Office of State History

Bruce Dearstyne’s ‘Spirit of New York’ Reissued In Expanded Edition

January 24, 2022 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Bruce W. Dearstyne’s expanded new edition of The Spirit of New York (SUNY Press, 2022; first published 2016) explores nineteen dramatic events from New York State’s history that altered the course of U.S. history.

From the launch of the state government in April 1777 thru the tragedy of September 11th and through the debut of the musical play Hamilton in 2015, Dearstyne’s chapters describe great political changes, historical turning points, and struggles for social, racial, and environmental reform.
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2021 Municipal Historian Reports Due

December 12, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

As per § 57.09 of the NYS Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, all appointed Local Government Historians “shall make an annual report, in the month of January, to the local appointing officer or officers and to the state historian of the work which has been accomplished during the preceding year.”

In an attempt to make this process easier, the State Historian has created an online form. [Read more…] about 2021 Municipal Historian Reports Due

Effort Underway To Move NYS History Month To October

February 6, 2018 by John Warren 1 Comment

Legislation has been introduced which would amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to change New York State History Month from November to October according to an announcement made by the Office of State History.

The move comes on the heels of a revival of sorts for New York’s History Month, which suffered from years of being ignored. November was designed New York State History Month in 1997 by the State Legislature.

New Online Reporting System For Local Historians

December 14, 2017 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

§57.09 of the NYS Arts and Cultural Affairs Law requires all appointed Local Government Historians to “make an annual report, in the month of January, to the local appointing officer or officers and to the state historian of the work which has been accomplished during the preceding year.”

New York State Historian Devin Lander and the Office of State History have made online submission of the required report available to allow historians to more easily make their required report via the web.

History In New York: Where Are We Headed?

August 16, 2016 by Robert Weible Leave a Comment

Is New York’s “historical enterprise” really entering a new phase, as Bruce Dearstyne contends in his recent post? There certainly seems to have been some change going on in the New York State Office of Cultural Education. Perhaps most notably, New York is now employing a full-time State Historian for the first time since 1976 (not 1994, as Bruce suggests).

While this is certainly a step in the right direction, it would be naïve to allege that today’s State Historian position holds the same power and responsibility that it once did. [Read more…] about History In New York: Where Are We Headed?