 10 lectures on various aspects of New Netherland, each at a different venue from New York City to the Capital Region.
In the latest episode of the “New Netherland Praatjes” podcast, Joyce Goodfriend chats with New Netherland Institute’s Steve McErleane about Goodfriend’s career as a leading historian of New Netherland and early New York.