Programs

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!

October 2: Redlining in New York
Learn about the 1949 Hempstead, Long Island school segregation case, a pivotal civil rights battle that exposed racial inequality in New York schools years before Brown v. Board of Education.

October 9: The Andre Papers
Learn about Benedict Arnold's treachery and spymaster John Andre's infamous boot papers on the 245th anniversary of Andre's execution.

October 16: Are You Smarter Than a 9th Grader? Regents Exams Through the Years. 
Examine how student assessments have evolved over the decades—and try your hand at real exam questions from the past.

October 23: Let’s go to the Movies!
Discover the Archives’ movie script collection and see how it can help you map Chinatown theaters, uncover neighborhood stories, and learn about trailblazers like Esther Eng, the first woman to direct Chinese-language films in the U.S.

October 30: Beyond the Barge
Check out canal records at the New York State Archives with Michael Maloney.