Female Proprietors in Mid-19th-Century Albany: Stories and Mysteries

Research has uncovered over 2,000 individual women engaged in business enterprises in the city of Albany between 1830 and 1885. The stories of these women and their families present a fascinating glimpse of commercial and familiar networks in the city, yet a lack of personal papers and business records presents mysteries as well. Who were these artisans, retail dealers, petty manufacturers, and service providers?

Susan Lewis, will explore some of the more interesting stories and intriguing mysteries connected to Albany's female proprietors. Janet Sussman will provide a series of manequins, in period dress, to compliment the lecture.

The Neighborhood Stories lecture is a free event.

Susan Lewis is a professor at SUNY - New Paltz, who specializes in public history. Her area of research specialization was businesswomen in mid-nineteenth century Albany, and her Albany Heritage presentation is based on her research.. Susan is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences, and is the co-author, with her husband Richard, of a college art appreciation textbook, THE POWER OF ART, which has been used in over 200 colleges and universities.

Janet Sussman is Associate Professor of Costume Design and History at the University at Albany, where her last designs were seen in Measure for Measure. Janet has been the Resident Costume Designer for the Department of Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts for the past five years, where she continues to work on new play development. She is also co-owner of The White Crane Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

Susan Lewis