A New York Minute In History

For Women's History Month, Devin and Lauren tell the story of Dr. Mary Walker: physician, heroine of the Civil War, and the only woman in history ever to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Born to progressive parents in western New York, Walker would defy the odds to become a surgeon, spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, and go toe-to-toe with prominent suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Walker is buried in the Oswego Rural Cemetery. Marker of Focus: Rural Cemetery, Oswego, Oswego County Guests: Dr. Theresa Kaminski, author of Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War; and George DeMass, Oswego Town Historian A New York Minute In History is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio, the New York State Museum, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King, with help from intern Elizabeth Urbanczyk. Our theme is “Begrudge” by Darby. Further Reading: Theresa Kaminski, Dr. Mary Walker's Civil War: One Woman's Journey to the Medal of Honor and the Fight for Women's Rights Sara Latta, I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Thavolia Glymph, The Women's Fight: The Civil War's Battles for Home, Freedom, and Nation Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, The Book of Gutsy Women Teaching Resources: Association of the U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Mary Walker Junior Scholastic, Mary Walker's War Keith Negley, Mary Wears What She Wants Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. On today's episode, we're exploring the backstory of a marker located in the town of Oswego in western New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario, which is adjacent to the City of Oswego. The marker is located in the Oswego Town Rural Cemetery on Cemetery Road, and the text reads: “Rural Cemetery. Begun circa 1820. Medal of Honor recipients, Dr. Mary Walker, fi

On this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss a William G. Pomeroy marker recognizing the contributions of the Mossell family in western New York, and their efforts to successfully integrate the Niagara County city of Lockport's public schools in the late 19th century — nearly 80 years before legal segregation ended nationwide. Marker of Focus: Aaron Mossell, Lockport, Niagara County Guests: Melissa Dunlap, executive director of the Niagara County History Center, and Heidi Ziemer, outreach and digital equity coordinator for the Western New York Library Resources Council A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King, with help from intern Elizabeth Urbanczyk. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: Diane Ravitch, The Great Schools Wars: A History of the New York City Public Schools David G Garcia, Strategies of Segregation: Race, Residence and the Struggle for Educational Equality Laverne Bell-Tolliver, The First Twenty-Five: An Oral History of the Desegregation of Little Rock's Public Junior High Schools Michelle A. Purdy, Transforming the Elite: Black Students and the Desegregation of Private Schools Teaching Resources: New York Historical Society: Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow New York State Museum: Educator's Guide to Dr. King's 1962 Speech PBS Learning Media: Civil Rights from Orlando to New York New York State Archives, Consider the Source New York: Civil Rights: The Hillburn Petition Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Credit: The New York State Museum is an approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE). Educators can earn CTLE credit (.5 hours) by listening to this episode and completing this survey. Please allow up to two weeks to receive confirmation of completion. Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York State historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. We're celebrating Black History Month by

On this episode, Devin and Lauren tell the forgotten story of Boston Corners, which once belonged to Massachusetts, but was ceded to New York state by an act of Congress in 1855. The area, now part of the Town of Ancram, was remote in the mid-19th century and hard to access from Massachusetts, while New […]

Believe it or not, the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is right around the corner. On this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss how some state agencies and communities are preparing for the big event (from 2025-2033), and how local historians can make the most of the commemoration. We also highlight a pair of William G. Pomeroy Foundation programs designed to recognize sites of the Revolution and patriot burials. Programs of Focus: Patriot Burials, Revolutionary America, LaFayette Trail Guests: Daniel Mackay, deputy commissioner for historic preservation at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: American Association for State and Local History, The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial: Making History at 250(2021) Michael D. Hattem, Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution (2020) Alan Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750-1804 (2016) Rachel Herrmann, No Useless Mouth: Waging War and Fighting Hunger in the American Revolution (2019) Teaching Resources: Consider the Source, New York Learning Activities Fort Ticonderoga, Lesson Plans American Revolution Museum, Teacher Resource Guides PBS, Revolution and the New Nation Teacher Resources Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. This month, instead of focusing on an individual marker, we're going to talk about two different marker programs offered by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation that focus on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The dates of the Revolution are generally understood to be 1775-1783, which recognizes [the battles of] Lexington and Concord as the start of the American Revolution, and the signing of the Treaty of Paris as the end of the war. Certainly, there are other important events that actually happened before 1775 that are worth commemorating. We're only about a year away from the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. But as far as the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, those dates are 2025-2033. De

On this episode, Devin and Lauren tell the story of Verdelle Louis Payne from Ithaca in Tompkins County, who joined the Army Air Forces during WWII and became a pilot. During the war, Payne served in the 99th Fighter Squadron, which became part of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, an all-Black group of pilots serving in the then still-segregated U.S. Army. Our hosts also share the stories of some of New York's other notable Tuskegee Airmen, including Lt. Col. Clarence Dart and Lt. Col. Harry Stewart, Jr. Marker of Focus: Tuskegee Airman, Ithaca, Tompkins County Guests: Dr. Lisa Bratton, assistant professor of history at Tuskegee University; Dr. Thomas Campanella, historian of city planning and professor at Cornell University, author of Brooklyn: The Once and Future City A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: Charles E. Francis, Tuskegee Airmen, The Men Who Changed a Nation (2008) J. Todd Moye, Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II (2010) J. Todd Moye, The Tuskegee Airmen Oral History Project and Oral History in the National Park Service, The Journal of American History (2002) Daniel Haulman, The Tuskegee Airmen Chronology: A Detailed Timeline of the Red Tails and Other Black Pilots of World War II (2018) Teaching Resources: FDR National Library and Museum, Red Tailed Angels: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen National Parks Service, Tuskegee Airmen virtual exhibit Sherri L Smith, Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen? Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute In History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. This month, we celebrate Veterans Day and pause to express our gratitude to all those, past and present, who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. And on behalf of A New York Minute In History, we want to thank all the veterans who have served our country. On this episode, we are honored to focus on a marker commemorating a veteran of World War II. Located at 212 Cascadilla Street in the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County, it is titled “Tuskegee Airmen.” And the text reads: “Verdelle Louis Payne, born

In this live, special episode of A New York Minute in History, Devin and Lauren visit the annual Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) conference in Kingston, New York. What is it like to work in history? We'll discuss how today's public historians are striving to expand the narrative, engage with their communities, and learn from one another. We'll also get the details on the William G. Pomeroy Foundation's latest marker programs, and take a stroll down memory lane with former co-host Don Wildman. Guests: Don Wildman, host of the podcast American History Hit; Taylor Bruck, city of Kingston historian; Christine Ridarsky, city of Rochester historian, and board president of APHNYS; Susan Hughes, historian and archivist for the William G. Pomeroy Foundation; Matthew Urtz, Madison County historian A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is “Begrudge” by Darby.

It's a new season of A New York Minute in History! In this episode, Devin and Lauren dig into the 19th Century discovery of a mastodon skeleton in Orange County. The "Orange County Mastodon" was one of the earliest, if not the first, complete mastodon skeletons discovered in the U.S. As our hosts will learn, these large fossils captured the attention of many of America's Founding Fathers, who were determined to dispel the myth of American degeneracy. Marker of Focus: Mastodon Dig, Montgomery, Orange County Guests: Dr. Robert Feranec, director of Research and Collections, curator of Pleistocene vertebrate paleontology, and curator of mammalogy at the New York State Museum; and Dr. Bernard K. Means, project director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University, and co-author (with Maggie Colangelo) of Founding Monsters and Founding Monsters Tales A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: The Cohoes Mastodon: a virtual exhibit from the New York State Museum Bernard K. Means and Maggie Colangelo, Founding Monsters (2021) and Founding Monsters Tales (2021). Paul Semonin, American Monster: How the Nation's First Prehistoric Creature Became a Symbol of National Identity (2000). Teacher Resources: Ice Age Mammals Colonize New York: A Stem Lab Derived from Collections-Based Research at the New York State Museum Field Trip to the New York State Museum: A Closer Look at the Cohoes Mastodon Founding Monsters Teacher's Guide Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Credit: The New York State Museum is an approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE). Educators can earn CTLE credit (.5 hours) by listening to this episode and completing

On this episode, Devin and Lauren visit New York's oldest continuously operating courthouse, located in the City of Johnstown in Fulton County. Built in 1772 by Sir William Johnson, the Fulton County Courthouse has seen the transition from British colonial rule to the establishment of the United States, and 250 years of legal history. Among the important judges to hold court at the courthouse include Daniel Cady, the father of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was heavily influenced by legal cases which demonstrated how few rights women had in the 19th Century. On September 8, 2022, the courthouse will officially celebrate its 250th birthday, with the New York State Court of Appeals conducting its business there for the first time. Marker of Focus: Suffrage Pioneer, Johnstown, Fulton County Guests: Hon. J. Gerard McAuliffe, Jr., Fulton County Family Court judge; Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt, retired New York State Court of Appeals judge; Samantha Hall-Saladino, Fulton County historian; Noel Levee, City of Johnstown historian A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: Historic Courthouses of the State of New York, Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Albert M. Rosenblatt (2006). Fulton County Courthouse, The Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York. The Letters of Daniel Cady Elizabeth Cady Stanton: An American Life, Lori D. Ginzberg (2010). Building a Revolutionary State: The Legal Transformation of New York, 1776-1783, Howard Pashman, Esq. (2018). Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. On this episode, we're going to focus on a William G. Pomeroy marker located in the city of Johnstown, in Fulton County. The marker sits on the lawn of the Fulton County Courthouse, located on the corner of West Main Street and North William Street, and it reads: “Suffrage Pioneer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1815-1902. Her father practiced law here in early 19th Century, inspiring her fight for women's rights. William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 2017.” I'm guessing most of our listeners have heard of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and know about the incredibly important role she played in the women's suffrage movement. But they may not be familiar with her life prior to the famous Seneca Falls Convention which took place in 1848, and produced the Declaration of Sentiments, a document which listed freedoms and rights that women should be entitled to, including the right to vote. In Elizabeth's early life, she grew up in Johnstown, New York, where her father Daniel Cady practiced law. It was her exposure to his law practice, and the firsthand experiences Elizabeth had in his law office and in the courthouse, that showed her how poorly women were treated in the eyes of the law in the early 19th Century. Now, that's a huge claim to fame for any courthouse. But for this particular courthouse, its association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her father Daniel is only one piece of the puzzle in the big picture story it has to tell. Devin: That's right, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation marker is only one of the markers that exists in front of the Fulton County Cou

On this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss how the poor conditions of female textile workers in Capital Region cities led to the creation of a retreat where women could “escape” the cities. Wiawaka was founded by Mary Fuller, an advocate for women workers in Troy, and the wealthy philanthropists Katrina and Spenser Trask. Wiawaka originally included a planned artist's retreat, called Wakonda, where Georgia O'Keeffe was invited to stay as a young artist and member of the Arts Students League. This introduction to Lake George had a monumental effect on O'Keeffe's life and art, and she spent several years working in the area. Marker of Focus: Georgia O'Keeffe, Lake George, Warren County Guests: Doreen Kelly, executive director of Wiawaka, and Karen Quinn, art historian and curator at the New York State Museum A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: Messinger, Lisa Mintz. Georgia O'Keeffe. London: Thames & Hudson, 2001. O'Keeffe, Georgia. Georgia O'Keeffe. New York: Viking, 1976. Wiawaka Holiday House: https://upstatehistorical.org/items/show/84?tour=7&index=10 Capital Region Textile Industry: https://www.albanyinstitute.org/textile-industry.html The Collar City by Don Rittner: https://rensselaer.nygenweb.net/article11.htm Collar Maid Cuffed Bosses by Pam Trudeau: https://rensselaer.nygenweb.net/article4.htm More on Georgia O'Keeffe: https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/about-georgia-okeeffe/ Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. On this episode, we're taking a deeper look at a marker located along Route 9L on the eastern shores of Lake George, which is located in Warren County. The title of the marker is “Georgia O'Keeffe,” and the text reads: “Georgia O'Keeffe, 1887 to 1986. American artist who stayed at Wakonda in June 1908 on a scholarship from the Art Students League. William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 2016.” The artist Georgia O'Keeffe is pretty much a household name, but I'm guessing many of our listeners haven't heard of Wakonda, which is the lodge Georgia O'Keeffe stayed in, or the Art Students League. So let's take a step back and talk about what brought this young artist to the shores of Lake George in the summer of 1908. In the 19th century, the city of Troy in Rensselaer County was known as the "Collar City," because Troy produced the majority of detachable shirt collars in the country. Detachable collars are now a thing of the past, but in the 19th Century, they were really popular. The collar was usually the dirtiest part of the shirt, and it needed to be laundered most frequently, and in the days before washing machines, this was really a pain. So someone in Troy — there's a couple of conflicting stories about who a

On this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss a William G. Pomeroy marker recognizing a 1900 auto race in Suffolk County, New York, and the importance of racing in automobile history. Was that race to Babylon really the first of its kind in the U.S.? And how did Watkins Glen International get its start?

In honor of Women's History Month, Devin and Lauren highlight a Pomeroy marker in Tioga County and tell the story of Corporal Margaret Hastings, a member of the Women's Army Corps who survived 47 days in a New Guinea jungle during World War II. Marker of Focus: World War II, Owego, Tioga County Guests: Mitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La; Emma Sedore, Tioga County historian A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further Reading: Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff Women For Victory Vol 2: The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) (American Servicewomen in World War II: History & Uniform Series, 2) by Katy Endruschat Goebel The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea--The Forgotten War of the South Pacific by James Campbell Teaching Resources: Women in the Army: The Creation of the Women's Auxiliary Corps U.S. Army Center of Military History: “The Women's Army Corps: A Commemoration of World War II Service” By Judith A. Bellafaire PBS Learning Media: Corporal Margaret Hastings Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. In honor of Women's History Month, we have a fascinating account for you that includes tragedy, survival, ingenuity and an amazing plan of rescue. We begin the story in the village of Owego, which is located in Tioga County, in the Southern Tier region of New York. The William G. Pomeroy historic marker is located in front of 106 McMaster Street, and the text reads: “World War II. Home of Shangri-La WAC, Corporal Margaret J. Hastings, who survived 47 days in New Guinea jungle after May 13, 1945 plane crash. William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 2016.” So there's quite a lot to unpack from those few lines of text. But let's start at the beginning. The sign is marking the former home of Corporal Margaret Hastings, so who was she? We spoke with Tioga County Historian Emma Sedore, who told us a little bit more about what Margaret's life was like growing up in Owego. Emma: One day at the museum,

On this episode, hosts Devin and Lauren delve into the history of Albany County's Rapp Road Community, an African American neighborhood built by southern immigrants who moved north for a better life in the late 1920s. Marker of Focus: Rapp Road Community Historic District, Albany County Guests: Stephanie Woodard, board member of the Rapp Road Historical Association; Dr. Jennifer Lemak, chief curator of the history collection at the New York State Museum, and author of Southern Life, Northern City: The History of Albany's Rapp Road Community A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is "Begrudge" by Darby. Further reading: Southern Life, Northern City: The History of Albany's Rapp Road Community Jennifer A. Lemak (2008) Black Protest and the Great Migration: A Brief History with DocumentsEric Arnesen (2002) The Southern Diaspora: How the Great Migrations of Black and White Southerners Transformed AmericaJames N. Gregory (2005) Teacher Resources: PBS Teaching Guide: Exploring the Great Migration National Archives- Harry S. Truman Library and Museum: The Great Migration Lesson Plan Stanford University, Stanford History Education Group: Great Migration National Geographic: The Great Migration- Educator Guide Follow Along Devin: Welcome to A New York Minute in History. I'm Devin Lander, the New York state historian. Lauren: And I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County. This episode is focusing on a marker which recognizes the history of a small African American community located within the city of Albany that came into existence as a direct result of the Great Migration. Now, this sign isn't a traditional blue-and-yellow historical marker. It is brown, and has white text on it, and it recognizes the inclusion of this community on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 28 Rapp Road in the city of Albany, the text reads: “Rapp Road Community Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 by the United States Department of the Interior. William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 2017.” The marker we'r

In the first episode of our new season, Devin and Lauren look to a William G. Pomeroy marker in Westchester County to learn about American patriot Thomas Paine, his influence on the American and French Revolutions — and just how and why his body went missing. Where is Thomas Paine today? Marker: Thomas Paine, New Rochelle, Westchester County, NY Guests: Dr. Nora Slonimsky and Dr. Michael Crowder of the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College A New York Minute In History is a production of the New York State Museum, WAMC, and Archivist Media, with support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. This episode was produced by Jesse King. Our theme is “Begrudge” by Darby. Further Reading: Tom Paine and Revolutionary America, Eric Foner (1976) The Thomas Paine Reader, Thomas Paine, with an introduction by Michael Foot and Isaac Kramnick (1987) Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations, Craig Nelson (2007) Teacher Resources: New York State Museum Educational ResourceDownload PBS Teaching Guide: Thomas Paine: Writer and Revolutionary C-SPAN Classroom: Lesson Plan: Thomas Paine and Common Sense National Humanities Center: America in Class: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense,

On this episode, Devin and Lauren tackle all of New York’s historical markers at once — sort of. Devin and Lauren discuss how the state’s historical marker program got started, what happened to it, and how communities can apply for a marker today. As an added bonus, Devin and Lauren speak with Susan Hughes of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation about the foundation’s new “Hungry for History” grant program — and they also speak with Bill Pomeroy himself, about his interest in history and some of his favorite markers. (more…)

In this episode, Devin and Lauren discuss the “Burned Over District,” and how upstate New York became a “cauldron” of emergent religions and alternative communities during the 19th century. How did the Burned Over District collide with state and national history? And what role did the Erie Canal play in establishing it? Devin and Lauren also discuss how these new religions contributed to the creation of alternative communities, such as the Ebenezers and the Oneida Community, and how this predication for communal living was revisited in New York during the 1960s. (more…)

This episode delves into the public health industry that emerged in New York in the 19th Century. As the understanding of medicine and health evolved over time, there were many communities in New York state whose location was thought to have healing properties, most often because of the existence of springs or some other perceived environmental benefit. The most famous is Saratoga Springs, but there are others around the state, including Pitcher Springs in Chenango County. These locations flourished in the 19th Century, as people began to look to them not only as places of healing, but as places of high society and entertainment. (more…)

Devin and Lauren dive into the history of Timbuctoo, an African American settlement founded by philanthropist Gerrit Smith in response to an 1846 law requiring all Black men to own $250 worth of property in order to vote in New York state. To counter this racist policy, Smith decided to give away 120,000 acres of land to 3,000 free, Black New Yorkers, hoping to enable them to move out of cities and work the land to its required value. Lyman Epps and other Black pioneers relocated to the wilderness near Lake Placid, New York — as did abolitionist John Brown, who based his family in North Elba to assist the Black pioneers in their farming. (more…)

In this episode, Devin and Lauren research the life of Audrey Munson, America's first supermodel. Born in upstate New York, Munson was one of the most famous models of the early 20th Century, and posed for the top American artists in the Beaux Arts movement. Sculptures based on Munson dot the landscape of New York City, and are held in museums around the country. She was also one of the first American actresses to pose nude in a major motion picture. Once called “Miss Manhattan,” Munson's life would take a tragic turn by the age of 40. In 2015, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation erected a historical marker near her final resting place in New Haven, New York. (more…)

In this episode, Devin and Lauren investigate the invasions of Canada by the Fenian Brotherhood, a group of Irish Nationalists intent of freeing Ireland from British control. These invasions were launched from several locations in upstate New York, including the site of a recently-erected William G. Pomeroy Foundation marker in the Franklin County town of Constable. (more…)

On September 2, 1945 the hostilities of World War II ended when Japan's formal surrender was signed aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Aboard that ship 75 years ago was Bob Kennedy, a native of New York's Steuben County who now lives in Saratoga Springs. WAMC’s Jim Levulis, the producer of A New York […]

In the third episode of our series: Legends and Lore of the Empire State, A New York Minute In History explores the inspirations behind Washington Irving’s “Headless Horseman” and “Ichabod Crane.” The Village of Sleepy Hollow lies along the eastern banks of the Hudson River about 25 miles north of New York City. If you […]

In the second episode of our series: Legends and Lore of the Empire State, A New York Minute In History explores the mystery of the inspiration for Natty Bumppo, one of the most recognizable characters from James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales series. A trip to Hoosick Falls wouldn't be complete without a drive down Main […]

75 years after the end of World War II, the ranks of the so-called Greatest Generation are dwindling. Among those still able to tell their stories, is Lieutenant Colonel Harry Stewart Jr. Turning 96 on the Fourth of July, Stewart was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and is featured in National Geographic's coverage of […]

Join A New York Minute In History for the first episode of a special series on folklore. In this initial journey of our “Legends and Lore of The Empire State” series, co-hosts Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts explore the legend behind a storied lake monster in northern New York. If you happen to find yourself […]

On this special episode of A New York Minute In History, we explore how historians are documenting the coronavirus pandemic in real time. Co-hosts Devin Lander, the New York Historian, and Saratoga County Historian Lauren Roberts are joined by Christine Ridarsky, the City of Rochester Historian and President of the Board of the Association of […]

The coronavirus pandemic has altered the world. And it's upended how many people go about their daily lives. One organization in New York's Capital Region wants to collect and preserve the stories of how ordinary people are living through COVID-19. The Schenectady County Historical Society is asking county residents to share their experiences of how […]

On this episode of A New York Minute In History, we recall the Miracle On Ice, when the U.S. Men's Hockey team upset the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Co-hosts Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts also explore how the 1980 Games got off to a rocky start and how they […]

On this episode of A New York Minute In History, we explore slavery in New York and specifically the resistance to the institution, including the Underground Railroad. Co-hosts Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts speak with area experts and tour a historic home in Albany that is living a new life as a museum depicting the […]

On this “extra innings” episode of A New York Minute In History, co-hosts Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts chronicle the life of Troy native Johnny Evers. In the early 20th century, the scrappy, slender and fiercely competitive infielder had a Hall of Fame career, but is perhaps best known for his role in the famed […]

On this Halloween episode of A New York Minute In History, we explore a murder in the state's capital of Albany. In May 1827, a member of the city's elite was killed in his family's Georgian mansion at Cherry Hill. The murder of John Whipple resulted in two sensational trials steeped in the issues of […]

On this episode of A New York Minute In History, co-hosts Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts take a crack at early baseball. Through interviews with John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, and Tom Shieber of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the episode explores the beginnings of baseball in America, the origin stories […]

On this special episode of A New York Minute In History, we attend a birthday party for one of America's greatest hoaxes. The Cardiff Giant, a 10-and-a-half foot so-called petrified man, was uncovered in 1869. And he is still marveled at by the public today. Just inside the front door of the Farmers' Museum in […]

Now regarded as one the most iconic cultural expressions of American society, the Woodstock festival of 1969 served to encapsulate the spirit of the 1960s counterculture movement. Despite Woodstock's continued popularity 50 years after it was first held, the complexities that led to its creation and lasting social impacts are often overlooked. On this episode […]

One hundred years ago, on April 11, 1919, New York Governor Al Smith signed the “Historians Law.” The first law of its kind in the United States, the Historians Law allowed for every village, town, and city in the state to have an official historian to gather and preserve historical records. On this episode of […]

A reservoir system capacity of 570 billion gallons. A watershed area that covers 1.2 million acres. And a supply that is 90 percent unfiltered. The parameters of New York City's drinking water infrastructure are astounding, but the story behind the system is much more fascinating. It's a tale that involves engineering feats, colliding cultures and […]

On this special episode of A New York Minute In History, we come to you from the New York State Museum in Albany. The occasion is Capital Region History Day as more than 100 students from area schools displayed their projects in hopes of making it to New York State History Day in Cooperstown on […]

On this episode of A New York Minute In History, co-hosts Devin Lander and Don Wildman examine how two New Yorkers – Al Smith and Franklin Delano Roosevelt – influenced the Progressive Era of the early 20th century. The episode also explores how the administrations of Smith and Roosevelt shaped modern day politics and the role […]

On this special edition of A New York Minute In History we discuss an exciting development regarding the New York History Journal. Starting this year, Cornell University Press will publish the century-old journal. Working in association with an editorial team at the New York State Museum, the Press will expand the scope of the journal […]

On the fourth episode of A New York Minute In History, we detail Henry Hudson’s exploration of what would become the Empire State and how his journey up the aptly named Hudson River led to the Dutch settlement of New Netherland. Join us as we explore how the Dutch colony differed from its counterparts in […]

On the third episode of A New York Minute In History we explore the Empire State's most ambitious engineering feat…the Erie Canal. Completed in 1825, it transformed New York and the nation by compressing time and distance, providing the fuel for an explosion of commerce, communication and social change. To learn more about the Erie […]

The second episode of A New York Minute In History explores the Women's Rights Movement from the Seneca Falls Convention in Central New York in 1848 to equality matters being debated today. We explore the Movement's progress through the lineage of Coline Jenkins, the great-great granddaughter of suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Jenkins, a women's rights […]

The first episode of A New York Minute In History explores the lives of Henry Johnson and Tommy Hitchcock Jr., World War I heroes with ties to New York. Through interviews with family members, historians and others, we follow Johnson and Hitchcock to the trenches and airfields of Europe and beyond. We explore how both […]