Identity: New York History - Researching & Resourcing to Gain the Public Interest
Researching NY Conference Notes & Thank You!
First, I would like
to express my most sincere gratitude to the Friends of Schoharie
Crossing
for covering the cost of my attendance to the 2014 Researching New York
Conference this past week. Not only were the conference sessions extremely
interesting but brought a greater understanding to the central theme of the
event -Identities in
New York: Imagining, Constructing, Exploring and how much
of that perspective could be applied to programs or events at Schoharie
Crossing.
The opportunity to
be a part of one of the larger New York History conferences was amazing and
allowed me the chance to not only gain knowledge but network with NY state
historians, academics, historical societies, museum curators and more. I only feel that it is right and proper to
produce some notes on the relevancy of the conference to what is conducted here
at the site, and further propose the use of such events as a terrific way to
increase awareness across the state of what Schoharie Crossing has to offer.
Day
One:
Nov. 20th
(L-R) Christopher Minty - NY Hist. Soc., Christopher Leahy
- Keuka College, & Eric Morser - Skidmore College
- Keuka College, & Eric Morser - Skidmore College
Session
I – Opposing
Loyalties: Forging Political Identities
This session applied
a greater understanding of NYC politics just prior to the American Revolution
as well as State vs. Federal authority during mid-19th century. Whiles these two things may seem to have a
disconnect, the theme tied them together regarding the political identity of
core groups and the formulation of the questions What is America? and Who
decides what that is?
While
the first portion delineated political groups in the colony of NY by the
mercantile working class loyalist factions against the more elitist landowning
lawyer driven patriot factions, the second pitted then Governor Wm. Seward and
President Tyler over the right of the State in the 1840’s to try and hang a
Canadian named McLeod who was charged with murder. Both have fine nuances of international
intrigue with regional and even local touches.
What the commentary did to pull them together was describe the ways that
these two seemingly unrelated topics can be drawn to show a view of NY history
as defining how American identity was formed through a developing means – not
strictly at a singular unchanging moment – and that ultimately, what defines identity
is centrally human perspective.
Applying
this to SXSHS is background overall regarding not only the political climate
leading up the Revolution as would affect the Mohawk Valley/Ft. Hunter, but the
ongoing political debate over State/Federal authority and power during the
early canal years and first enlargement era.
Economics play heavy into that discussion as well and perhaps the NYS
economic hardships of the mid-1800’s provoked a more heated debate between the
State, the Federal government as well as Canada and Great Britain regarding the
incident. Again, this provides evidence
that the early American republic was still “working out” rights of authority as
well as its identity globally.
Session
II – Making
History Work - Discussion Panel
This session was
presented by a diverse panel of historians, curators and preservationists. Primarily the discussion pertained to the
concept of re-approaching collections and partnerships in order to tell a
historical narrative from a different perspective. The focus often lead to commentary on
collaboration with organizations, schools, colleges and the community in order
to achieve this broad concept.
 |
| (L-R) Ivan Steen - SUNY, John Bonafide - NYS Preservation Bureau, Michael Lucas - NYS Museum, Kathleen Johnson - HistoryConsulting.com, & John Scherer - Clifton Park Historian |
Discussion was also
had on public consumption of history and it needing to remain relevant to a
broad base as well as to current topics.
With the public history field being driven by exhibits, collections and
information geared toward the interest of the community and the academic
history field detailing greater depth of historical facts but without the reach
to the public. Since several of the
panelists where on either side of this “line” there was also discussion on how
to bring them together either by linking to public interest, tourism, or other
fashion and narrowing the gap or perceived gap between them.
There was also much
conversation on doing the above as a way to gain attendance, attention and
funding. As many are aware, funding for
historical societies, sites and other organizations is sparse and the overall
consensus is utilizing public interest to draw support of the institutions/organizations. Additionally, the idea of engaging and gaining
public interest could be directing that into the supporting role of advocacy –
to donors and government officials.
Session
III –
Hodinohso:ni’ in Post WWII New York
This session provided
stirring background and information regarding the Iroquois in the years after
the American Revolution in New York State.
Much of the presentation was based from the 1940’s until today, but
rooted by issues going back to the colonial era and especially post-colonial
conditions.
The first of the presentations was
about Ernest Benedict and provided a great deal of information about his
editorial success as a newspaper man and bringing together the larger complex
global issues into a regional and local context of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reserve
that is situation between the borders of Canada and the state of New York. This was great context for the rise in the
American Indian Movement on the heels of civil rights and American social
changes.
The other presentations outlined the
conditions – socially, economically, but most relevantly politically – of the
Mohawk Nation in its dealings with the “absentee” Federal/National government
and the tense “non-trusting” relations with the government of New York
State. Much of the panelists’ comments
regarded an emphasis on the rights of the modern day indigenous peoples and the
effects of fractioning within their own communities regarding lands, resources
and political sovereignty and governance.
Applicable to SXSHS is the notion
often expressed by visitors that there is no longer a current, mobile and
viable Iroquois or Mohawk peoples when discussing the village and Fort
Hunter. Not only does this give an increasing
knowledge base to share, but the link to the over 100,000 Iroquois that live in
the U.S. and Canada currently can be found in New York History that is even
occurring to this day. The worldview
can also be shared more directly, as information was given about the Hiawatha
Institute for Indigenous Knowledge’s new location going in at Waterford,
NY. This provides partnership
opportunities to share Six Nations knowledge.
Day Two: Nov. 21st
Session
IV –
Eleanor Roosevelt: Working Woman
This session was
extremely helpful not only in providing information about one of NY’s great
leaders, but of the approach taken to interpret her legacy to the public. The panelists from SUNY and the National
Parks Agency (who oversee several Roosevelt sites), discussed the process of
this in as much detail as the events of her life.
Their stated relentless position is
that interpretation should outline the predominate identity of the individual
as well as presenting information on how or why that identity or perception was
formed – all while maintaining relevancy within the exhibit or collection to
the public interest. Thus, challenging
the understanding of who we are as a people and generating not only interest
but direction to think differently about the past as well as “how history is
constructed.”
 |
| (L-R) Franceska Macsali Urbin & Frank Futral of the Roosevelt Vanderbilt National Historic Site (NPS) |
As a way to apply this to SXSHS
going forward – more complicated profiles of the important figures of the
canal, Fort Hunter and perhaps even the development of the Schoharie Crossing
as an historic site may be explored.
LUNCH
– Keynote Address – Lisa Tetrault
 |
| Lisa Tetrault |
During the lunch
hours of the conference an address by professor and author Lisa Tetrault
outlined the origin of the Seneca Falls Convention and the US Women’s Rights
and Suffrage movement. From the vantage
of the myth created regarding the importance of Seneca Falls and detailing the
factions within the women’s rights movement, Tetrault discussed the “origin of
an origin” when its importance is historically relevant.
The greater lesson
used by way of the information presented in her book and outlined by her
address is one that those looking to explore history should be well aware
of - perspective. Who is communicating the history and to what
ends? As she mentioned the creation of
the myth and insertion of false details to encourage or foster the belief or
importance, we can all ask ourselves about historical events or people those
same basic questions. Stopping short of
stating great skepticism is needed, the broad idea is that everyone should be
understanding of history as a matter of perspective and seek out deeper
understanding whenever possible.
Session
V – Beyond
Seneca Falls – Integrating Women into NYS History- Discussion Panel
This panel session
of the conference looked to ask the question more than answer it, as to how NYS
History can integrate more female narrative and thereby represent greater
diversity of women within it? The answer
would seek to go further than placing women into just supporting roles or as
“token” mentions in the overall story.
 |
| (L-R) Karen Pastorello - Tomkins Cortland Community College, Susan Goodier - SUNY Polytechnic Inst. & Hamilton College, & Susan Lewis - SUNY New Paltz |
It seemed that one
obvious method would be placing events into greater context while using larger
themes illustrating women’s importance as essential. Through this broadened curriculum, human rights and struggles can present realism
by use of relevant details.
Applying this to programs for SXSHS
there is a way to deepen the understanding of the impact and roles played by
women from across the eras – from Mohawk Clan mothers to women on the canal and
locally in Fort Hunter. Instead of
casting only into supportive roles, they may be integrated –not just
highlighted- into the narrative and presented to the public.
Session
VI – Public
History: Variations on a Theme - Discussion Panel
This session held a
discussion outlining approaches to get students and students interested in NYS
history through diverse themes viewed differently. One such way was fostering individual
exploration and research in line with significant interests that promote
identity within NY Heritage. The
highlight then was doing so within cultural institutions and collaboration with
community groups, school, etc.
By use of portals to collections and
resources to educate what is available and therefore encourage greater use of
them, this can additionally generate a more community based identity where
materials create an investment in the historical site, society or
organization. A retired librarian turned
archivist brought great information about digital collections online that can
be used to advocate use of the site and showcase collections.
 |
| Bruce Dearstyne, Independent Scholar |
These methods are all great ways to
reduce or eliminate the “disconnect from history” that seems to exist overall
in the population. According to the
panelist Bruce Dearstyne, it should be apparent to most in the field that there
is a need to “bring about historical context to current events and champion NY
history.” The entire panel seemed to
agree with that sentiment – as did the audience – and that an approach that is
people centered with solid examples that are relevant can build on larger
themes in the community.
This supports the interest of SXSHS
to bring awareness of the site to the community as a resource for many varied
options. The benefit of the site is even
greater than the history and by fostering the use of it we can generate a
further investment of the public to maintenance, interpretation and
preservation.
The
Workers of the Erie Canal –
Capital Repertory Theater presentation
The final event of
the conference was a performance of part of the Capital Repertory Theater
Educational Program The Workers of the
Erie Canal: They Built America.
Conference attendees and the general public were treated to the first
25 minutes of the hour long program, followed by a question and answer
session. The group will be presenting
this program as part of their 2014-2015 Education Season ON-THE-GO! Tour in the
spring.
Offered to schools
and other organizations as a way to bring life to the story with the use of
period music and acting out of characters, the program creates a tale using
historical documentation to generate composite main characters alongside actual
historical figures like DeWitt Clinton and Canvass White. This program makes great use of the main
character and realizes that through the fact that she is an orphan girl. The performance covers the canal from the
political to the social aspects of policy, building, use and widespread effect
on the people and state of New York, America and globally.
As information
regarding this program is released to school districts, there will also be
accompanying educational information and documents for teachers and districts
to make use of when covering the Erie Canal.
Part of the materials that will be distributed will include information
about the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor as well as the sites along
the way. This could increase some
awareness of SXSHS to districts that may otherwise not know how we can be
accessed and that we are a resource for their curriculum. While there is a cost for the performance to
reach a school, there are several grants and scholarships available, much like
a field trip to our site.
Overall
recap:
The sessions provided additional
background and information to approach programming, events and everyday interpretation here at Schoharie Crossing.
By networking and adding new elements from various other sites and their
perspectives, I am in hopes of bringing something from the conference to the
site that will support the mission and allow for a greater reach to the
community.
Seminars and conferences like this
one keep those of us with vested interest into the site on up to date and renew
or give fresh ideas.
Thank you once again
for your dedication to Schoharie Crossing.
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