The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Division for Historic Preservation have announced the release of the Draft Scoping Document for the Draft New York State Historic Preservation Plan (2021-2025) and Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for public comment. [Read more…] about Comments Sought On State Historic Preservation Plan
Public History
Municipal Historians: Start Documenting COVID-19 Crisis
The Association of Public Historians of New York State is asking local government-appointed historians, to document the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact on their communities and how citizens respond.
Government-appointed historians have a duty under New York State Law to document these sorts of episodes and may wish to partner with local historical societies. “The key here is to document, collect, and preserve as much data and information on the local reaction to COVID-19 as you can,” an announcement from APHNYS said. [Read more…] about Municipal Historians: Start Documenting COVID-19 Crisis
First To Volunteer: The Conflicting Civil War Claims
When rumbles of impending Civil War rolled through the North, New Yorkers were roused to volunteer even before Fort Sumter was taken and the President rallied troops.
After Sumter fell and Lincoln issued his proclamation, more New Yorkers offered their service to the Union. Likewise, men in other states sought to join the Union army both before and after the proclamation.
After the war, some of those early, quick volunteers also battled to be named the first volunteer for the Union. Months, years, and decades after the war, numerous claims and accolades for who had been the first volunteer began emerging across the North. [Read more…] about First To Volunteer: The Conflicting Civil War Claims
MANY Update: Museums Conference Postponed, More
The Museum Association of New York’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to postpone the Annual Conference and Museum and Folk Art Forum until later in 2020.
An announcement sent to members and supporters said: “Although this decision was made because the health and well-being of our museum community comes first, it has severe financial consequences for the Museum Association of New York.”
[Read more…] about MANY Update: Museums Conference Postponed, More
Kinderhook Historian Named 2020 Woman of History
Historian and preservationist Ruth Piwonka is this year’s recipient of the Martha Washington Woman of History Award. This award is given by Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site each year to a woman who has made a contribution to the history of the Hudson Valley through education, promotion, or preservation. The honor was inspired by Martha Washington, who resided in the Hudson Valley with her husband, General George Washington, during the last days of the Revolutionary War. [Read more…] about Kinderhook Historian Named 2020 Woman of History
Central Park Women’s Rights Statue Unveiling Date Set
Monumental Women has set a date for the unveiling of the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument on the Mall in the City of New York’s Central Park. The statue is the first statue depicting a real woman in the Park’s 167-year History.
The original statue of women’s rights pioneers Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony was redesigned to include Sojourner Truth after criticism that the original design excluded the contributions of people of color. It’s being sculpted by Meredith Bergmann. [Read more…] about Central Park Women’s Rights Statue Unveiling Date Set
County Historian’s Roundtable: Lessons from Putnam County
I recently attended the Putnam County Historians’ Roundtable. The meeting was called by the Putnam County Historian’s Office and was held in early December at the Putnam County Historical Society in Cold Spring.
To read about that meeting and to see if it is applicable to your county, click here.
An Early History of the White House
On July 1, 1790, Congress passed “An Act for Establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States.” This act formalized a plan to move the capital of the United States from New York City to Philadelphia, for a period of 10 years, and then from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., where the United States government would make its permanent home.
What buildings did Congress have erected to house the government?
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, Lindsay Chervinsky, White House Historian at the White House Historical Association, joins us to explore the history of one of the earliest buildings in Washington D.C., the White House.
Looking Beyond Our Borders For Good Ideas
This New York history blog continues to be our most important source for initiatives and developments in New York’s history community. The blog brings us news every day on historical programs’ exhibits, presentations, and other public events.
Of course, we have some of the strongest and most dynamic history programs in the nation here in New York, good models for each other and for other states. Sometimes, though, it is useful to look beyond New York for examples of things that are happening elsewhere that can provide suggestions for things our programs might consider doing. [Read more…] about Looking Beyond Our Borders For Good Ideas
Peter Feinman: Historians Need Meetings and Meetups
Historians can often be isolated. They need fellow historians to thrive. After years in graduate school, perhaps more writing a dissertation – how many colleagues will you have who share the same interest?
We are a social species and storytellers, so we periodically need to gather. I recently explored how important that is. You can read about it here.