An historical marker in Oxford, NC, describes how the first school founded there in 1889 to educate African Americans received support from Schenectady, NY benefactor and advocate of equitable educational opportunity, Mary Potter, for whom the school was renamed in 1892. Potter served as Secretary for the Presbyterian Board of Missions for Freedmen-Albany, and donated and raised money for the school which continues to operate within an integrated, public school system. A descendant and relative of many Mary Potter School alumni, historian Cheryl Renée Gooch, Ph.D. explores the intriguing work of Schenectady’s own hidden figure who levered her Presbyterian and social affiliations to garner financial support for the education of African Americans. This program will be presented in a hybrid format: in-person presented at 32 Washington Ave and streamed virtually to registrants. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members and all paid registrants the day of the virtual program.

Food and cuisine shape our regional and ethnic identity. These food preferences were/are informed by access to certain ingredients and their associated cultural meanings. In the Mohawk Valley, archaeological data from Mohawk Native American sites can help researchers understand Mohawk cuisine preferences and how the arrival of Europeans in this area impacted Native American communities. Scott Ferrara will examine how archaeologists use plant remains to understand food preferences and discuss what specific local plants Mohawk communities were using nearly 500 years ago. Scott Ferrara is an archaeologist and PhD student at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. He specializes in the study of colonialism in the Northeast United States by examining past plant use. Recently, his research has focused on understanding the changes in plant use of Mohawk Native American communities in the Mohawk Valley, from before and after the arrival of Europeans, by examining seeds from archaeological sites. This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

This is an in-person program presented at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org. Fáilte! It’s (almost) St. Patrick’s day, so come and celebrate the history of the holiday with us. Tonight, educator Michael Diana will present a special talk on Irish history in Schenectady. How did this small Dutch and English town respond to Irish immigrants? Find out with us! Light refreshments will be served, and the Museum exhibitions will be open late.

Dr. Gwen Saul will discuss the unique foundational history of the New York State Museum’s ethnology collections and present a preview of recent art acquisitions to the contemporary Indigenous art collection. In 1996, the NYS Museum began an initiative to collect Indigenous artwork from artists whose ancestral lands lie within what is now New York. Twenty-six years later, the contemporary Native Art collection numbers over 150 artworks that speak to Indigenous histories and artistic practices. This talk is presented alongside the exhibition opening of "Hobby to History." Bio: Dr. Gwen Saul curates the ethnographic collections at the New York State Museum (NYSM). Over the past 18 years, Gwen's research has encompassed collaborations with Indigenous communities on multi-method community engaged and museum collection-based projects. Currently, she works with Indigenous artists, communities and Nations across what is now New York to curate and develop the state museum’s contemporary Native American art collection.

Join us for the SCHS Podcast Club! If you like the idea of book clubs, but don’t have the time to read, or if you enjoy podcasts and are looking for new content and a group to share your thoughts, this is the program for you. Similar to our book clubs, we’ll listen to a selection of podcasts and meet in person to discuss them. Each month we’ll focus on a different topic and choose podcasts that fit the theme. In our discussions, we’ll explore the topic and look for connections to Schenectady and our local history. The group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month, January through May, at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave. Contact Marietta Carr, our librarian, to sign up! Marietta’s email is librarian@schenectadyhistorical.org and her phone number is 518-374-0263, option 3. This program is limited to 12 people. It's free to take part, but open only to Schenectady County Historical Society members.   Dates: -Jan. 25 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave -Feb. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave -Mar. 22 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave -Apr. 26 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave -May 24 – at 6:30 at 32 Washington Ave  

Time and time again, we’re told as genealogists that we need to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? Judy Russell, JD and Certified Genealogist, will provide resources and specific examples from NY to help genealogists find the laws and legal information relevant to their research. This is a virtual talk presented on Zoom. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. Members do not need to register. A link for this program will be emailed to all Schenectady County Historical Society members the day of the virtual program.

This is an in-person program geared towards families and kids. Admission is $10, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email educator@schenectadyhistorical.org and we will add your name to the guest list. In the Colonial past, the Mabees had to be self-sufficient. What few toys the Mabee children had, had to be made by hand with easily available materials. For children across centuries and around the world, a simple strand of corn husks could be fashioned into a precious doll. In this workshop, we’ll teach the history and the practice of making your very own corn husk doll. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $10 per person, members are free. Limited to 25 people.  

Played at home by both men and women, guitars and fiddles were the instruments of choice for early rural America. Lightweight and easy to carry, these musical tools were expertly handcrafted by specialized craftsmen known as "luthiers." Today, in a world of mass production and manufacturing, only a handful of artisans still practice this ancient trade. Join us at the Mabee Farm Historic Site as we demonstrate and discuss the ins and outs of the trade with local luthier, Roy Watson. A lifetime guitar player, Roy shares his passion for music with his family, though it wasn't until retirement that he was able to devote his time to building and constructing these delicate instruments. Roy specializes in crafting guitars, banjos, and other stringed acoustic instruments out of locally sourced wood. This is an in-person talk presented at Mabee Farm Historic Site as part of our "Crafted in Schenectady: the Building of a Community" exhibition.  Admission is $10, or free for members. No advance registration necessary.

This is an in-person program presented at 32 Washington Ave. Admission is $8, or free for members. To register as a non-member please visit schenectadyhistorical.org/tickets. To register as a member, simply email office@schenectadyhistorical.org. In Honor of International Women’s Day, we’ll be taking a look at women’s history here in Schenectady. Join us for a special presentation by our educator Michael Diana focusing on some of Schenectady’s leading ladies. We’ll meet intrepid women on the frontier, brilliant physicians, pioneering politicians and more! Light refreshments will be served, and the Museum exhibitions will be open late.