History Happenings | January 2016
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Rod Howe's Corner

From the Executive Director





We are excited about our 2016 initiatives, including a series of "generation to generation" events, a heritage tourism tour, an intergenerational map project, new exhibits, and hands-on programs at the Eight Square Schoolhouse. There is also a new collaboration with the Dorothy Cotton Institute entitled "Sharing Our Stories for Authenticity and Transformation" with funding provided by the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County (stay tuned for more details).

Help us ring in the New Year this Friday, January 8th, 2016 at 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM during First Friday Gallery Night as we show our new video about Your Generation to Generation Education and Research Center.


"History is not just something that happened long ago and far away. History happens to all of us all the time. Local history brings history home, it touches your life, the life of your family, your neighborhood, your community."

Thomas J. Noel, Denver author and historian



As always, feel free to contact me with your thoughts by phone (607.273.8284 x 222) or email (Director@TheHistoryCenter.net).

In Memoriam:
Cemeteries of Tompkins County


The History Center in Tompkins County
401 E. State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY
October 2nd, 2015 - February 20th, 2016


If you haven't yet, make sure to stop by to explore the exhibition " In Memoriam : Cemeteries of Tompkins County " with a pamphlet guide, and don't forget to check out the Exhibition Resource Table where you'll find a fiction and non-fiction cemetery book list compiled by the Tompkins County Public Library; four scavenger hunts: an Adult and Youth Cemetery Scavenger Hunt, and an Adult and Youth Exhibition Scavenger Hunt; frequently asked questions with answers from the Department of State, Division of Cemeteries; and a driving tour of Enfield cemeteries.

 

For more information, contact Donna Eschenbrenner at Archives@TheHistoryCenter.net or call 607.273.8284 x 224
 
Want a Free Calendar?
Free 2016 Erie Canal Calendars Now Available


We invite the public to pick up a free 2016 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor calendar at the front desk.
"This year's calendar celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Erie Canalway photo contest and shares winning images that capture the unique beauty, history, and character of New York's canals and canal communities.
Calendars will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, thanks to generous sponsorship by the NYS Canal Corporation." - Oswego County Today

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves our extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. We achieve our mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York.
For more information, visit www.eriecanalway.org

P.L.A.C.E.
A Lunchtime Series with Rod Howe

The History Center in Tompkins County
401 E. State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
12:00 PM

Third Session: Architecture




This series will be held the first Tuesday of each month at noon (starting in November and ending in March), and will be held at The  History Center. Created and led by The History Center's Executive Director, Rod Howe, the format will build off from P.L.A.C.E. as an acronym: People, Land, Architecture, Culture and Enterprise. Each session will focus on one of these themes and how they have contributed to instilling a strong commitment to this place. The sessions will be interactive as participants share their perspectives on these themes and place. Select local  historical information will be shared to seed discussion.

This session will be focused on "architecture". The guest presenter will be Christine O'Malley, Preservation Services Coordinator, who leads Historic Ithaca's efforts in education, advocacy, and community engagement and consults with home and property owners, businesses, city and county government officials, and educators. She holds a Ph.D. in Architectural History from the University of Virginia and served as a volunteer member of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission.


For more information, contact Kayla Sewell at Community@TheHistoryCenter.net or call 607.273.8284 x 227

Your Generation to Generation Education and Research Center:
A Promotional Film 
January First Friday Gallery Night

The History Center in Tompkins County
401 E. State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY
Friday, January 8th, 2016
5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM

 



The History Center in Tompkins County will be showing its new promotional video (~10 minutes in length) at 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM in the gallery. The video covers THC's multiple and integrated components as well as new initiatives that are planned for 2016 and beyond. The History Center's team will be on hand to answer your questions and to engage in conversation with anyone interested in learning more about the Center.


We have collaborated with Mark Hartsuyker of Recording Raccoon Studio in creating this introductory video.  Mark is a producer and videographer who has worked with both local and international organizations to help them tell their stories.  These nonprofits have included the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation for Children, Friendship Donation Network, Boyce-Thompson Institute and the Tommy Come Home project.  Mark formerly was a chiropractor with a practice spanning eighteen years in Ithaca before leaving the area for a while to pursue other professional opportunities.  He returned four years ago with his wife Karen and is enjoying his encore vocation in video production. 

        
     

For more information contact Kayla Sewell at Community@TheHistoryCenter.net or call 607.273.8284 x 227

Exploring and Doing Local History
A Local History Lunch Series at the Tompkins County Public Library

Fourth Session:
Tompkins County Public Library
101 E. Green Street, Ithaca, NY
Thursday, January 14th, 2016
12:00 PM



Tompkins County Public Library and The History Center in Tompkins County will partner for "Exploring and Doing Local History," a hands-on monthly history program facilitated by Tompkins County Historian Carol Kammen.
 
These free 75-minute drop-in sessions will be held at noon on the second Thursday of each month from October 8th through April 14th, in the large study room at the Tompkins County Public Library.

No registration is required, and participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch.  Beverages will be provided.
 
Tompkins County Historian Carol Kammen, image courtesy of Ithaca.com


For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 ext. 248 or  cwheeler@tcpl.org

Oral Histories 101
A Basic Training Workshop

The History Center in Tompkins County
401 E. State Street, Suite 100, Ithaca, NY
Thursday, January 28th, 2016
1:00 PM





Throughout 2016 The History Center will offer workshops and events related to our  generation to generation  tag line; we will refer to the series of initiatives as "gen to gen." The Oral History 101 training is part of that series and this particular workshop will be geared to organizations who have an interest in promoting and supporting oral history initiatives. John Lewis, who has a Ph.D. in American History and extensive experience working with communities, will be the lead presenter. Additional resource individuals will also be available. This will be basic training covering best practices. We will offer additional workshops throughout 2016.

Please RSVP.

Contact Kayla Sewell with RSVP at Community@TheHistoryCenter.net or 607.273.8284 x 227

History Center Genealogy 101
A Basic Training Workshop

The History Center in Tompkins County
401 E. State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY
Saturday, January 30th, 2016
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM




Interested in your family history? Come to our Research Library on Saturday, January 30th at 10:30 AM for a talk by History Center Archivist and Research Services Director, Donna Eschenbrenner. She will give a tour of The History Center's extensive genealogy collections and show all the interesting materials that can help you find your family's history.

Keep an eye out for Online Genealogy 101 with former Cornell Map Librarian Robert Kibbee, happening in the spring.



For more information, contact Donna Eschenbrenner at Archives@TheHistoryCenter.net or call 607.273.8284 x 228
 
THC is Grateful for Your Support!
Please Consider a Donation to The History Center


We are pleased to report that The History Center is excelling in fulfilling its mission through the dedication of its trustees, employees, volunteers, supporters and collaborators. As we approach the end of the calendar year, we are asking you to make a gift for THC's continuing vitality. Donations have supported the development of our new website and the ability to offer quality programs and services. Ongoing support will enable us to accept new material into our collections which is invaluable to future research. We are also starting to accept more material digitally, which is increasingly important, and will be a feature of celebrating the county's bicentennial and interacting with the public starting in 2016 and extending into 2017.


Thank you for your support!
Gifts to The History Center are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Questions? Call (607) 273-8284 or e-mail director@thehistorycenter.net.
Mail to: The History Center, 401 E. State St., Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Or, make your gift online at www.thehistorycenter.net


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For feedback, comments and suggestions please contact director@thehistorycenter.net. 

 

The History Center in Tompkins County

401 E. State/MLK Jr. St.
Suite 100 

Ithaca, NY  14850

In the Gateway Center, just one block from The Ithaca Commons.
Free parking available in the rear lot.

 

Phone. 607.273.8284  

www.TheHistoryCenter.net


Hours: Tues, Thurs, Sat from 11-5pm and by appointment

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