Researching New York 2002:
Perspectives on Empire State History

An annual conference devoted to the exploration of all aspects of New York State's long and diverse history. Included in this year's conference are several Albany Heritage offerings including:

Open to the public:
The Rockefeller Years: Transforming Albany - keynote address presented by Rockefeller speechwriter and biographer Joseph Persico

The Bleecker Musical Binders :Music in the New York State Library Special Collections - presented by Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz with the Musicians of Ma'alwyck

Open to Conference Registrants:
(note - for a complete listing of offerings and information about fees go to: http://nystatehistory.org/researchny)

Several panels in this year’s Researching New York 2002 Conference are devoted entirely to the exploration of some of the diverse aspects of Albany’s history.

New York State Assembly member John J. McEneny will comment on the work of Union College professors Andrew Wolfe and Denis Foley as they present their work on The Great Basin and the Erie Canal. Foley will talk about the Albany Basin while Wolfe will explore how to broadcast history Web sites.

The panel African Americans in 20th-Century Albany will include a discussion of “Clubwomen in the Capital District, 1920-1940” by Lillian Williams, University at Buffalo, SUNY; “The Education of Black Children in Albany: The Wilberforce School, 1850-1866” by author Marion Hughes; and "Rage Against the Machine: Community Action, Vote Buying, and the Brothers in Albany, 1964-1967” by Brian Keough, University at Albany. University at Albany history professor Allen Ballard will offer comment and lead the discussion.

A team from Hartgen Archaelogical Associates will offer a view of Albany From the Ground Up. Walter Wheeler looks at builders and building materials in Albany from 1755-1765 and Matthew Kirk considers Albany, archaeology, and the French and Indian War. David F. Klinge considers changing patterns of consumption and class on two city blocks in Albany from 1740-1860 and Kevin Moody looks at the history and archaeology of the original Albany Female Academy.

Tricia Barbagallo, Albany Colonial Social History Project, will present some of the voices that are not always heard as she examines Albany’s Paupers from 1785-1800. Joseph L. Anastasio and John Warren, University at Albany, each bring us the voices of political activists. Anastasio will talk about the role of the Citizens United Reform Movement in the 1961Albany mayoral election and Warren looks at protests against the 1981 South African Springboks Rugby Tour stop in Albany