Dutchess County in 1870 (virtual)
A photographic tour of Dutchess County as it enters the Second Industrial Revolution
See Dutchess County as it was 150 years ago from the collection of photographs of local historian David Turner. The years after the Civil War saw a dramatic shift in life, not just in the United States as a whole, but also locally here in Dutchess County. Photographs from the era show the dramatic development of places like Poughkeepsie and Beacon as they move from their colonial past into an industrial urban environment. The wood buildings that once lined Poughkeepsie and Beacon would be torn down and replaced by the giant brick buildings we see today. Small mills along creeks and the Hudson River expanded into large factories, selling items to New York City and the rest of the expanding country. See how the small hamlets of Red Hook, Wappingers Falls, and Pleasant Valley grew into the sprawling villages they are today. The presentation will contain over 100 photographs from the 1860s-1880s showing some of the earliest images of the county.
To access this Zoom presentation, click here at 7 PM on Dec 16th
Lecture: “Caroline Clowes: How Poughkeepsie, the City of Schools, Nurtured an Artist” (in person)
“Drawn to Nature: The Sketches and Studies of Caroline Clowes.” by Caroline Culp; Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art History at Vassar College.
San Gennaro Festival (in person)
Discussion on Victory Gardens (virtual)
Virtual discussion hosted by the FDR Library in Hyde Park • It has been said that an army travels on its stomach, and never was this more true than during the dark days of WWII. FDR Library Education Specialist Jeffrey Urbin examines the unprecedented contributions made by millions of ordinary Americans who fought the war literally in their own backyards growing food for themselves, the army, and our allies in small plots known as Victory Gardens. Live Q&A in the Facebook comments and YouTube chat, following the presentation. • Stream live on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook
Fredrick Douglass Day (in person)
Help us celebrate, honor, and revitalize the words of Frederick Douglass at College Hill Park. Frederick Douglass spoke in Poughkeepsie in 1858, and together we celebrate his life with drumming, singing, dancing, and readings of his words.
Featuring readings from the 1858 College hill words of Frederick Douglass, Melody Africa Drum & Dance Group, the Souls United Choir, Poughkeepsie Performing Arts Academy, interview with Artist Isaac Julien, mindfulness with Mioshi from Reviving Radical, Carlos’ food truck!
Mary Churchill’s War: A Conversation with Emma Soames and Erik Larson (in person & virtual)
The FDR Library presents “MARY CHURCHILL’S WAR: A Conversation with Emma Soames and Erik Larson” on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Churchill granddaughter Emma Soames, editor of MARY CHURCHILL’S WAR: THE WARTIME DIARIES OF CHURCHILL’S YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, will speak with bestselling author Erik Larson about her mother’s wartime diaries and will be available for a book signing following the program. Copies of the book may be purchased in the New Deal Store. The event will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home (local health metrics permitting) and streamed live to the official FDR Library YouTube, Twitter and Facebook accounts. This is a free public event, but registration is required for in-person attendance. CLICK HERE to register.
“Sewing in Kingston” Exhibition Opening (in person)
Sewing in Kingston is a major exhibit accompanied by a range of programs showcasing more than a century of Kingston’s rich history of garment manufacturing and the immigrant communities, entrepreneurs, and women whose work made it possible. Join us to learn about the ups and downs of Kingston’s garment industry, the persistence of small businesses, the imagination of artists, and the power of family. The exhibit will highlight the role of immigrants and women and connect local experiences to broader historical, cultural, and economic stories. With one of the most significant local history exhibits ever mounted in the region, Kingston’s newly renovated Reher Center Gallery reopens to the public.
Oral History Project and live music by Ávila Ensemble (in person)
At the heart of it, our work at the Reher Center is to honor the historic legacy of the bakery we inhabit – by amplifying the voices and contributions of Hudson Valley immigrants, past and present.
To further that mission, we’ve partnered with the Kingston Library to record the personal stories of immigrant neighbors. The interviews kicked off earlier this month, and we can’t wait to engage the community with these global, and local narratives.
The Reher Center will provide snacks and invite participant sign-ups!. And, to help set the tone for cultural exchange and connection, at 3 pm the Ávila Ensemble will perform a range of folk and classical music traditions of Venezuela. We hope to see you there!
Hidden in the Archives: Stories of New York’s Forgotten Female Figures (virtual)
The New York State Archives Partnership Trust invites you to learn about NY’s forgotten female figures. Though the stories of several prominent historical female figures have been explored, many more stories of everyday women whose impact on government, civil rights, labor, education, and war exist. Hear accounts about some of these interesting, lesser-known 19th century New York women that were found in historical repositories throughout the state. Register here!