SCHOAM! for July 2023

Special Collections, Historical Organizations, Archives & Museums

Hi everyone! I just added a handful of new email addresses to this list (and only to this list) as we've taken on new members thanks to the Consider the Source project with NYS Archives Partnership Trust.

This is a monthly newsletter and my primary way of communicating with NYHeritage contributors.

News from SCRLC

Ask an Archivist

This free service from the library councils of New York (ESLN) lets you submit a question for the three certified archivists we have as staff members. Recently answered questions are also posted for everyone to read, available on esln.org. For example, you can find a list of binderies that will take small orders as linked from a question in June.

NYHeritage Statistics

As a reminder, you can always check on the pageviews of your digital collections using this report. Google recently changed how it counts pageviews in Google Analytics, which is what we've always used to gather and report these numbers. The change for reporting NYHeritage pageviews goes into effect starting this month, and while the reports should be more detailed and useful for you, unfortunately, it will be nearly impossible to compare any numbers this year with your numbers from last year.

New Collection: Farms of Edmeston

An elementary school teacher in the early 1980s had students photograph and describe local farm buildings around Edmeston, which is located in Otsego County near Chenango County. Forty years later, this collection is sweet and unique, showing the rural farm community from a kid's perspective.

New Collection: Alfred University Faculty Lectures

Charles Fergus Binns was an English-born studio potter who became the first director of the New York State School of Clayworking and Ceramics, now the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University. These lecture transcripts from Binns and other faculty members were digitized by Megan Allen.

New Collection: Hunt Family Collection

Richard Pell Hunt moved to Waterloo, NY in 1821 at the age of 24, an active Quaker and intrepid businessman. By 1850, he was the richest man in Waterloo. He was a prime investor in the Waterloo Woolen Factory, which operated as a principled alternative to cotton created with slave labor. The prosperous Hunt family included Jane Clothier Hunt, who hosted Lucretia Mott and her sister Martha Wright for a visit with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Mary Ann M'Clintock - in which they first planned the 1848 Women's Convention! Thanks to Cyndi Park-Sheils of the Waterloo Library & Historical Society for sharing this great collection with us.

New Collection: Finnish Community of Spencer

Thanks to the Spencer Historical Society, we have a wonderful collection about the Finnish community in Tioga County. This collection includes photos of local saunas and their denizens, as well as newspaper clippings about Finnish boys getting in trouble for dumping milk during the milk strikes and a sensational series of news articles about a Communist camp in Van Etten that got mobbed and shut down!

Grants & Assistance

NEH Public Humanities Projects

These grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities support Exhibitions, Historic Places, and Humanities Discussions, at either Planning level (<$75,000) or Implementation level (<$400,000). Historic Cherry Hill in Albany was a recent recipient for a Historic Places planning grant, and they're using it to redesign their visitor experience and exhibition. Applications are due August 9.

NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Grants

New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) partner to provide these grants to help you get professional conservation for your collection, not to exceed $7,500. Applications are due September 1.

IMLS Grants to Plan For

The official notices of funding are not yet open, but it's smart to start planning early for these potentially very large grants: Museums for America ($5,000 to $250,000) and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums ($5,000 to $50,000). The grant applications will be due in November.

LGRMIF Grants Awarded

These annual grants from the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund come up every year, so look at who and what got funding to get inspiration for next year's grant cycle. Several school districts in our region got around $50,000 for document conversion, as did Tompkins County.

Ideas & Inspiration

Three Years to America250

Happy Fourth of July! This is your friendly reminder that there are a mere three years left before our semiquincentennial. Check out New York's 250 Field Guide and start planning. Want to work together on something? Drop me a line and we can do some regional planning and promotion!

APHNYS in Ithaca

We're so excited that the Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) is in our backyard this year! Save the date: September 18–20, 2023 at Hotel Ithaca.

Public Library Survey Results

The Public Library Association just released their annual survey results, having surveyed over 1,100 public libraries about services offered. See what services are common or uncommon, and consider adding some (or dropping some) at your own institution.

The C. Herbert Finch Online Publication Award

The Middle Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) usually gets very few nominations for their awards, which include the C. Herbert Finch Award for online publications, like virtual exhibitions, web sites, web pages and other digital tools that promote the use of archival materials. Surely you have something like that you've finished in the last 12 months - so nominate yourself!

Happening in the Neighborhood

New Director in Schuyler County

Welcome to Heather O'Grady-Evans, who is taking over as Director of the Schuyler County Historical Society after Glenda Gephart's retirement this year. She's a native of Schuyler County and has a background in history, education, and the local wine & hospitality industry. She'll be a great fit!

Let's Talk Baseball and Barns in Oneonta

Helen Rees will visit the Greater Oneonta Historical Society on Tuesday, July 11 from 6 to 8 pm for a free event about Oneonta's baseball history. Rees is the daughter of Jim Konstanty, the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1950, and she'll bring memorabilia of Konstanty's career.

Helen has also been busy with the Swart-Wilcox House Museum, as they've planted an apple orchard and are preparing to have a barn moved on-site. Do you have experience with moving historic buildings or acquiring the right grants for this? Send me any insight you might have and I'll forward it on to Helen!

Little Gather in Corning

The Corning Museum of Glass has brought back their Little Gather series, a free summer program with puppets, musicians and more to bring kiddos into the glass museum. The museum has a lot of great family-friendly events planned over the summer, so check out their calendar.

Cycling Along the Canal

The Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse planned a summer of Beers, Bikes, and Barges events along the canal, which will include a 90 minute guided tour near Port Byron in August. This week, Parks & Trails New York has been hosting cyclists from all over the country as they travel from Buffalo to Albany. Wave when you see them in Port Byron on Wednesday!

Eats and Rides in Seneca

The Seneca Falls Historical Society is sponsoring a presentation from Derrick Pratt of the Erie Canal Museum on July 20 at 7 pm. He'll discuss how the Erie Canal dramatically changed our eating habits. The Historical Society is also sponsoring a Heritage Express Train Ride as part of Convention Days Weekend on July 23, honoring the Women's Rights Convention of 1848.

Cayuga's Carriage House Karaoke

Let loose this summer for a karaoke party at the Cayuga Museum! The Auburn Players are hosting a Broadway themed event on July 21.

Out to Lunch in Elmira

Andrea Renshaw is a teacher who volunteers with the Chemung County Historical Society to keep their HistoryForge installation running smoothly. Visit CCHS on July 19 with your lunch bag in hand to meet Andrea and learn about HistoryForge: Elmira.

Zooms & Webinars Up Your Alley

Public Library Services for Strong Communities: Results from PLA’s 2022 Survey

Tuesday, July 11 at 2 pm

ChatGPT And Other AI Tools Impacting Academic & Research Libraries: Questions to Consider

Tuesday, July 11 at 4 pm

Let’s Talk About It: Developing Training Programs for Difficult Topics

Wednesday, July 12 at 2 pm

UX Design Thinking for Libraries

Wednesday, July 12 at 2 pm

Getting Ready for Preservation Grant Season (NEDCC)

Thursday, July 13 at 12:30 pm

Designing for Diversity in Your Library’s Communications

Thursday, July 13 at 3 pm

Communicating the Value of Museums

Friday, July 14 at 12 pm

DPLA Coffee Chat: The Living Archives Project

Tuesday, July 18 at 1 pm

Understanding & Sharing the Implications of Artificial Intelligence with Learners of All Levels

Tuesday, July 25 at 2 pm

AI in Education and Libraries: Taking Privacy, Security, and Equity into Account

Friday, July 28 at 11 am

In-Person Events

History After Hours: Player Pianos at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society

Thursday, July 13 at 5 pm

Caroline Historical Association & Historic Ithaca Walk & Talk

Saturday, July 15 at 9:30 am

Rehabilitation Through Art: Auburn Prison and the Phoenix Players at the Seward House Museum 

Wednesday, July 19 at 12 pm

Swart-Wilcox Summer Sunday Series

Sundays from 1 to 3 pm in Oneonta, free to the public and on wide-ranging historical topics

Recordings

• Hidden in the archives: uncovering new perspectives with HTR
• Webinar for History Day and the NYS Seal of Civic Readiness
• Cultural Humility for Library Workers
• Restorative Library Work: Designing A Field We Want To Work In
• Quilted with Care 1996 Retrospective- Quilt Talk
• Community Quiltmaking for Good - Quilt Talk
• What role do, and can, librarians play in supporting the UN SDGs and sustainability research
• For educators: Innovations with Sanborn Maps
• Triage and Your Tape Collection *This link expires this week! It was incredibly informative.

Openings in the Field

• Development and Marketing Associate at the Edith B. Ford Memorial Library (Ovid)
• Temporary Office Assistant 1 - Wellsville Campus for Alfred State College
• Archivist at the Strong Museum of Play (Rochester)
• Curator at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum (Hammondsport)
• Part Time Adjunct Librarian at Onondaga Community College
• Evidence Synthesis Librarian at Upstate Health Sciences Library (Syracuse)
• Full-Time Librarian I: Adult Services at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library (Saratoga Co.)
• Library Director at The Town of Esopus Library (Ulster Co.)
• Library Director at East Fishkill Public Library District (Dutchess Co.)
• Humanities Librarian (Black Studies) at the University of Rochester
• Humanities Librarian for the Arts at the University of Rochester
• Circulation Supervisor at St John Fisher University (Rochester)
• Weekend Circulation Supervisor at Nazareth University (Rochester)
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Fellow at the Seward House Museum (Auburn)

That's all for this month! Send me an email if there's anything at your organization you'd like me to include in the next newsletter: [email protected] | Claire Lovell, Digital Services Librarian