History

My areas of research and collection primarily focus on the political, governmental, and military history of New York State and its citizenry, and how that history impacts the broader historical narrative. Currently, much of my research is concentrated on the World War I era as the museum prepares to commemorate the centennial anniversary of America’s entry into the conflict in 2017. This research examines the pivotal role that New Yorkers played in all facets of the conflict – as soldiers, in industry, charity and civic participation. Rather than rehashing a blow-by-blow history of the battles of the Great War, my research is focused on those individual New Yorkers from all across the state, from a variety of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, and interpreting their wartime experiences to the public. This study will emphasize that New York, as one of the most populous, industrialized, and wealthy states in the nation in 1917, played a crucial role in the American war effort, and that the legacy of this participation resonates to the present day.