|
Happening in the Neighborhood
Women's History Month
What's your institution doing for Women's History Month? March creeped up on me, but soon you'll see an email from SCRLC full of local NY Heritage material celebrating ladies of the past. Our Women's Suffrage traveling exhibits are on display this month at Steele Memorial Library in Elmira and in Homer at the Phillips Free Library. These exhibits are free for you to borrow; just sign up here.
New York State History Day Needs Judges
The state contest for National History Day (NHD) needs more volunteer judges for the event to be held at SUNY Oneonta on April 14, 2024. Read more and sign up with this Google Form.
A Sad Farewell and New Roots in Cortland
The intrepid, passionate and dedicated director of Cortland Free Library, Jen Graney, is stepping down after months of public mistreatment and harassment. Listen to community members react at the recent common council meeting here. Jen has achieved an impressive list of accomplishments since she took over as director four years ago, just weeks before COVID hit, including the historical collections on NYHeritage (which will be expanding in the next two weeks!).
In another part of the city, Cortland County Historical Society has created a new Facebook group specifically for local genealogy, as a re-tooled version of their Roots & Branches group. They have an upcoming breakfast fundraiser at the Cortland Elks Club as well.
Art Appreciation in Cooperstown
Fenimore Art Museum reopens on April 2, and that same day, they'll have a Zoom program called "What is Art?" led by Michelle Bosma, Youth Programs Manager, and a follow-up on April 4 called "Experiencing Art." Their season will open with exciting exhibitions about women artists, modern photography by Joshua Ives, and quilting. In May, they'll have one of Banksy's works on display!
Clarification Appreciation in the Comments
We've all posted something on social media and been caught off-guard with negative responses. Last month, a local historical society posted an abolitionist's artifact from the 19th century as one of many posts for Black History Month. It was a fascinating piece of history, but the post offended a number of people who felt that it limited Black History to the subject of slavery. That historical society generally has a very thoughtful social media presence. The whole episode serves as a lesson for all of us to be ever sensitive to our readers' perspectives, and to be ready to earnestly, constructively engage.
Just recently, the History Center in Tompkins County posted a great story about the Irish Settlement Road in Dryden, and I wanted to share this because their handling of the public interaction is helpful to see as a good example (in my humble opinion).
Kaleidoscopic Visions in Chenango
Chenango County Historical Society will open their spring season with an exhibit about David Wilson, a local artist whose stained-glass work can be found all over the country.
| 
