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Guided Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLGJ2hdX9tk

Free

Tour the historic New York State Education Department Building! New York State Museum staff lead the 45-minute Education Building tour, and visitors will have the opportunity to explore the building adorned with murals by Albany native Will H. Low.
The tours start outdoors on the front steps of the State Education Building, which is located at 89 Washington Avenue, Albany.

Tours of the Education Building will be offered at 2 p.m. Each of the tours can accommodate 35 people and reservations are required.

Reservations can be made at the OGS website:
https://online2.ogs.ny.gov/ogsevents/StateEducationBuildingTours/TourDa…

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Postponed

Event Time

2:00PM

The Moral Arc Toward Freedom: Lincoln, King, and the Emancipation Proclamation

February 13, 2024 - March 3, 2024

Huxley Theater

This exhibition is the centerpiece of the Office of Cultural Education’s observance of Black History Month 2024. Here, the State Museum, Library, and Archives bring together two remarkable documents: Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and select pages from a speech Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered in New York City on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

President Lincoln issued two emancipation proclamations—the Preliminary document on September 22, 1862, and a final document one hundred days later. In the first, Lincoln declared that all slaves within rebel territory would be “forever” free unless the Confederate states returned to the Union. Lincoln followed through with his promise, and on New Year’s Day 1863, he signed the final Emancipation Proclamation.

This draft of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the collections of the New York State Library is written in Lincoln’s own hand and is the only one of its kind to survive. The annotated script of Dr. King’s speech is in the collection of the State Archives.

Black History Month at the NYSM

African American history is New York State history. In recognition of Black History Month, the New York State Museum presents a variety of educational resources and programs about the experiences of Black New Yorkers that we invite you to explore.

Martin Luther King Jr's Address to the New York State Civil War Centennial Commission

Listen to Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of the issuance of Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. View additional information and download educator guides designed to provide strategies and resources for teaching about the Civil Rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

NYSM Archaeologist Talks Trash with the New Amsterdam History Center

Trash Talk title graphic with painting of old Manhattan juxtaposed with skyscrapers over a photo of Michael Lucas

On Thursday, February 8 from 6-7:30pm, NYSM Historical Archaeologist Michael Lucas joins the New Amsterdam History Center for the online event, "Trash Talk: A Lively Discussion of 17th Century Refuse, Recycling, and the Reshaping of Manahatta's Shoreline."

What was “trash” in 17th-Century New Amsterdam? Who tossed it? Where was it tossed? Who collected or neglected it? How did trash change the shape and shoreline of Manahatta? What do anthropologists and archeologists make of 400-year-old shards and bones? How does the debris help interpret the story of old New Amsterdam and today’s New York?

Registration is required.

Learn how to view the New Amsterdam History Center panel discussion online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trash-talk-tickets-799064823397?aff=erelex…

From Field to Lab: Research Associate in Ornithology Connects Conservation with Museum Collections

Dr. Taza Schaming assist with research in the NYSM Ornithology Collections

Locally-based Ornithologist Dr. Taza Schaming was appointed as a Research Associate in 2023, and has been assisting Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, NYSM Curator of Birds and Mammals, in our specimen preparation lab, turning salvaged birds into research specimens. Taza is a Wildlife Ecologist at Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, where she leads the Nutcracker Ecosystem Project (http://www.thenutcrackerecosystemproject.com).

Her exciting research, which aims to understand and conserve the unique mutualism between Whitebark Pine trees and the Clark’s Nutcrackers that nest in their branches and disperse their seeds, was featured in beautiful article in the current issue of Audubon Magazine! You can see our intrepid colleague in action at this link: https://www.audubon.org/news/stands-whitebark-pine-disappear-could-clar….

We’re grateful to Taza for sharing her expertise with our staff and the students we mentor in our labs, and for her help in growing the NYSM Ornithology Collection.

New York State Geoparks Highlighted in New Videos

Two videos on classic geologic sites in New York are available from the Geological Society of America “Geoheritage” program. The videos, made by Drs. Ed Landing (New York State Paleontologist, emeritus) and Alexander Bartholomew (SUNY-New Paltz, geology department) feature two sites in Saratoga County that have been designated “New York State Geoparks.”

Lester Park

The first video, “New York State Geoparks: Lester Park—Stromatolites,” is a field trip on the earliest named stromatolites (layered microbial domal structures) and explains their ancient, shallow-marine setting. At that time, ancestral North America was rotated 90 degrees and tropical eastern New York was at ca. 35 degrees south latitude. The ca. 490 million year-old age of Lester Park was established by thorough fossil collecting from Lester Park and related areas by Dr. Landing and University of Toronto colleagues. This led to publications (NYSM Memoir 13, among others) based on extensive trilobite collections now in the New York State Museum.

View the Video: New York State Geoparks: Lester Park—Stromatolites

Stark's Knob

The second video, "New York State Geoparks: Stark's Knob—Submarine Pillow Basalts” reviews the only volcanic edifice in New York State. The study of Stark’s Knob by Dr. Ed Landing and Canadian colleagues changed plate tectonic models, showing that small volcanoes, later called “petit volcanoes”, appear on the “lip” of plate margins where they are subducted into trenches, similar to the modern Japan trench. A reconstruction of the “Pacific Ring of Fire” should show giant explosive volcanoes, like Mount St. Helens or Mount Lassen, inboard of the subduction zone, with petit volcanoes like Stark’s Knob appearing on the subducting plate as it is pulled apart and descends into the submarine trench. The Late Ordovician (ca. 460 million year) age of Stark’s Knob was established by discovery of a time-diagnostic fossil snail in rocks of the Knob. The specimen is now part of the New York State Museum Collections.

View the Video: New York State Geoparks: Stark's Knob—Submarine Pillow Basalts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khFMjqcWlPg

Exhibition Resources

Field Trip to the NYSM: A Gallery Tour of Tonalism

tonalism_brochure.pdf (855.9 KB)

Science Tuesday: Late Ice Age Stone Point

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Located in the middle reach of the Hudson River, Magdalene Island (Dutchess County, NY) has long been known to archaeologists as a location visited by ancient indigenous peoples. Until now, stone tools and other artifacts curated at the NYSM suggested the site was first occupied about 6,000 years ago. Shell middens (accumulations of oyster shell) found at the site testify to indigenous harvesting of oysters and perhaps other riverine fauna beginning with those earliest occupations.

However, a recent donation from the family of Mr. Howard Bonney of a distinctive artifact that he found at Magdalen Island years ago has shed new light on the timing of the area's occupation. This fluted point, marked by multiple channel flakes on both faces and its distinctive morphology, qualifies as the Crowfield fluted point type (http://oaslondonchapter.ca/crowfield-fluted/), believed to date to roughly 12,000-11,500 calendar years ago. Flaked from chert, this stone point would have been hafted on a weapons shaft and pushes back the earliest use of Magdalen Island by indigenous peoples to the late Ice Age.

Pictured above: Although missing its tip (perhaps broken in use), Howard Banney's fluted point from Magdalen Island displays multiple channel scars extending up from a concave base and an extremely thin cross-section (3.8 mm), qualifying it as the Crowfield point type from the late Ice Age.

Captured: Recent Photography Acquisitions

September 24, 2022 - March 26, 2023

West Gallery

The New York State Museum is pleased to present a selection of recent acquisitions by four photographers: Irving Browning (1895–1961), Diana Mara Henry (b. 1948), Joel Meyerowitz (b. 1938), and Joseph Squillante (b. 1949).

Browning captured New York City in the 1920s and 1930s; Henry is best known as a photojournalist documenting social and political activism; Meyerowitz has pioneered and promoted color photography; and Squillante is passionately devoted to the Hudson River.

Each gallery focuses on one artist and shows a range of their work.

New Acquisition: Singer Industrial Sewing Machine, ca. 1972

Singer industrial sewing machine, ca. 1972, collection of the NYSM.

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One sewing machine, two stories:

Some artifacts in our collection hold the stories of multiple individuals. This ca. 1972 Singer industrial sewing machine, recently donated to the NYSM, belonged to Tsui Ping Chu, an immigrant from Hong Kong. Chu used it in her home to sew clothing for her daughters and herself. For her, sewing was a hobby, an enjoyable pursuit that also allowed her to connect to her family history back in Hong Kong, where her family worked in a textile business. Her daughters and husband recall hearing the sound of the sewing machine in the evenings, her pride in the textiles she created, and the happiness it brought her.

Prior to Chu, this Singer industrial sewing machine was used in a sweatshop in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Garment work was a common employment for many immigrant women in the Lower East Side, and Chinatown was a major garment production center. Labor regulations brought about by earlier accidents, including the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, as well as the growth of union representation in some shops, meant that it was a safer occupation than it had once been. Garment work was not easy though, and Chinatown garment shops unionized later than those in other immigrant communities, meaning low wages and long hours were prevalent.

To Chu, the sewing machine represented a pastime that she loved and a connection to family. To the women who used it before her, it likely represented both opportunity and grueling work.

Archaeological Discovery at Lake George

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New York State Museum archaeologists have identified archaeological remains associated with a small Early Archaic camp dating to approximately 8,000 B.C. along the shore of Lake George in Warren County, New York. The site produced bifurcate and Genesee projectile points that would have been used by Native groups for hunting animals. Small pieces of debitage (waste flakes) from stone tool manufacture were also found along with broken bifaces that suggest that the site’s occupants were preparing food at the site. Many artifacts are made from stone materials that are not commonly found around the lake, suggesting that they were traded between groups living elsewhere in the Northeast or that the site’s occupants were not originally from the Warren County area.

Human Frogs in the History Collections!

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The New York State Museum’s history collections contain two frog costumes for humans and one frog costume for a dog. These costumes belonged to Harry and Friede DeMarlo, a vaudeville couple that once played circuses and vaudeville houses all over the world, ultimately retiring to a farm in Walton, N.Y., where they trained dogs for circus work.

Friede and Harry DeMarlo toured the globe between 1910 and 1928 performing aerial contortions and acrobatic tricks for sold-out audiences. The couple became famous with an act known as “Frog’s Paradise.” The act consisted of a stage set as a woodland scene with leaves, trees, a full moon, and worms and bugs that were lit by tiny light bulbs. Friede, dressed as a frog, emerged from a giant water lily in the center and began dancing and bending about the stage. In a short while, music identified a storm approaching and Harry appeared on stage as a frog, contorting his body in a variety of poses. After the storm passed, Friede morphed into a nymph with more dancing and bending about the stage. The couple performed this act for the King of Siam, the Queen of Holland, the Czar of Russia, and several other important officials worldwide.

Friede Gobsch was born in Germany in 1890, and Harry was born in West Virginia in 1882. The two met in Copenhagen in 1910 while they were performing for separate vaudeville troupes and were married a year later. The DeMarlos’ contortion performances were known as “dumb acts” or “sight acts” because they did not need to use speech as part of the performance. “Dumb acts” included a wide variety of performers such as jugglers, tumblers, aerialists, wire acts, cyclists, balancing acts, and animal acts. One of the advantages to being a “dumb act” is that there were no language barriers, allowing the performer to work all over the globe with both vaudeville and the circus.

In addition to the frog outfits, the DeMarlo Collection also includes costumes from the couple’s other acts: a red devil costume, a snake costume, several dancing costumes, trapeze ropes, props, photographs, broadsides from performances, scrapbooks, letters, and personal belongings. Some of these artifacts are rare in museum collections because props and costumes from this time period were usually used until destroyed or taken apart and sewn into something else.

Effects of Global Warming on Mammal Ecology

Understanding the effects of climate change on mammals has become increasingly important in light of current global warming and the recent findings of the IPCC. Further and related to a more paleontological question, debate has raged for decades as to the cause of the end-Pleistocene extinctions in North America, where over 35 genera of large mammals went extinct. One side suggests that the migration of humans into North America is the sole cause of the extinction, while the other side hypothesizes that climate changes were to blame. One way to test the effects of climate change and the hypothesis that it caused the end-Pleistocene extinction is to examine how ecology changed in mammals with climate change in the absence of humans earlier in the Pleistocene. Results from a number of studies that I have conducted or participated in show that the effects of climate on mammals are complex and that generally the conclusions from specific sites can not be extrapolated globally. Future research is focused to differentiate how global climate change affects mammals in different regions and of different life history with the aim of providing insight into how current global warming will affect extant species.

Related Publications

DeSantis, L. R. G., Feranec, R. S., and MacFadden, B. J. 2009.
Effects of Global Warming on Ancient Mammalian Communities and Their Environments.PlosOne 4(6):e5750. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.

Feranec, R. S., Hadley, E. A., and Paytan, A. 2009.
Stable Isotopes Reveal Seasonal Competition for Resources Between Late Pleistocene Bison (Bison) and Horse (Equus) from Rancho La Brea, Southern California.Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology 271:153-160.

Blois, J.L., Feranec, R. S., and Hadly, E.A. 2008.
Environmental Influences on Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Body-size Variation in California Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi). Journal of Biogeography 35:602-613.

Feranec, R.S. 2004. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of marmot cheek teeth from the Pit Locality, Porcupine Cave, Colorado. Pp 327-331. In Barnosky, A. D. (ed.).Biodiversity Response to Environmental Change in the Early and Middle Pleistocene: The Porcupine Cave Fauna from Colorado. University of California Press, Berkeley.

New York Projectile Points

Prehistoric/Contact-Era Native American Collections

Former State Archaeologist William A. Ritchie’s seminal Typology and Nomenclature for New York Projectile Points (1961, revised 1971) remains a basic reference for Northeastern archaeologists. An on-line version of the publication adds color images of selected artifacts to accompany Ritchie’s original text and plates, providing an updated gallery of projectile point type examples from the New York region. Many of the projectile points shown are from the collections of the New York State Museum.

Reflections on Ritchie's Typology for New York Projectile Points
Jonathan C. Lothrop, NYSM Curator of archaeology

William A. Ritchie's Typology for New York Projectile Points, published in 1961 and revised in 1971, is still in use today. The information he assembled helped to set early standards for typological analysis. Now, nearly 50 years later, this typology also reflects how archaeology as a discipline has changed over that time span.

Before the mid-1900s, early archaeologists relied on relative dating to estimate the antiquity of Native American artifacts or prehistoric sites. By this approach, archaeologists used excavation results at stratified archaeological sites to determine relative age. Based on geologic concepts, artifacts discovered in deeper strata were logically older than those found at shallower depths. Comparing differences between older and younger artifacts of a certain class revealed changes through time in a region's material culture. Certain artifact classes -- notably stone weapon tips and pottery -- seemed especially prone to shifts in form and material through millennia. When found elsewhere at unstratified sites, archaeologists could use these chronologically "diagnostic" artifacts to infer the relative age(s) of the prehistoric occupations

The advent of radiocarbon dating in the 1950s provided a means for measuring the age in calendar years of a prehistoric site or associated artifacts. Since then, progressive refinements have increased the accuracy of this absolute dating method.

When William A. Ritchie first published his Typology in 1961, radiocarbon dating was still a new technique, and had only been applied to a handful of New York sites. Additional radiocarbon assays at sites in New York and the broader Northeast confirm the general validity of much of this projectile point sequence and typology for New York's prehistory.

Today, archaeologists still rely on relative dating approaches (including Ritchie's typology) to estimate ages of undated prehistoric sites. But as American archaeology has matured as a discipline, archaeologists have increasingly recognized the limits of typologies. Perhaps most important, these typologies are constructs of the archaeologist, not of the prehistoric people who made these artifacts, and so inevitably mask some artifact variation.

Archaeologists also now recognize that, between manufacture and discard, the size and shape of stone projectile points often changed through use, resharpening, reworking, and repair. Thus, individual projectile points were not immutable forms (perhaps as implied by early typologies), but literally evolved during their "use lives."

Ritchie's Brewerton bifaces provide a good example of how projectile point form can evolve during use. He defined four Brewerton types: corner-notched, side-notched, eared-notched, and eared triangle points. While corner- and side-notched points may represent more legitimate "types," the eared-notched and eared-triangle forms probably reflect heavy blade resharpening on notched points that altered a point's size and outline. The lesson is that while typologies have utility for assessing relative age, archaeologists must be aware of their potential pitfalls.

Along with technological perspectives, in recent decades, archaeologists have turned increasingly to quantitative approaches for projectile point identification and analysis. These approaches seek to identify statistical groupings of artifacts based on suites of attributes such as dimensions, hafting method, flaking characteristics, wear patterns, etc. These more objective approaches facilitate evaluating changes in a point "type" over time or across space, discrimination of original point features versus modifications, and comparisons between groups of artifacts.

A Typology and Nomenclature for New York Projectile Points, William A. Ritchie, New York State Museum Bulletin Number 384 (1961, revised 1971).

Cooking Residues

One source of information about prehistoric cooking activities is charred residue adhering to the interior of pottery and steatite sherds. Other residues are absorbed into the fabric of pottery sherds. Both kinds of residue can provide information on some of the specific foods that were cooked in the vessels. The charred residues can yield phytoliths from plants (Hart et al.2003, 2007a; Hart and Matson 2009; Thompson et al. 2004), starches from plants, and lipids from both plants and animals (Hart et al. 2008; Reber and Hart 2008a, 2008b). Lipids are also absorbed into the fabric of pottery sherds. The phytoliths and starch grains may be identifiable to genus or species, while lipids may be identified to species or high-level taxonomic units. Experiments have recently shown that stable isotope analysis of charred cooking residues can be misleading (Hart et al. 2007b, 2009; Lovis et al 2011). In fact in order to interpret carbon isotope values from cooking residues it is necessary to know in advance what was actually cooked in the pot when the residue formed.

Chronological information can also be gained from charred cooking residues through accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating. Concern has been raised as the the accuracy of AMS dating of carred residue because of the potential for old carbon to be introduced into residues by cooking aquatic organisms. Ancient cabon is often present in freshwater bodies and is incorporated into fish and shell fish flesh. Various lines of evidence have shown that this is apparently not a problem in portions of eastern North America including New York (Hart et al. 2013; Hart and Lovis 2007a, 2007b, 2014; Lovis and Hart 2015).

Analysis of over 90 AMS dates obtained on charred cooking residues has changed our perceptions of crop histories and of the chronologies of steative bowls and various prehistoric pottery types (Hart and Brumbach 2003, 2005; Hart and Lovis 2007; Hart et al. 2003, 2007; Tache and Hart 2013; Thompson et al. 2004), and has helped to clarify trends in pottery technology (Hart 2012; Hart and Brumbach 2009). This work has substantially rewritten the histories of maize, bean, and squash in New York (Hart 2008, 2016).

Link

Native American Archaeology

Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground

In 2005, the discovery of human remains during sewer construction in Colonie, NY offered a unique view of slavery in rural colonial America. Historical and bioarchaeological studies identified the unmarked burial ground as a place once used by individuals enslaved by the prominent colonial Schuyler family.

The area known as Schuyler Flatts is located along the Hudson River about 5 miles north of Albany, NY. Frequented by Native Americans for thousands of years, the river flats were an ideal location for hunting, fishing, horticulture, and trade. Dutch colonists also recognized the potential of the Flatts and settled there shortly after Killean Van Rensselaer established his patroonship in 1629. By 1672, the prominent Schuyler family had made the Flatts their home and continued to live there for most of the next 300 years.

Excavation of the Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground

Archaeological investigations by Hartgen Archaeological Associates Inc. identified several graves in the path of the sewer construction. Twelve intact burials were removed and fragmentary remains of another individual were found in disturbed soil. One other individual whose remains were found during an earlier construction project in 1998 was already in the care of the NYSM.

The Burials

The graves were arranged in roughly two rows and oriented with the person’s head to the west and feet to the east. Each individual was wrapped in a winding sheet or burial shroud that was fastened with small brass straight pins and buried in coffins made with white pine boards and hand wrought iron nails. No personal items were found with the graves but the brass pins and wrought iron nails indicate the burials may date to the 18th or early 19th century.

Slavery at Schuyler Flatts

Historic records indicate that numerous individuals were enslaved at the Flatts over a period of about 150 years. While there is scant information about their lives, the few who are known by name attest to the harsh reality of rural enslavement.

Jan, 1682

The earliest name of an enslaved African at the Flatts is Jan, who according to 1682 court records, was stabbed during an altercation between his owner, Philip Schuyler, and an Indian from the “north” (probably Algonquin). Jan’s injuries required the care of a surgeon for 13 days at a cost of 65 floren in seawan, or wampum, and a physician’s fee of 4 beavers.

Jacob, Charles, Peter, Thom, Anthony, Mary, Bettie, 1711

In 1711, Pieter Schuyler took over control of the farm at the Flatts. An inventory of the property that belonged to his parents included seven slaves who were listed along with horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and other possessions.

Diana and Maria, ca. 1760s

The most detailed information about slave life at the Flatts was written by Anne Grant, who spent time on the farm as a child and later wrote her reminiscences of Margaret Schuyler (link to in Memoirs of an American Lady. She specifically describes two elderly women, Diana and Maria, who came from Africa when they were young and spent their lives enslaved raising their own families to serve in the Schuyler household.

“In the summer the negroes resided in slight outer kitchens, where food was dressed for the family. Those who wrought in the fields often had their simple dinner cooked without, and ate it under the shade of a great tree.” “…the domestic friends of the family occupied neat little bedrooms in the attics or the winter-house.”

“The hospitalities of this family were so far beyond their apparent income, that all strangers were astonished at them. To account for this, it must be observed that, in the first place, there was perhaps scarce an instance of a family possessing such uncommonly well trained, active, and diligent slaves, as that I describe. The set that were staid servants when they married, had some of them died off by the time I knew the family; but the principal roots from whence the many branches, then flourishing, sprung, yet remained. These were two women, who had come originally from Africa while very young; they were most excellent servants, and the mothers or grandmothers of the whole set, except one white-woolled negroe-man; who in my time, sat by the chimney and made shoes for all the rest. The great pride and happiness of these sable matrons were, to bring up their children to dexterity, diligence, and obedience. Diana being determined that Maria’s children should not excel her’s in any quality, which was a recommendation to favour; and Maria equally resolved that her brood, in the race of excellence, should out-strip Diana’s. Never was a more fervent competition. That of Phillis and Brunetta, in the Spectator, was a trifle to it: and it was extremely difficult to decide on their respective merits; for though Maria’s son Prince cut down wood with more dexterity and dispatch than any one in the province, the mighty Cesar, son of Diana, cut down wheat, and threshed it, better than he. His sister Betty, who, to her misfortune, was a beauty of her kind, and possessed wit equal to her beauty, was the best sempstress and laundress, by far, I have ever known; and plain unpretending Rachel, sister to Prince, wife to Titus, alias Tyte, and head cook, dressed dinners that might have pleased Apicius. I record my old humble friends by their real names, because they allowedly stood at the head of their own class; and distinction of every kind should be respected. …

The prevention of crimes was so much attended to in this well regulated family, that there was very little punishment necessary; none that I ever heard of, but such as Diana and Maria inflicted on their progeny, with a view to prevent the dreaded sentence of expulsion; notwithstanding the petty rivalry between the branches of the two original stocks. Inter-marriages between the Montagues and Capulets of the kitchen, which frequently took place, and the habit of living together under the same mild, though regular government, produced a general cordiality and affection among all the members of the family, who were truly ruled by the law of love; and even those who occasionally differed about trifles, had an unconscious attachment to each other, which shewed itself on all emergencies” (Grant 1809a:151).

“By the time I came to live with her, Mariamat and Dianamat were almost superannuated, and had lost, in a great measure, the restraining power they used to exercise over their respective offspring. Their woolly heads were snow white, and they were become so feeble, that they sat each in her great chair, at the opposite side of the fire; their wonton jealousy was now embittered to rancour, and their love of tobacco greater than ever.” (Grant 1809b:103)

Piet, 1792

Stephen Schuyler, who took over the farm from Margaret and Philip Schuyler, is listed in the 1790 federal census with nine slaves. In 1792 when Stephen divided the property among his sons, it was with the provision that the “Negro boy Piet” would remain his servant until his death and then be given to his son Peter. A second agreement stipulated that his sons were obligated to provide “sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodging” to Stephen and his servants during their natural lives.

After Stephen Schuyler’s death, Piet may have been among the 7 slaves counted in Peter Schuyler’s household in 1800. Peter’s brothers John and Philip, who lived nearby, also were slave owners.

Deauna, 1804

Passage of the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1790 had little impact on slave owning but may have encouraged some enslaved individuals to seek their freedom, such as Deauna, who fled from Peter Schuyler in 1804.

Sabina or “Sibby”, 1862

The last record of a slave at the Flatts was Sabina or ‘Sibby’ who was bought by Philip S. Schuyler from the Vandenburgh family in Schaghticoke around 1800. Although Sibby was eventually freed, she continued to live with the Schuylers until her death in 1862 at 90 years of age.

Bioarchaeological Analysis

To learn more about the individuals from the Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground, a bioarchaeological study of the human remains was conducted. As living tissue, bones and teeth change as we grow and age. They also respond to various stresses encountered during life and can bear evidence of poor nutrition, infection, and disease as well as activity-related behavior. Analysis of the Schuyler Flatts individuals shows clear evidence of musculoskeletal stress and early onset arthritis from a lifetime of hard work. They also suffered from poor dental health and some teeth show marks of habitual activities such as pipe smoking. They exhibit less evidence of nutritional stress when compared with their urban counterparts at the New York African Burial Ground possibly as a result of rural enslavement.

A total of 14 individuals were recovered from the burial ground. It is believed that other graves may have been disturbed in the past or remain unmarked at the burial ground. Half of individuals recovered were children including five infants who may have been stillborn or died shortly after birth. Their remains…

The other individuals recovered were adults including 6 women and 1 man.

Burial 3 is a woman who was 35-45 years old when she died. She stood about 5’3” tall. Some of her back teeth had been lost and others had cavities. She once fractured a bone in her left wrist but it was long since healed. She had strong arms along with mild arthritis. She was identified as of African ancestry based on the shape of her bones but DNA analysis identified her maternal ancestry as Native American and possibly Micmac, a tribe in the Canadian maritimes.

Burial 7 is a woman over 50 years old who had lost all of her teeth long before she died. She stood about 5’3” tall and was robust for her size with muscular arms, legs, and hands. Hard work caused her to have arthritis in all of her major joints and may have led to fractures earlier in life to vertebrae in her neck and lower back. Her bones were osteoporotic and she sustained four broken ribs shortly before she died, possibly due to a fall. She was probably born in New York but DNA analysis suggests her maternal ancestry was from west or west-central Africa.

Burial 9 is a woman 50-60 years old. She was about 5’4” tall and robust for her size. Even her back was muscular where some of the vertebrae fused from arthritis after years of hard work. She had lost several teeth and the ones that were left had cavities and some were worn from smoking a pipe. Her left arm was shorter than her right and the base of her skull was misshapen suggesting she may have held her head to one side. It did not however, prohibit her from working hard all of her life. She was probably born in New York but her DNA analysis indicates her maternal ancestry was from Madagascar where there was an illegal slave trade at the turn of the 18th century.

Burial 12, the youngest woman, was 25-35 years old. She was about 5’2” tall and not quite muscular as the others but still had the early stages of arthritis in her back and joints. She had cavities in her front teeth and the back ones were nearly destroyed by decay. At least one of her back teeth was also abscessed. She was probably born in New York but her DNA analysis indicates that her maternal ancestry was from Madagascar.

Burial 13 is a woman who was 30-40 years old. She was about 4’9½” tall and moderately robust for her size. Her arms, legs, and hands were muscular and she had arthritis in her back, shoulders and jaw. Her teeth show marks that she experienced a period of health stress as a young child and she may have had an infection before she died. Her back teeth were destroyed by cavities and her front teeth have small notches in them that may have been made by pulling thread or other material across them repeatedly. She was probably born in New York but DNA analysis indicates her maternal ancestry was from the area of East Africa.

Burial 15 is a man 40-50 years old. He was between 5’6” and 5’7” tall and very muscular with arthritis in his joints most severely in his neck, elbows, and hips. He once broke a toe on his left foot that was misaligned and fused at the joint when healed. He had cavities in most of his teeth with many of the back ones lost to decay. His front teeth also show wear indicating he may have smoked a pipe. He was probably born in New York but DNA analysis indicates his maternal ancestry was from the area of East Africa.

Burial 1998 is a woman who was 30-35 years old. She was between 4’8” and 4’9” tall and robust for her small size. She was muscular had begun developing arthritis especially in her lower back where she may have had an injury. Like the others, her dental health was poor with several teeth destroyed by caries and an abscess. Some of the teeth on the left side of her mouth had wear suggesting she may have smoked a pipe. She was probably born in New York but DNA analysis suggests her maternal ancestry was from Africa.

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Link

Bioarchaeology

NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

The New York State Museum offers a limited number of renewable, annual fellowships to graduate students pursuing Ph.D. degrees in anthropology, biology, earth sciences, and history at the University at Albany, Binghamton University, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. These fellowships provide full tuition coverage and salary support. As part of the program, students participate in fieldwork, laboratory research, and collections-based projects at the State Museum and are expected to incorporate research on existing Museum collections and/or expand the collections in their dissertations.

To apply for the NYSM Graduate Fellowship, please contact the specific museum staff member you are interested in working with to discuss available opportunities. Information about staff research interests can be found in the links provided under each department section below.

For additional information on the Museum and the NYSM Graduate Fellowship program contact:
Dr. Robert S. Feranec - Director of Research & Collections
robert.feranec@nysed.gov
(518) 474-5819

Dr. Jennifer Lemak - Chief Curator of History
jennifer.lemak@nysed.gov
(518) 474-5842

Anthropology (Archaeology) & Ethnography

The focus of anthropology at the State Museum is on interpreting the nature and results of human activity in and around New York. Anthropological research at what would become the New York State Museum was initiated in 1847, when the Regents expanded the State Cabinet of Natural History to include an Historical and Antiquarian Collection. Today, an active program of field and collections-based research in historic and prehistoric archaeology, biological anthropology, ethnohistory, and ethnography continues under staff members, museum research associates, interns, and visiting researchers.

The Museum’s anthropological collections incorporate prehistoric and historic archaeological, ethnographic, and human osteological materials. The archaeological collection is the most complete in existence for New York State.

Learn more:
Anthropology (Archaeology)
https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/archaeology

Ethnography
https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/ethnography

Biology

The focus of biological research at the State Museum is on the study of living organisms. Its work includes biological surveys of defined geographic areas and ecosystems, phylogenetic (evolutionary) and nomenclatural studies of taxonomic groups, and studies of relationships between organisms and their environments. In addition, research results are used to help solve current environmental problems. The group includes researchers in the disciplines of botany, entomology, ichthyology, malacology, mammalogy, mycology, and ornithology.

Major biology collections at the Museum include ichthyology, entomology, vascular plants, mycology, bryology, ornithology, and mammalogy.

Learn more: https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/biology

Geology

The focus of geology at the State Museum is on the history of New York's physical landscape as well as the interpretation of the regional and global controls on the early history and evolution of the natural environment and life in New York. It includes research on physiography and geology. This group includes researchers in the disciplines of physical geology, geochemistry, geomorphology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and mineralogy, whose work contributes to understanding the rock and fossil succession in New York State and related regions. This unit is also mandated to preserve and assure access to the Museum's paleontology and subsurface collections and databases.

Major geology collections at the Museum include mineralogy, stratigraphy, Quaternary landscape materials, and deep rock cores and well cuttings.

Learn more: https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/geology

History

The History Department at the New York State Museum is responsible for the stewardship and interpretation of a collection comprising over five million artifacts, which collectively illuminate the history of New York State. Through research, the department disseminates historical knowledge via scholarly publications, curated exhibitions, public programs, and digital platforms. Collaboration is integral to the department’s mission, as it engages with academic scholars, municipal historians, curators, archivists, librarians, and the broader public to contextualize and preserve the state’s historical narratives while strategically expanding its collections for future study.

In addition to these initiatives, the department manages the editorial responsibilities of the New York History Journal, a peer-reviewed publication by Cornell University Press dedicated to advancing scholarship on New York State's history. The department also organizes the New York History Conference, an annual event that brings together academics, public historians, museum professionals, and educators to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and showcase new research on the state’s historical significance.
The New York State Museum’s History Collections are extensive, ranging from an 18th-century colonial Dutch furniture to a Norden bombsight from World War II to a print by African American artist Romare Bearden. The collections include significant holdings on the Shakers, decorative arts, mental health, 9/11, the Attica prison uprising, the Woodstock Art Colony, decorated stoneware, political memorabilia, New York State-manufactured goods, and the circus. These artifacts tell the stories of New York State’s people. To better manage these collections, they are categorized into social history, political history, cultural history, and economic history.

Fellows can engage with the Museum’s collections or propose topics that help expand the scope of the historical collections. Students in history that have completed their coursework and qualifying doctoral examinations are preferred.

Learn more: https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/history

Paleontology

The study of fossils in New York State has a long, rich history that even dates to pre-colonial times when native people discovered the tusks and bones of mastodons and made observations to explain the massive creatures. European explorers recognized the significance of these finds and the smaller but more numerous fossils of ancient sea creatures like trilobites, brachiopods, crinoids, and corals. The establishment of the State Cabinet of Natural History, the pre-cursor to the New York State Museum, provided a center for research and a formal place for the storage of the fossils that record the ancient history of New York. These fossils are used to identify the ages of the rocks they are found in, for reconstructing ancient environments, and to understand the functions and evolutionary relationships of the organisms themselves, for example. Paleontology staff have focused research across the 1.1 billion years represented by the fossils of New York in biostratigraphy, climatology, biogeochemistry, paleobiology, paleoecology, taxonomy, and systematics.

The State Museum has significant, world-class and historic paleontology collections in paleobotany, invertebrate paleontology, and Pleistocene vertebrate paleontology.

Learn more: https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/research-collections/paleontology

Media Advisory for Saturday, April 26, 2025

ARCHIE, THE NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES’ JR! ARCHIVIST, IS CELEBRATING HIS BIRTHDAY

JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY BASH!

Happy Birthday Archie title graphic with cartoon image of a beaver, birthday cake, and archives materials

Everyone’s favorite Jr! Archivist is celebrating his birthday – and you’re invited! Join the New York State Archives and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust for a party at the New York State Museum filled with fun, history, and hands on activities. Archie isn't your average mascot – he's a curious, document-loving beaver who burrows into New York's fascinating history and shares its captivating stories with all who meet him. As the official mascot of State Archives and Trust since 2024, Archie’s favorite hobby is gnawing on history and posting photos on social media of his adventures. Come celebrate with Archie and discover New York State’s rich past in a truly unique and engaging way.

WHEN:
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 2025

WHAT:
Bring your curiosity for a morning packed with fun activities, such as a sing-a-long to Archie’s theme song, make your own beaver puppets and birthday hats, learn about beavers (the official New York State mammal!), and delve into the latest edition of New York State Archives Jr! magazine. The event is perfect for kids of all ages to explore the wonders of New York’s past!

WHERE:
New York State Museum
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230

Three photographs of archie the beaver (left) on the farm with a black goat (center) overlooking four Archives Jr! magazines (right) operating an official seal punch

About the Cultural Education Center

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the  New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter. 

The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations. For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.  

Established in 1971, the New York State Archives has amassed one of the most extensive and historically significant state archive collections in the nation. The Archives manages, preserves, and provides open access to over 250 million colonial and New York State records dating back to the 1630s. In addition, the Archives provides records and archival management services to nearly 4,500 counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts, and other local governments across New York State. The Archives offers technical assistance, training, and grants to non-government repositories through the Documentary Heritage Program and Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY). Researchers can access public records through the Archives’ online Digital Collections or by appointment on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center. For more information, please visit www.archives.nysed.gov.

The Archives Partnership Trust, a 501(c)3 organization, works to advance New York State History by making the voices within over 350 years of records accessible, relevant, and heard. Education, preservation, and outreach programs unite scholars, students, and the interested public in the discovery, interpretation, and promotion of our shared history. Programs created and supported by the Trust include: ConsidertheSourceNY.org; Larry J. Hackman Research Residency Program; Student Research Awards; countless preservation projects to help stabilize and rehabilitate fragile records; and outreach programs such as New York Archives Magazine, the Empire State Archives and History Award, and other public education programs. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely updates.

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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Release Date

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Contact Information

Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

This May, we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of AAPI communities throughout history. What began in 1978 as a weeklong observance—chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, largely built by Chinese immigrants—was expanded to a full month in 1992.

We invite you to explore the programs we have this month that honor and uplift the diverse stories, voices, and legacies that have helped shape our nation.

Special Screening: Asian Americans - Good Americans

Event Date

2025-05-20

2:00PM

Event Categories

Film

Free

Event Series

73056

Join us this May for a powerful screening series in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Each week, we’ll explore a different chapter in American history through the acclaimed WETA for PBS series Asian Americans, a bold and personal five-part documentary that reshapes how we understand our past—and our present. Told through the lived experiences of those who helped shape the nation, Asian Americans brings to light stories of strength, identity, struggle, and triumph.

Screenings will be held weekly and include one to two episodes that trace the evolution of Asian American experiences from the 19th century to the 21st. Discover how Asian Americans have long been at the heart of the American story—and how their contributions continue to guide the way forward.

Good Americans

During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the surface.

15876

Postponed

The Gunboat at Ground Zero: Behind-the-Scenes with Dr. Peter Fix

Event Date

2025-05-14

2025-05-28

12 pm

South Lobby

Event Categories

Museum Talk

Special Event

Free

Image of the facade of the former World Trade Center and the wreck of a old revolutionary war boat

Join Dr. Peter Fix, Principal Conservator of the World Trade Center Ship and expert in Archaeological Watercraft Conservation at Texas A&M University, for a 30-minute lunchtime talk presented live in the South Lobby—where the ship is currently being reconstructed and on view to the public.

Unearthed in 2010 beneath the World Trade Center site, this Revolutionary War-era gunboat lay hidden for over two centuries beneath the Hudson River shoreline. Believed to have been built near Philadelphia in the 1770s and possibly seized by the British during the war, the vessel offers a rare glimpse into early American maritime history.

Peter will share updates on the conservation process, along with insights into the ship’s discovery, historical significance, and the meticulous work involved in bringing this 18th-century artifact back to life. Don’t miss this chance to witness history in the making and explore the connection between America’s revolutionary past and its modern-day preservation.

15876

Postponed

Event Time

12:00PM

Archives Jr Investigation Station

Event Date

2025-12-04

2025-12-11

2025-12-18

10:30 am

Kids Cove

Event Categories

Free

Dive into the world of archives with New York Archives Jr! magazine. Each week, we'll explore a fun learning activity inspired by an issue of New York Archives Jr!, where kids will discover fascinating history, analyze primary sources, and engage with interactive projects!

15876

Postponed

Event Time

10:30AM

“Fear Not, We Come!”: A Guided Tour of Fire Engine Hall with Brad Utter

Event Date

2025-05-16

12 pm

New York Metropolis Hall

Event Categories

Guided Tour

Free

Fear Now, We Come. Ongoing exhibition, fire engine hall. Shows a Dalmatian dog and an illustration of a horse drawn steam engine water pump

Join Brad Utter, NYSM Senior Historian and Curator of Science and Technological History, for a fascinating tour through Fire Engine Hall, where fire engines are not just machines, but symbols of civic pride and innovation. Explore the evolution of firefighting apparatus, from hand-drawn engines to motorized fire vehicles, and discover how New York State was at the forefront of firefighting technology in the 19th and 20th centuries.

On this tour, you'll dive into the rich history of fire protection, learn about the brave communities who pioneered new methods to battle blazes. See iconic items like the 1791 hand engine, ceremonial fire trumpets, and even the dazzling 1875 Parade Fire Carriage. Along the way, we will share insightful stories and fascinating facts about the culture, technology, and tradition of firefighting.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or just curious about the legacy of fire safety, this tour is an engaging experience for all ages.

15876

Postponed

Meet the Scientist: Dr. Jeremy Wright

Event Date

2025-05-18

10 am & 2 pm

Discovery Place

Event Categories

Science

Free

Dive into the world of fish with NYSM Curator of Ichthyology Dr. Jeremy Wright. Join us near Discovery Place to engage with Dr. Wright, ask your burning questions, and explore the evolution and ecological interactions of fishes. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from an expert in the field!

15876

Postponed

BrainFood: Stories from the Collections—Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Event Date

2025-05-21

12 pm

Event Categories

Museum Talk

Free

Stories from the collections. Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Event Series

73056

Join us for a special BrainFood lunchtime lecture as we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through the unique lens of our cultural collections. This engaging program will feature short presentations from across the Office of Cultural Education, showcasing selected items that reflect the voices, histories, and contributions of AAPI individuals and communities.

Drawing from a range of materials—these stories shine a light on the resilience, creativity, and lasting impact of AAPI heritage across New York State and beyond.

Bring your lunch and curiosity for this thoughtful exploration of the rich and diverse narratives preserved within our collections. A brief Q&A session will follow the presentations.

15876

Postponed

Under the Sea Storytime with State Librarian Lauren Moore

Event Date

2025-05-25

10:30 - 11 am

Kids Cove

Event Categories

Free

Underwater scene with a whale and coral reef along with the words Under the Sea Storytime

Grab your sunhats and set sail on a sea of stories! Join New York State Librarian Lauren Moore for a special seaside-themed storytime filled with ocean adventures, friendly sea creatures, and plenty of imagination.

Perfect for families with young children, this interactive read-aloud will dive into delightful picture books that celebrate the magic of the ocean. Sing songs, move like the waves, and make a splash with stories that will transport little ones to sandy shores and underwater worlds!

15876

Postponed

Lanterns of Chinatown: A Family Crafting Experience

Event Date

2025-05-25

1-3 pm

New York Metropolis Hall

Event Categories

Art

Free

Event Series

73056

Explore the legacy of Tuck High Co., a beloved store that stood at the heart of Chinatown for over a century, and discover how it supported generations of Chinese immigrants. Then, tap into your creativity as you design and craft your own lantern to take home. Whether you're wishing for good luck, prosperity, or simply a brighter future, this program is a fun, interactive way to celebrate the history, culture, and artistry of Chinatown. Perfect for families of all ages!

15876

Postponed

BrainFood: Unearthed Stories - Bioarchaeology and the Revolutionary War Courtland Street Burying Ground

Event Date

2025-05-30

12 pm

Event Categories

Museum Talk

Science

Free

Join Lisa Anderson, NYSM Curator of Bioarchaeology, for a gripping look into the excavation and forensic study of the Courtland Street Burying Ground, a site now linked to the American Revolution and the harrowing Quebec Campaign of 1775–1776. Believed to be associated with the General Hospital at Fort George, the burial site held the remains of individuals who endured war and disease.

Learn how museum bioarchaeologists, aided by volunteers, have painstakingly recovered and cataloged shattered fragments of human remains from a construction site, working to reconstruct lives lost and restore their rightful place in history. Lisa will also share the latest updates on efforts to respectfully reinter the remains and how this project has helped inspire stronger protections for unmarked historic burial sites.

This lecture will shed light on a forgotten chapter of the American Revolution—one that reveals both the grim reality of the past and the compassion of present-day science and stewardship.

15876

Postponed

Event Time

12:00PM

Lost Revolutionary War Ship Unearthed at Ground Zero Kicks Off America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration at the New York State Museum

Public Invited to Witness the One-of-a-Kind Reconstruction of a Rare 18th Century

Gunboat Discovered Beneath the World Trade Center Ship Will Serve as the Centerpiece of the Museum’s America250 Anniversary Exhibition

Photos and Video Can Be Downloaded from the Online Press Kit

Photographs of the remains of a wooden boat removed from the mud and debris of an excavation site, and a photograph of a staff member cleaning and preparing a wooden beam for display

(Left) The discovery of the gunboat at the construction site for the Vehicular Security Center in Lower Manhattan, 2010. Credit: AKRF;
(Right) Dr. Michael Lucas of the New York State Museum undertakes the final cleaning of a timber in preparation for reassembly at the Museum, 2025. Credit: New York State Museum  

It’s a mystery that goes back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence – but was only discovered 15 years ago. In July 2010, while excavating at the site of the World Trade Center, archaeologists discovered the remains of an 18th-century wooden ship. In all, 600 pieces of wood and about 2,000 artifacts were uncovered, including musket balls. But the question remained, what was the ship used for and how did it end up there? Now, after years of rigorous analysis by researchers at the New York State Museum and the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University, the story is ready to be told—just in time for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Through forensic wood analysis and deep archival research, experts at the New York State Museum worked collaboratively with the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University to identify the vessel as a rare American-built gunboat, likely constructed near Philadelphia in the 1770s. Used during the Revolutionary War, by the 1790s, the ship was out of commission and repurposed as landfill to expand New York City, ultimately ending up beneath what would become the World Trade Center. Today, it stands as one of the few American-built Revolutionary War ships to be identified, studied, and preserved in New York State.

Following a 14-year preservation process at the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University, pieces of the 50-foot-long, 18-foot-wide ship have made their way to the New York State Museum. The public is invited to watch Museum staff and Texas A&M specialists reconstruct the vessel in real time. Once complete, it will become the showstopping centerpiece of the Museum’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary—kicking off New York’s contribution to the nationwide celebration.

Commissioner and Co-Chair of the 250th American Revolution Commemoration Commission, Betty A. Rosa said, “The discovery of this Revolutionary War–era gunship beneath the World Trade Center site is a powerful reminder of our nation's enduring roots. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this historic vessel connects past to present, highlighting the courage, complexity, and resilience that have shaped our democracy. Bringing this exhibit to life on the Museum floor isn’t just about honoring our beginnings; it’s about sparking curiosity, encouraging lifelong learning, and reminding each of us of the role we play in shaping and strengthening our democracy. This is just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.”

New York State Historian, Devin Lander said, “This is history in its rawest, most thrilling form. We’re not just unveiling a ship—we’re resurrecting a lost relic of the American Revolution, right before your eyes. New York stood at the epicenter of our fight for freedom, and this gunboat is a physical reminder of that courage and grit. To watch it rise again, plank by plank, is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the intersection of archaeology, storytelling, and national identity. This isn’t just an exhibit—it’s a living chapter of America’s founding brought vividly back to life.” Beginning Wednesday, May 14, visitors are invited to watch the process during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — an extraordinary experience you don’t want to miss.

About the Cultural Education Center

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 270 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.     

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more. 

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518)474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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Release Date

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Contact Information

Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov

Office of Cultural Education Announces Programming Honoring the Contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities to New York State History

Events Coincide with AAPI Heritage Month

The Office of Cultural Education is proud to announce a series of free public programs celebrating the rich history, enduring legacy, and extraordinary contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York State. These events honor the rich and resilient journey of AAPI individuals and communities—recognizing not only the challenges they’ve overcome, but also their remarkable achievements, vibrant cultures, and enduring contributions that continue to shape and enrich our state.

As part of this celebration, visitors to the New York State Museum are invited to explore the Tuck High Co. Chinatown Store, an ongoing exhibition in Metropolis Hall. This exhibit highlights the story of Tuck High, a family-operated business that served as a vital hub for Chinese immigrants in New York City’s Chinatown for more than 100 years. Providing daily necessities and fostering community, Tuck High played an essential role for Chinese immigrants navigating life in a new country. When it closed in 1980, it was the oldest continuously operating store in the neighborhood.

Interim Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Michael Mastroianni said, “AAPI Heritage Month gives us an invaluable moment to shine a light on the resilience, ingenuity, and vibrant spirit of Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers. From family-run shops like Tuck High Co. to trailblazing pilots and community champions, each story reminds us that adversity sparks innovation—and that these voices are integral threads in New York’s tapestry. We’re honored to bring these narratives to life, ensuring they inspire and resonate for generations to come.”

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Breaking Ground
Date: Tuesday, May 6
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater

Kick off our month of weekly screenings with Breaking Ground, the first episode in the acclaimed PBS/WETA documentary series Asian Americans. This episode explores the arrival of immigrants from across Asia and their early struggles in America, highlighting the groundbreaking roles they played in shaping the nation—despite exclusionary laws and widespread discrimination.

Event: Museum of Chinese in America and New York State Archives Magazine: Chinese American Pioneers
Date: Thursday, May 8
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013

In collaboration with the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), the New York Archives Magazine presents a panel discussion honoring pioneers Theodora Chan Wang and Virginia Kee—trailblazers in education and politics. The event includes a guided tour. A recording will be available the following week, and their stories are featured in the spring issue of New York Archives Magazine.

Webinar: American Flygirl
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Register on the New York State Library’s Website

Despite being the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license and fight for this country, the inspiring story of Hazel Ying Lee is largely unknown. This webinar will focus on American Flygirl (Kensington 2024), the only book dedicated to the Asian American female aviator. Hazel lived in America at a time when she was subjected to unjust discrimination and the discussion will explore her courage and ongoing legacy.

Film Screening: Asian Americans – A Question of Loyalty
Date: Tuesday, May 13
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater

Join us for the second part of the acclaimed WETA for PBS series Asian Americans. In this episode, an American-born generation is torn between their country of birth and their parents’ homelands in Japan and Korea. Those loyalties are tested during World War II, when families are imprisoned in detention camps, and brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the battle lines. 

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Good Americans
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater

Join us for the third part of the WETA for PBS series Asian Americans explores the Cold War years, when Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a “Model Minority” and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. This episode also highlights the emergence of Asian Americans on the national political stage.

Event: BrainFood: Stories from the Collections – Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Huxley Theater

This special BrainFood lunchtime lecture will feature short presentations from across the Office of Cultural Education, showcasing selected items from our collections that reflect the voices, histories, and contributions of AAPI individuals and communities. A brief Q&A session will follow the presentations.

Event: Lanterns of Chinatown – A Family Crafting Experience
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Metropolis Hall

Explore the legacy of Tuck High Co. and discover how it supported generations of Chinese immigrants. Then, tap into your creativity as you design and craft your own lantern to take home. Whether you're wishing for good luck, prosperity, or simply a brighter future, this program is a fun, interactive way to celebrate the history, culture, and artistry of Chinatown. Perfect for families of all ages!

Film Screening: Asian Americans – Generation Rising and Breaking Through
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater

Join us for the fourth and fifth parts of the WETA for PBS series with a double screening of the final episodes in the Asian Americans docu-series. During a time of war and social tumult, a young generation claims a new identity: Asian Americans. The war’s aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian American.

About the Cultural Education Center

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Release Date

Monday, May 5, 2025

Contact Information

Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov

Media Advisory for Thursday, May 8, 2025: The Traveling Decorators of Stoneware

THE TRAVELING DECORATORS OF STONEWARE: CELEBRATE THE ERIE CANAL’S BICENTENNIAL WITH LECTURE ON ART, HISTORY, AND STONEWARE AT THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM

CATERED RECEPTION TO BE HOSTED BY STONEWARE COLLECTOR AND DONOR ADAM WEITSMAN

Three stoneware vases of different shapes, sizes, and decorations

Join the New York State Museum for an evening celebrating American Folk Art! Home to the largest stoneware collection in the world, the Museum’s decorated stoneware tells the story of “traveling decorators” and how the Erie Canal helped spread the materials and techniques that shaped this iconic American craft. The program will feature special one-of-a-kind pieces from the New York State Museum’s Weitsman Stoneware Collection, generously donated to the Museum by collector and entrepreneur Adam Weitsman.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Reception at 5:30 P.M., Lecture at 6:30 P.M.
** Mr. Weitsman is available for press interviews prior to the lecture. **

WHAT:
Begin the evening with a catered reception hosted by Adam Weitsman and explore the Museum’s ongoing exhibition Art for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection, which features 40 uniquely decorated jugs, crocks, pitchers, jars, and water coolers.

Following the reception, join Dr. John Sladek, Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Colorado, for a discussion about the impressive history of Erie Canal stoneware potteries. The Museum will also showcase special pieces from the Weitsman Stoneware Collection.

WHERE:
New York State Museum, Huxley Theater
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230

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Release Date

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Contact Information

Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov
www.nysed.gov

The Gunboat at Ground Zero: A Revolutionary War Mystery

May 14, 2025 - December 2, 2025

South Hall

In 2010, archaeologists excavating the World Trade Center site made an extraordinary discovery: the remains of an 18th-century wooden gunboat buried deep beneath Manhattan’s historic landfill. Likely built near Philadelphia in the early 1770s, this Revolutionary War-era vessel once patrolled shallow waterways before being abandoned along the Hudson River. Preserved for over 200 years in oxygen-poor soil, the ship measured about 50 feet long and featured a raised deck.

More than 600 pieces of timber and 2,000 artifacts—including musket balls, buttons, and ceramic tankards—were recovered from the site. Evidence suggests the vessel was likely captured by the British and traveled south, perhaps as far as the Caribbean, before arriving in New York. How it ended up buried in New York City remains a fascinating mystery.

Stabilized and studied for over a decade under the direction of Dr. Peter Fix, Associate Research Scientist of Archaeological Watercraft and Aircraft Conservation at Texas A&M University, the ship returned to New York in the spring of 2025. It is now being reconstructed for permanent display at the New York State Museum by Dr. Fix and his team. 

Visitors are invited to experience history in the making as they watch the weeks-long reconstruction of the ship and explore a curated selection of artifacts recovered from the site. As one of the few documented American-built Revolutionary War vessels, the gunboat offers a rare, tangible link to the nation's fight for independence and highlights New York's enduring role in shaping American history.

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From Bunker Hill to Ground Zero: A Button’s Journey Through History

Discover how a tiny military button unearthed at the World Trade Center site unravels the gripping mystery of a Revolutionary War ship and its unexpected connection to the British 52nd Regiment.

Tuck High Co. Store - Photography Collection

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Tuck High Co. Store - Photography Collection

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Tuck High Photo Gallery

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Innovating the Party of Lincoln: Nelson Rockefeller in the Modern Civil Rights Era

Event Date

2025-06-05

7 pm

Free

Woman with glasses stands in front of a bookcase, next to the cover page of her book

What happens when political ideals clash with ambition? Join historian Dr. Marsha Barrett for a compelling keynote on Nelson Rockefeller’s rise, retreat, and the unraveling of moderate Republicanism in America.

Marsha Barrett is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign. Her research examines the political and social history of the United States during the twentieth century. Barrett’s book, Nelson Rockefeller’s Dilemma: The Fight to Save Moderate Republicanism, examines Rockefeller's career as a means for understanding the fate of moderate Republicanism and the broader transformation of the political landscape after the passage of 1960s federal civil rights legislation. Her research has appeared in publications including New York History, Journal of Policy History, Politico, and Time.

15876

Postponed

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7:00PM

Pondering Paleo? Discover the Paths of Paleontology

Event Date

2025-06-06

12 pm

Discovery Place

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