May 17, 2017

County and Borough Historians’ Institute

by
Devin Lander

WHAT
County and Borough Historians’ Institute

WHEN
August 25th, 2017 9:00am-5:00pm

WHERE
New York State Museum
Huxley Theater
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY

Goal—The County and Borough Historians' Institute is a free learning opportunity for County and Borough Historians hosted by the Office of Cultural Education and facilitated by the New York State Historian, the Association of Public Historians of New York State and the Government Appointed Historians of Western New York.  The goal of the Institute is to bring together County and Borough Historians to provide an opportunity for facilitated open discussion on a variety of topics relevant to their work and their role as their county or borough’s lead historian.  The hope is that the County and Borough Historians will, in turn, take what they have learned from the session facilitators and their peers back to their local municipal historians

Schedule, Session Topics and Facilitators

9:00am-9:30am—Registration, coffee, snacks—Huxley Theater

9:30am-10:00am—Program begins.  Welcome remarks will be given by Office of Cultural Education Deputy Commissioner Mark Schaming, NYS Historian Devin Lander, APHNYS Board President Rosemarie Tucker, and GAHNY Board President Michelle Henry.—Huxley Theater

10:00am-11:00pm— Digital Communities and Conversations—This session will focus on the opportunities for local government historians that exist regarding digital communities and communications.  The session will be an idea exchange based on a project currently underway in Dutchess County and will focus on how County and Borough Historians can lead their local historians towards having a successful web presence.  Facilitators—Bill Jeffway, Executive Director, Dutchess County Historical Society and Will Tatum III, Dutchess County Historian.

11:00am-12:00am—Engaging Public History—Humanities New York's funding supports scholars and organizations planning and launching dynamic public humanities programs. This presentation will include: how to use DIY programs to build community and foster dialogue; recent examples of public history projects; and grant-writing tips for historians.  Following the presentation, Humanities New York will also be available to answer questions and discuss specific proposal ideas during the break.  Facilitators—Scarlet Rebman, Grants Associate, Humanities NY

12:00-12:45—Networking Lunch—4th Floor, NYS Museum.  Lunch will be provided by the Archives Partnership Trust. 

1:00pm-2:15pm— Tools for Collaborating with Your Local Schools and Teachers—This session will provide information to historians on the New York State Social Studies Framework and Toolkit, Engageny.org., and ways to begin a dialogue with teachers about how local historians can provide essential information that fits into the State’s curriculum standards.  Audience members will discuss their own stories of successes and challenges.

Facilitators—Dr. Kristi Fragnoli, College of St. Rose, Julie Daniels, Educational Television and Public Broadcasting

2:15pm-3:30pm-- Historical Anniversaries: Ideas for Success—This session will be a facilitated discussion about how to approach the coordination and celebration of a historical anniversary, both locally and statewide.  Audience members will be given the opportunity to share success stories and challenges and learn about statewide initiatives.

Facilitators—John Scherer, Senior Historian Emeritus, New York State Museum, Aaron Noble, Senior Historian, New York State Museum, John Joyce, NYS Canalcorps, Johanna Yaun, Orange County Historian, Ross Levi, I Love NY.

3:30pm-5:00pm-- The Role of County and Borough Historians—This will be an audience driven facilitated discussion that gives the audience a chance to talk to each other about their roles as County and Borough Historians, what they are and what they can be.  It will also give the State Historian an opportunity to listen to the assembled audience and provide input.

Facilitators—Carol Kammen, Tompkins County Historian, Devin Lander, New York State Historian

To RSVP for this free opportunity for County and Borough Historians, please send an email with your name, title, mailing address, and phone number to: statehistory@nysed.gov.