Summer 2025 Magazine Out Now! | | |
This issue is perfect to flip through--whether you're lounging by the pool or traveling for vacation--dive into the rich and surprising stories of New York’s past, from hidden histories and powerful personal narratives to newly uncovered treasures from the State Archives.
This season's issue ranges from Frances Perkins to Theodore Roosevelt's "War on Words."
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July 23rd: Boats, Barges, & Big Ideas
The Erie Canal in the Capital Region
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Join us as we continue to celebrate 200 years of the Erie Canal! Co-hosted by the New York Archives Magazine, the Hart Cluett Museum, and the Waterford Historical Museum and Cultural Center, this panel will discuss the Canal’s impact on the Capital Region and beyond.
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As featured in the Summer 2025 issue of New York Archives Magazine.
This is an In-Person Event
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July 29 "The Courage to Meddle"
Frances Perkins’ Legacy in Action
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Join us for a powerful virtual presentation led by Mary Reid from the Frances Perkins Center in celebrating the life and legacy of Frances Perkins herself — the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet and the driving force behind many pillars of the modern American social safety net. Perkins' story is one of conviction, compassion, and quiet, unstoppable courage.
“When there are problems,” Perkins once said, “we must have the courage to meddle.” Let’s honor that call together by remembering her legacy that not only impacted New York, but the entire nation.
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As featured in the Summer 2025 issue of New York Archives Magazine.
This is a Virtual Event
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In Memoriam & Tribute
V Chapman Smith & Laura Chodos
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Former New York State Archivist V. Chapman-Smith & Trust Steward, passed away in May.
V. achieved a multitude of accomplishments during her tenure at the New York State Archives. Under her leadership, the State Archives collection grew to become one of the most extensive and historically significant state archive collections in the nation. Through the Trust, she expanded public programs and created New York Archives Magazine, Celebrating 25 years, the magazine and new Jr! edition, continue to reach audiences around the world.
V. Chapman-Smith left the State Archivist in 2002, to head the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the National Archives in Philadelphia. She demonstrated a strong dedication to historical preservation and inspired others to do the same, stating, “The magnitude of sustaining the excellence of our shared heritage and keeping history alive through archives is a responsibility that belongs to us." The New York State Archives and the Trust continue to take pride in this responsibility.
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NYSED Regent Emerita & Trust Steward, Laura Chodos passed away in June.
Laura represented the 4th Judicial District on the New York State Board of Regents, covering Saratoga County along with eleven other counties south of the Canadian border from 1976-1992. After her tenure, she continued to support and advocate for the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, working diligently to connect students with historical materials through her leadership and support of educational programs. Together with her husband, Laura established The Chodos Family Fund as an endowment to assist the Trust’s educational initiatives. She also initiated the Trust's New York State Archives Student Research Award competition, which is now in its 35th year. This program laid the groundwork for many other educational resources offered by the Trust. Laura's impact on education will resonate for generations. Her dedication to using primary source materials in education ensures that students learn to draw lessons from the past to inform the future.
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Outside the Box:
20th Century Educational Media, Tools, and Programs
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This summer the New York State Archives presents, Outside the Box: 20th Century Educational Media, Tools and Programs.
The display focuses on the creative methods and nontraditional initiatives used inside and outside the classroom to educate young and older students in New York. Sesame Street photographs and teaching techniques submitted to the Council on the Arts; magic lantern slides produced by the Division of Visual Instruction; World War II technology instructional materials; and other documents will be highlighted.
Records go on display in the 11th floor lobby of the Cultural Education Center in July and will be out through the end of August.
| | George Washington: An American Paradox | | | | |
July 1, 2025 - January 4, 2026
West Hall
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, the New York State Museum invites the public to critically engage with the complexities of the nation’s founding through its upcoming exhibition Revolutionary New York.
The exhibition will feature stories and artifacts that illuminate New York’s pivotal role in the American Revolution, and explore how African Americans, Indigenous groups, women, and other marginalized groups experienced, influenced, and were affected by the Revolutionary struggle.
It will also examine how the era’s promises of liberty and freedom fueled later movements for equality in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
| | Recapping June: APT in Niagara Falls | | |
CAM Meets | Spotlight on Alberto Rey
As Featured in the Spring 2025 issue of New York Archives Magazine
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable afternoon with artist, fly fisherman, and cultural storyteller Alberto Rey near the historic and beautiful Niagara Falls. From reflections on migration and memory to the art of fly fishing as archival practice, Rey’s insights left us inspired and grounded in the power of place.
Archie had a great time too—always happy to soak in good company and meaningful conversation!
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Deepest thanks to the Castellani Art Museum (CAM) for being such wonderful collaborators and hosts.
Thank you to Laura Valkwitch and the Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) for moderating.
Don't forget to check out our Spring issue to read more about Alberto's work!
| | Summer Issue Out Now! Have you subscribed yet? | | | Don't forget you can request FREE copies in preparation for the school year! | | When at the State Museum ... | | Archie's Investigation Station | | |
Thursdays Weekly
10:30 am
Office of Cultural Education: Kids Cove
Free
Need something to do over Summer Break? Dive into the world of archives with "Archives Jr!" magazine.
Each week, we'll explore a fun learning activity inspired by an issue of New York Archives Magazine, where kids will discover fascinating history, analyze primary sources, and engage with interactive projects!
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Thursdays Weekly - 11:00 am
Discovery Place: Free
Curious about New York's past? Come uncover the stories behind the state's history— one document at a time! Join us every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. for "Ask an Archivist" at the New York State Museum.
Each session offers a peek into New York State’s rich and surprising history through carefully chosen original documents, photographs, and videos. An expert archivist will be on hand to share stories, answer your questions, and reveal how we uncover and preserve the past. You never know what fascinating piece of history you’ll discover!
| | New York Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, supports education, preservation, and outreach programs not funded by the state in order to make accessible archives from nearly 400 years of New York's colonial and state governments. Visit us at nysarchivestrust.org and considerthesourceny.org. | | | | |
