Sept. 14, 2022 Michael Barrett  Hudson Mohawk Gateway - Silicon Valley of the 19th Century

Many scholars agree that the Capital District is one of several “birthplaces of the American industrial revolution.” Nineteenth Century entrepreneurs consciously used the cutting-edge technology of their day to transform the dominant rural-agrarian lifestyle into an infrastructure devoted to advancement of industrial enterprise. 

Oct. 12, 2022 Ian Mumptom The Schuyler Museum- Coping with Life's Necessaries

The Schuyler family enjoyed many luxuries as part of their refined lifestyle, but what might their hygiene practices have looked like? How did their practices differ from or align with those of other residents of 18th century Albany? 

Nov. 9, 2022 Ted Hilscher Barns of the Hudson Valley

The talk gave an introduction to identifying and understanding the barns and associated outbuilding of the Hudson Valley. The presentation included information on local barns still found in the town of Bethlehem.

November 30, 2022 Marilyn Sassi The Many Faces of American Folk Art

Marilyn explores the “golden age” of American folk art from 1830 to 1850. In folk art, the most common, workaday objects are decorated turning them into true artistic expressions. 

February 8, 2023 John S. Pipkin  Albany Rural Cemetery, 

John discussed the 467 acres cemetery as a nature preserve, open-air art museum, architectural primer, history classroom and genealogy archive.

March 8, 2023 Jack McEneny The Irish in Albany

The Irish in Albany title speaks for itself. Between 1825 & 1850 six of his great grandparents were born in Ireland and came to the US and two were born in Albany of Irish Immigrants who then lived the rest of their lives in Albany, NY.  

A recording of this talk is now available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2-f_DYNM0&t=74s

April 12, 2023 Mark Peckham, Steamboat Navigation on the Hudson

Steamboats dominated Hudson River travel after Robert Fulton’s North River (the Clermont) traveled from New York City to Albany in 1807 in a record 32 hours. A recording of this talk is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTtfZl0F1JQ