New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Siena College

The Albany Origins of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

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Dudley Observatory first building in Albany ca 1880The Capital District’s Dudley Observatory is considered “the oldest non-academic institution of astronomical research in America.” Originally, it was located north-east of downtown Albany, NY.

Construction there began in 1852 and the facility was dedicated in 1857.  Albany’s Congressman Erastus Corning, the founder and first president of the New York Central Railroad, was instrumental in donating a high quality telescope and time-keeping system at the new Dudley Observatory in Albany. [Read more…] about The Albany Origins of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

Huguenots’ Revolution: Death, Money, and Transatlantic Politics

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the global refugeIn the 18th century thousands of French Protestants (known as Huguenots) immigrated to colonial America seeking sanctuary from religious persecution.

Siena College will host “The Huguenots’ Revolution: A Family Story of Death, Money, and Transatlantic Politics,” a lecture with Owen Standwood, PhD, set for Tuesday, April 19th. [Read more…] about Huguenots’ Revolution: Death, Money, and Transatlantic Politics

Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks

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Crowds of hikers ascend a High Peaks Wilderness trail on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day, 2016 courtesy Nancie BattagliaA Siena College Research Institute poll of New York voters in September showed that by 68% to 22% they want New York State officials to protect overused public lands in the Adirondack Forest Preserve from further abuse by enforcing resource capacity limits, rather than building bigger and bigger parking lots to accommodate the surging crowds. [Read more…] about Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks

Event Cancelled – Supplying the Sullivan Expedition of 1779

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Route of the Sullivan Campaign The American Revolutionary War Round-Table of Upstate NY and Siena College’s McCormick Center for the Study of the American Revolution are set to present Amateurs Talk About Tactics, but Professionals Study Logistics: Supplying the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 by Robert Mulligan, on Thursday, May 9th.

In 1779 George Washington sent a quarter of the Continental Army into the Iroquoian lands of Central New York to destroy the towns and crops, and to capture hostages to secure the good behavior of the Iroquois. Over 40 towns were destroyed, and thousands of acres of cropland laid waste before the harvest. Since no hostages were taken, the enraged Iroquois warriors were free to raid the frontiers of New York and Pennsylvania. [Read more…] about Event Cancelled – Supplying the Sullivan Expedition of 1779

Decision-Making in the British Military Justice Process

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british army paintingA presentation, Decision-Making in the British Military Justice Process by William P. Tatum III, Ph.D,will be held on April 11th at Siena College near Albany.

Contrary to popular stereotypes, the British military justice system of the Revolutionary War-era employed a complicated process, with multiple layers of courts and enforcement. Much as with contemporary civilian justice, an accused individual could enter the system at any one of these levels. Ultimately, the fate of both officers and soldiers charged with military misconduct depended on the individual decisions of commanding officers and courts martial judges. This presentation will chart the formal structure of the British Military Justice System and the decisions through which officers determined where military personnel would enter and leave it. [Read more…] about Decision-Making in the British Military Justice Process

Euro-Indian Interactions Before the Revolution at Siena College

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sienna lectureSiena College has announced “The Chains of Alliance: Euro-Indian Cooperation and Conflict from Contact to the Revolution,” a lecture with Dr. John W. Hall, PhD, has been set for Wednesday, April 3rd from 6 to 7 pm, at the Key Auditorium, 202 Roger Bacon Hall, Siena College, Loudonville. [Read more…] about Euro-Indian Interactions Before the Revolution at Siena College

Palatine Farmers and Slavery Talk Near Albany

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Family group by Willem Cornelisz Travis M. Bowman, Senior Curator of the New York State Bureau of Historic Sites, will present “Slavery and Dutch-Palatine Farmers: How did middle class farmers in New York interact with slavery?” on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Siena College, near Albany, NY.

Usually considered a Southern issue, slavery played a surprisingly large role in colonial and revolutionary era New York. Bowman will examine how slavery evolved in New York under the Dutch, British, and American systems of government and how the institution was utilized at a local and personal level among the Palatine immigrants and their descendants in the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys. [Read more…] about Palatine Farmers and Slavery Talk Near Albany

Benedict Arnold Road Table At Siena College Nov 13th

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General Arnold GatesThe American Revolution Round Table: Hudson/Mohawk Valleys and Siena College’s McCormick Center for the Study of the American Revolution are set to present, “Benedict Arnold at Saratoga: How a Newly Discovered Letter Changed History” by Eric Schnitzer, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

The event starts at 6:30 pm, with time for socializing and networking followed by the program at 7 pm. The event will be held at Siena College, 515 Loudon Rd, Albany, in the Roger Bacon Building, Room 202, also known as Key Auditorium. [Read more…] about Benedict Arnold Road Table At Siena College Nov 13th

Washington’s Lieutenants: The Generals of the Continental Army

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Washington's Generals“Washington’s Lieutenants: The Generals of the Continental Army” will be the subject of a talk by William M. Welsch on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Siena College, near Albany.

This presentation reviews George Washington’s subordinate generals, including their backgrounds, and relations with Washington, Congress, and each other. Also explored will be their contributions to victory, foreign generals, anecdotes, and historical evaluation.

[Read more…] about Washington’s Lieutenants: The Generals of the Continental Army

The Battle of Hubbardton As A Rear Guard Action

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the battle of hubbardtonOn Tuesday, July 10, 2018, the American Revolution Round Table: Hudson/Mohawk Valleys and Siena College’s McCormick Center for the Study of the American Revolution are set to present, “The Battle of Hubbardton: the Rear Guard Action that Saved America” by Dr. Bruce M. Venter.

The Albany event starts at 6:30 pm with time for socializing and networking followed by the program at 7 pm. [Read more…] about The Battle of Hubbardton As A Rear Guard Action