Organizers from the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State (URCNYS) will make a presentation about the proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Corridor. Tubman was an enslaved woman and a freedom seeker who returned many times to the South to free others. [Read more…] about The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Corridor
Public History
Greenfield, Saratoga County, Appoints A New Historian
The Town of Greenfield in Saratoga County, has appointed resident Duane Cornell to the position of Town Historian. The role had been held for the past ten years by Ron Feulner, who died earlier this year. [Read more…] about Greenfield, Saratoga County, Appoints A New Historian
9/11 Memorial Museum Offering Free Admission to New Yorkers
The 9/11 Memorial Museum in Manhattan is offering free admission exclusively to New Yorkers on the first Monday of each month. [Read more…] about 9/11 Memorial Museum Offering Free Admission to New Yorkers
Norman Carlson Appointed New Chautauqua County Historian
Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. has announced the appointment of Norman Carlson as the new Chautauqua County Historian. This position had been vacant for several months following the retirement of the former historian, Michelle Henry. [Read more…] about Norman Carlson Appointed New Chautauqua County Historian
Hudson River Valley Greenway Names New Director
The Boards of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc., and the Greenway Heritage Conservancy HRV, Inc. have approved the hiring of Andy Kitzmann as their next executive director at a joint meeting on April 19, 2024. [Read more…] about Hudson River Valley Greenway Names New Director
Ticonderoga Historical Society Now Lower Adirondack Regional Center for History
The Ticonderoga Historical Society has announced a name change that it feels better reflects its expanded mission and regional outreach. The new name has been approved by New York State officials at the Board of Regents and Department of State. Going forward, the organization will be known as the Lower Adirondack Regional Center for History or LARCH. [Read more…] about Ticonderoga Historical Society Now Lower Adirondack Regional Center for History
The 250 Anniversary of the Revolution in New York: Some Bicentennial Lessons
As we begin gearing up for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, it would be great to have an overarching theme or themes that “explain” New York’s history.
That would be a tall order, given our state’s complex history. But the State Museum and the State Bicentennial Commission attempted it back in 1977. They came up with three themes: materialism, diversity, and change. [Read more…] about The 250 Anniversary of the Revolution in New York: Some Bicentennial Lessons
Accessible Histories and Wikipedia
When the Vermont Historical Society posts an essay or uploads a new video to their YouTube channel, they try and provide links to additional information, often linking to their own resources, notable articles or explainers, or a Wikipedia page. [Read more…] about Accessible Histories and Wikipedia
America’s 250th Anniversary: An Urgent Call To Action
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is circulating an urgent request from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) asking for help asking members of the House of Representatives to prioritize America’s 250th Anniversary in Congress’s appropriations process. [Read more…] about America’s 250th Anniversary: An Urgent Call To Action
Saratoga History Center Names 2024 Public History Award Winners
The Saratoga County History Center Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual Saratoga County Public History Awards. The award recognizes individuals that have made a significant contribution to extending knowledge and understanding of the history of Saratoga County. A celebratory event will be held at Brookside Museum on Tuesday, May 7, beginning at 6 pm with a reception on the front porch of the Museum, 21 Fairground Ave, Ballston Spa. [Read more…] about Saratoga History Center Names 2024 Public History Award Winners
Nieuw Dorp, Now & Then: Dutch History in Ulster County
Traveling from Washington D.C. to Milwaukee, Dutch journalist Bas Blokker makes a stop-over in Hurley, Ulster County, NY, and discovers its Dutch history. His curiosity is piqued and he dives into the past to find the nineteenth-century views of the Dutch colonizers very different from modern ones.
During the last five years, I always crossed the Susquehanna River just north of Baltimore when driving from my house in Washington DC to New York. Once on the bridge the same scene unfolded again and again in my mind’s eye: a sailing ship changing course from the Chesapeake Bay to enter the river’s mouth and drop anchor at what is now Havre de Grace or Garret Island. [Read more…] about Nieuw Dorp, Now & Then: Dutch History in Ulster County
Hudson River Valley Greenway Director Scott Keller Retiring
Scott Keller, director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, has announced he will be retiring in March of 2024. [Read more…] about Hudson River Valley Greenway Director Scott Keller Retiring
Is There Anything New in History?
Is there anything new in history? Of course there is! Anyone follows the New York Almanack or the announcements and Historian’s Notes on the Office of State History’s site sees new and exciting developments in New York’s robust history community every day.
But here are a few things – all except the first from beyond New York – which haven’t received much attention that might be of interest to the state’s history community: [Read more…] about Is There Anything New in History?
A Catskill Carnival: A New Book On Borscht Belt Life
In August of 2015, the Liberty Museum and Arts Center’s 14th annual conference on the history of the Catskills was entitled, “Small but Grand Hotels: The Backbone of the Catskills Tourism Economy.” The focus of the conference was the hundreds of smaller hotels — those accommodating 300 or fewer guests — that had a major economic impact on the area’s downtowns, as their guests, absent the 24-hour-a-day entertainment found in their larger competitors, made their way to the main streets of neighboring communities for movies and an occasional meal in a delicatessen or diner. [Read more…] about A Catskill Carnival: A New Book On Borscht Belt Life
Centering Authentic Indigenous Voices
The latest A New York Minute in History Podcast, celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a conversation regarding how historians can center authentic indigenous voices and work with Native American communities across the state in planning for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. [Read more…] about Centering Authentic Indigenous Voices
Maury Thompson Receiving Warren County Historical Society Award
The Warren County Historical Society has announced the recipient of its annual “Hon. John D. Austin Jr. Contribution to History Award.” Maury Thompson of Ticonderoga has been selected from a slate of candidates nominated by the public.
Thompson, a regular contributor to New York Almanack, will receive his award at the Society’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Holiday Inn in Lake George. [Read more…] about Maury Thompson Receiving Warren County Historical Society Award
Greater Hudson Heritage Network 2023 Excellence Awards Announced
Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s Awards for Excellence program seeks to recognize and commend exceptional efforts among the Network’s members. Awards are made to projects that exemplify creativity and professional vision resulting in a contribution to the preservation and interpretation of the historic scene, material culture, and diversity of the region. [Read more…] about Greater Hudson Heritage Network 2023 Excellence Awards Announced
Ask Governor Hochul to Support New York’s History
The strength of our combined voices is our superpower. When we come together to speak out on an issue, we can be loud and we can be heard. Sometimes advocating for New York’s history, art, and cultural organizations is the most gratifying part of my job.
Other times, it is the most challenging work I do. [Read more…] about Ask Governor Hochul to Support New York’s History
Jay Heritage Center Property Management Agreement Renewed
New York State Parks and Westchester County Parks have approved the renewal of the Jay Heritage Center’s (JHC) stewardship of the 21.5-acre Jay Property for another 10-year period. Westchester County Executive George Latimer personally sponsored Westchester County’s ACT 2023-312 in July to reaffirm the public-private partnership among the County, New York State Parks, and JHC. [Read more…] about Jay Heritage Center Property Management Agreement Renewed
History of the Association of Public Historians of New York State
In 1919 New York State passed legislation to create an officially-appointed historian in every town, village, city, borough and county across the Empire State. It provided every municipality with a distinctly identifiable person whose duties would be to ensure that the history of that area was collected, preserved and used to promote the history and heritage of the communities of New York. [Read more…] about History of the Association of Public Historians of New York State