Going Back to School with the NYS Archives | | |
Before yellow school buses became an icon of American childhood, getting to school could look a little different. This charming 1915 photograph captures a school bus from Slingerlands unloading pupils at Albany High School in Albany, New York. More than a century later, the image offers a glimpse into the everyday routines of New York students—and a reminder that the school day has always begun with the journey there.
From the Archives:
New York State Archives, Education Department, Division of Visual Instruction, Instructional Lantern Slides, ca. 1856–1939, Series A3045-78, No. A10502.
| | We want to take the time to highlight all the Documentary Heritage Program Grant Awardees and the amazing work they continue to do. The 2026-2027 application round brought us the highest number of submissions we have ever received in a single cycle! Thank you to all who applied. Learn more about the program here. | | |
Friends of Alice Austen House Inc.
Project Name: Expanded Collections Public Accessibility Project
AAH will create reparative, accurate, and inclusive metadata that ensures the complete archive is fully searchable and accessible online through the AAH digital collections website.
| |  | |
Wendell Castle Project
Project Name: Digitize Wendell Castle Drawings and Models
This project aligns with DHP priorities by improving access to significant historical records and making them available online for broad public use.
| | | |
Morgan-Manning House Museum
Project Name: Preserving the Birthplace of Mass-Produced Agriculture: the Morgan-Manning House Museum Archives
This initiative ensures long-term preservation and lowers barriers to research, maximizing regional and national discoverability for historians, genealogists, and educators.
| | | |
Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History
Project Name: Archival Digitization Access Project
Upon completion, these unique materials, documenting communities historically underrepresented in New York State's archival record, will be publicly accessible online through New York Heritage Digital Collections, CatalogIt Hub, and rehercenter.org.
| | | | |
The Research Foundation of CUNY on behalf of York College
Project Name Arrangement & Description of Clarence Irving’s Black American Heritage Foundation Music History Archive (BAHF-MHA) at York College of The City University of New York in Jamaica, Queens
By project completion, records will be stabilized, described, and discoverable. A DACS compliant finding aid will be available to the public as a resource record in York College’s ArchivesSpace repository, following a CUNY-wide user manual.
| | | |
The Rochester Public Library
| Processing the Evelyn Bailey Papers
Project Name: Arrangement & Description of LGBTQ+ Archival Collections
This is a growing area of scholarship in the Rochester area, and RPL is seeing steady interest in the collections that have already been described. Moreover, it represents an under-documented area of New York history, as LGBTQIA+ history continues to be under-documented by archival repositories in general.
| | | |
Join us as we kick off in September with a powerful conversation on 9/11 featuring the archivists from the NYS Archives.
We are so excited for another season of compelling stories, fresh perspectives, and New York history you won’t want to miss.
Explore the full lineup and reserve your spot today.
| | Join us for the kickoff of a new season of our Online Speaker Series: “Remembering 9/11.”
NYS Archivists will explore documents held in the New York State Archives that tell the story of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as the work undertaken to heal, rebuild, and restore New York City and communities across the state in the aftermath.
Together, we’ll reflect on the records that preserve this pivotal moment in New York’s history—and the stories of resilience that followed. | | | |
Sept 27th: Huxley Museum
"When Hamilton Called Albany Home" Lecture
| | "When Hamilton Called Albany Home" Lecture | Join us for a special collaborative program between the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site and "New York Archives" magazine as we explore Alexander Hamilton’s deep connections to the Capital Region and the influential circles that shaped his legacy.
Through engaging discussion and historical insight, Schuyler Mansion Site Manager, Heidi Hill, will highlight Albany’s role in Hamilton’s life—from his ties to the prominent Schuyler family to the broader political and social networks that helped define a young nation. This program is free and open to the public. | | | |
Save the Date: Nov 4th
"The Black Watch" at the Chapman Museum
| | |
Join "New York Archives" magazine and the Chapman Museum for a riveting presentation led by New York State Archivist, Brian Keough.
Originally sent abroad to fight in the War of the Austrian Succession, The Black Watch later found solace in the Adirondacks. These highlands were not only reminiscent of the Watch’s homeland, but safeguarded their culture.
Brian Keough with discuss the Blacks Watch’s role in some of the bloodiest battles that took place in New York and their contributions to Scottish immigration in the United States.
| | Fall Magazine Issue: Coming Soon | | |
Our latest upcoming article, "Stitching the Unfinished Revolution," is by David Frank, the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Partnerships at the New York State Education Department.
In the article, he dives into the Tapestry of New York—a digital collection that brings together creative work from students across the state as they reflect on what it means to belong, participate, and contribute to the ongoing story of New York and the nation. The article highlights the spirit of creating, sharing, and learning together alive right here in our communities.
To explore this further, Archie the Jr! Archivist had a chance to tour the Innovation Center of Saratoga. Like our article, the center brings people together through hands-on classes ranging from 3D printing to entrepreneurship to weaving, creating space for people to learn new skills, make something of their own, and collaborate with others.
Be sure to subscribe to our magazine to read the Fall issue and the article "Stitching the Unfinished Revolution." Don't forget to also check out this amazing community site, Innovation Center at Saratoga as well.
| | |
Fall Issue is coming soon!
But it's not too late to enjoy all of the intriguing articles from our Summer Issue.
Our featured article, "Train of Freedom" celebrates America's 250th with a photo essay about the NYS Freedom Train.
| | | |
Our current Archives Jr! explores the New York State Freedom Train. It includes learning activities that uses primary source documents to show how NYS has worked over time to secure the rights of its citizens.
Remember, FREE copies of Archives Jr! are available to any educator or student in New York State. Perfect for back to school!
| | |
When at the Cultural Education Center
Be Sure to Check Out All Programs!
(Archives, Library, Museum)
| |
Archie's
Investigation Station
| |
Thursdays Weekly - 10:30 am
Kids Cove | Free
| |
Dive into the world of Archie the Jr! Archivist. Come explore a fun learning activity inspired by an issue of New York Archives Magazine, where students can discover fascinating history, analyze primary sources, and engage with interactive projects!
| | | |
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!
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. | | | | |
