News

The 2023 Annual Conference is just a little over a month away! Don't forget to register! We've updated the preliminary conference program to include details on the keynote speaker and tour options. Check it out here. We can't wait to see you in Ithaca in September!

Once again, APHNYS will have fun historian merchandise available for purchase at the annual conference, September 18-20, 2023. Make sure you get what you want before it sells out by pre-ordering using this form.

We will send you an email confirming the total cost of your order. Payment will be made in person at the conference by cash, check or charge card. Additional items will be for sale at the conference.

If you have any questions, please email mcascone@townofbabylon.com.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s (NYG&B) 2023 New York State Family History Conference will be held in person and virtually Nov. 2–4, 2023. This year’s conference, “Navigating New York: From Queens to the Queen City,” will feature in-person and virtual programs and events in New York City and Buffalo, alongside access to more than 20 on-demand sessions, which can be viewed until December 15, 2023. In addition, all live sessions in New York City and Buffalo will be recorded and also made available on demand until December 15, 2023. Go to this link for more information. 

We have opened the online registration for the APHNYS 2023 conference to be held in Ithaca from September 18-20, 2023. Go to https://www.aphnys.org/event-5122052 to register with a credit card. If you want to send in the form with a check, go to https://www.aphnys.org/resources/2023%20Conferenence%20Registration%20Final.pdf  Please mail the form and check to APHNYS, PO Box 1363, Sag Harbor, NY 11963.

The year 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the revolution that occurred between 1774 and 1783 and resulted in the creation of the United States of America. What is now the State of New York played an immense and vital role in both the Revolutionary Era and the subsequent 250 years of American history. Planning for such an important commemoration in a comprehensive way at the local, regional, and/or state level can be a daunting task. Because of this, the Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) has partnered with the Office of State History at the New York State Museum to produce the New York State 250th Commemoration Field Guide which provides suggested commemorative themes, ideas, and information to help planners at the local and regional level in all parts of the state.

On February 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the “New York State 250th Commemoration Act,” establishing a state commission to facilitate the planning and development of the commemoration of the 250th in New York State. This bill was introduced in the State Assembly by Assembly member Carrie Woerner and in the State Senate by Senator Shelley B. Mayer and passed both houses of the legislature unanimously. The 250th Commemoration Act draws particular notice to the potential of  the 250th commemoration to consider both the complexity of the American Revolution itself and the continuing struggle to achieve the ideals of the Revolution that at the time excluded a large portion of the population.

We ask you to consider each of the themes in this field guide as suggestions for how your community or organization can begin to think about commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation. Each local community and region of the state has its own unique story to tell which together tell the history of the state itself. We urge you to take this once per half-century opportunity to help tell that history so that it may be preserved for the coming centuries.

We will keep you posted as the commemoration moves forward. 

The Preliminary Program for the upcoming conference in Ithaca from September 18-20, 2023 - "Home, Sweet Home" - is now available at 2023 prelim program for website (aphnys.org) We still have a few details to work out, but our sessions are basically set. When we have the final information ready, we'll be opening up the on-line registration for the conference. A reminder of the conference cost:

Member - Full conference $65.

Member - One day $25.00

Member - Virtual $100.00

Non-member - Full conference $85.00

Non-member - One day $50.00

Non-member - Virtual Conference $150.00

You have until August 18 to make your Hotel Reservation.

The conference will be held at the Hotel Ithaca, located at 222 South Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. The conference rate is $139 a night.

Booking can be made on-line with the APHNYS conference rate by using this link: APHNYS Room Reservations at the Hotel Ithaca

You can also call 607-272-1000 to make reservations. Be sure to mention APHNYS in your phone call. The cut-off date is August 18, 2023. After that date, rooms will be subject to availability.

Saturday, May 20, 2023, 9 am-1 pm*

Victor Town Hall, 85 East Main Street, Victor

8:30-9:00—Registration and Refreshments

9:00-9:15—Welcome by Babette Huber, Town and Village of Victor Historian,

APHNYS Board of Trustees Member

9:15-10:00—"House Histories”, Wilma Townsend, Curator, Ontario County

Historical Society

10:15-11:00—"Attracting the Next Generation and Beyond”, Panel

11:15-12:00—Sharing information, questions, gripes, kudos—all attendees

*12:00-12:30—Lunch time for those attending the Cemetery Cleaning workshop

(please bring your own lunch)

Region 2 will hold its spring meeting on Saturday, May 6, 2023, 10am to noon.

The Region 9 Historian’s Meeting will be Saturday May 13th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Samuel Center for Canal History (38 Rochester St., Port Byron), a former Catholic Church being given new life as a research center!!!

 

Schedule of events:

  

9:00-9:10 Welcome & Introduction from Cayuga County Historian Ruth Bradley

                                                                                                                    

9:10-10:00-Dan Wiles, Park Manager at the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage, and manager of the Samuel Center will talk about how the building came to be, what the plans for the future are and the new research center.

 

10:50-10:50- A national representative from the Daughters of the American Revolution, American Revolution’s 250th committee will speak (virtually) about the organizations’ plans and how local historians can get involved. 

 

10:50-11:40-Devin Lander, NYS Historian will talk about the state’s work on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and what you can do in your local community to assist. 

  

11:40-12:15 Lunch

  

12:15-1:00 APHNYS Updates, 1779 Sullivan Campaign Working group and we will let you have the floor and talk about what you are doing, frustrations you are having, anything that you feel is pertinent to your role as a municipal public historian

 

Registration is $15 and includes a boxed sandwich lunch from Potter’s Family Restaurant. All lunch options include a sandwich (mayo & mustard are on the side), chips, macaroni salad, cookie and a water. Please let me know which option you would like:

1.)    Turkey & Provolone on Multigrain with lettuce & tomato

2.)    Ham & Swiss on sourdough with lettuce & tomato

3.)     Roast Beef & Cheddar on Rye with lettuce & tomato

4.)    Grilled Balsamic Vegetable Wrap

Please make your payment out to APHNYS, and mail it and your lunch choice to:

Madison County Historian

PO Box 668

Wampsville, NY 13163

 

May 6, 2023 Start time 9 am.  Coffee, tea, and pastries provided by the Madrid Historian and her Deputy/Co- Historian Opening  and welcome by County Historian- Nancy LaFaver Introduction of Historians and hosts- Nancy LaFaver Announcements= Nancy LaFaver Roundtable with Historians- moderated by Nancy LaFaver Compliments/Complaints- Nancy LaFaver Program- Presentation by Madrid Historian-Sara Day Schulz and Co Historian- Carrie Rutherford  Followed by a tour of the Walker House Museum Departure contact Nancy LaFaver  NLaFaver@stlawco.org

Region 7 of APHNYS will hold its spring 2023 meeting in Herkimer on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Dutch Reformed Church on North Main Street Herkimer across the street from the Herkimer County Historical Society. The meeting will begin at 9:30AM and end at 2:30PM 9:30- 10:00 register and sign-in; coffee mingle with others 10:00-10:45 Samantha Hall-Saladino (Fulton County Historian) “Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Fulton County Historical Society Resources for historians” 10:45-11:30 Ron Ketelsen (Sharon Springs H.S. president) “How To Revive Your Historical Society” 11:30 - 12:00 Justine Hutchinson (Herkimer Reformed Church Administrative Assistant ) “Dutch Reformed Church and Palatine Settlers” 12:00-12:45 Lunch -visit bookstore 12:45-1:30 “Incorporating DNA results into Genealogy Research” Cassandra Castle (Herkimer County H.S. Executive Director) 1:30-2:30 James Greiner (Herkimer County Historian) “Murder and Mayhem in Herkimer” 2:30-? Visit the jail and Suiter Mansion