The Origins of the State University of NY

On April 4, 1948, Governor Thomas E. Dewey signed legislation into law creating the state's public university, the State University of New York.  New York State was the last state in the nation (at that time) to found such an institution.  Prior to World War II, higher education policy in New York, stretching back to the state's colonial origins, consisted almost exclusively of a public subsidy system to private colleges that resided in the state.  By the Great Depression this policy failed to provide for the needs of New Yorkers.  New York's private colleges, fiercely protecting this old program, successfully resisted all attempts at change.  Tod Ottman, Ph.D., will show how World War II unleashed demographic, ideological, cultural and political changes which profoundly altered higher education policy in New York State.  Bring your lunch.  This session will be held in the Librarians Room on the 7th floor of the Cultural Education Center.

Trademarks

Trademarks are a valuable way for businesses to identify and market their goods or services.  This class will cover unregistered trademarks as common law rights and registered trademarks at the state and federal level.  It will also cover doing a federal trademark search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office's web site and a brief introduction to filing for a federal trademark electronically.  Bill Schilling, Senior Librarian, will conduct this hands-on class.  Seating is limited and registration is required.  This session will be held in the Library Computer Classroom on the 7th floor of the Cultural Education Center.  No food or drink is permitted in the classroom.

Songs from the Piano Bench

Listen in while enjoying your lunch or lend your voice as singers perform a variety of songs, including popular folk, rock-and-roll, Victorian parlor, Civil War, Sesame Street, etc. Many selections are chosen from the more than 35,000 pieces of sheet music in the New York State Library Collection. Music and words are provided and instrumentalists are welcome. This session is held monthly in the 4th Floor Gallery of the State Museum. For more information, e-mail kstorms@mail.nysed.gov or call 518-474-2274.

Using Pre-1850 Census to Locate Family Relationships

Discovering parents of ancestors in states without vital records can be an overwhelming task. There are gaps even in states with vital records. So how can genealogists find parental relationships when vital records don't exist? Jean Nudd, Archivist at the National Archives in Pittsfield, will discuss how using pre-1850 census can give us clues and sometimes can lead us to those elusive relationships. She will teach a technique for breaking down these brick walls. Bring your lunch. This program will be held in the Huxley Theater on the 1st floor of the Cultural Education Center.

History Detectives: Learning How to Use the New York State Library's Resources to Do Research

Do you have students interested in New York State history who need guidance in how to do historical research? This one-day workshop for teachers of elementary through high school social studies and language arts will introduce them to how to use both the special collections and the main library collections at the New York State Library to ferret out answers to questions about people, places and events in New York State's history. Participants will learn to (1) use a variety of primary source documents to tell a story, (2) use the State Library's online and offline finding aids to determine what is available on specific topics in New York State history, (3) use microform and online resources available at the State Library, and (4) use interlibrary loan. Bring a sandwich and a beverage for a working lunch.

Seating is limited (maximum class size is ten) and registration is required. For more information or to register: Using "History Detectives Workshop at NYS Library" in the subject line, e-mail Vicki Weiss at vweiss@mail.nysed.gov or call 518-408-1891.

Life in the Hudson Valley: New Netherland Was Not Plymouth or Jamestown!

This one-day workshop for teachers of elementary through high school social studies and language arts will introduce them to translations of 17th-century Dutch documents (primary sources) that can be used to tell stories about life in Beverwyck (aka Albany), Wiltwyck (aka Kingston), Nieuw Amsterdam (aka New York City) and other communities in the Hudson Valley. Following a structured activity in which participants will learn how historical researchers/writers use documents to write articles about Dutch life, there will be time for teachers to use this same method to create at least one similar activity, giving them at least two units to use in the classroom. (Some original Dutch documents will be available.) Bring a sandwich and a beverage for a working lunch.

Seating is limited (maximum class size is ten) and registration is required.  For more information or to register: Using "Dutch Workshop at NYS Library" in the subject line, e-mail Vicki Weiss at vweiss@mail.nysed.gov or call 518-408-1891