Events
Webinar: Witness My Hand: Slavery and Freedom in Staten Island’s Early Republic
Tuesday, July 14th at 7:00 PM via Zoom
| Drawing on indentures, manumission records, deeds, probate and other primary sources, this presentation explores the transition from slavery to freedom on Staten Island after the American Revolution. It examines the impact of New York’s gradual abolition laws and recovers the stories of African Americans whose lives challenges, possibilities, and enduring legacy of emancipation. Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian, genealogist, educator, and policy analyst whose work uses the power of history recover overlooked narratives, strengthen communities, and connect the past to contemporary civic life. She is a co-founder and co-president of the Staten Island chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and Vice President of the Northeast Corridor Network to Freedom. A Senior Policy Analyst with CSG East and adjunct lecturer at the College of Staten Island, she has been recognized for her leadership in preservation and public history with the Harriet Tubman Leadership Award and as a 2026 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction. Register here for the webinar. |
Quaker Meeting House Tours return in 2026
| DUTCHESS COUNTY, N.Y. — The Dutchess County Quaker Meeting House Tour is proud to announce its 2026 season, offering visitors free, docent-led access to some of the Hudson Valley’s most historically significant Quaker sites. Tours run on the second Sunday of each month from June through November, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with different sites open on different dates — giving visitors multiple opportunities to explore the region’s rich Quaker heritage throughout the season. The 2026 season takes on special national significance as part of REV250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This program has been funded by Dutchess County as part of their REV250 initiative, which supports local organizations bringing history to life across the county. The Quaker meeting houses of Dutchess County stand as enduring symbols of conscience, equality, and peaceful civic engagement — values central to the Quakers’ role in early American society. In an exciting development for 2026, the tour is welcoming new partner sites. The LaGrange Historical Society joins with a standout feature: a virtual reality (VR) recreation of the historic Beekman Meeting House, hosted at The Little Red School House, allowing visitors to experience this lost piece of Quaker heritage in a fully immersive new way. The Stanford Historical Society is also joining the program, with details for their site currently in development. Click here for the full press release, including the full tour schedule with site descriptions. |
Recurring Events
The PATH
For a periodic listing of events about Black history in the Hudson Valley, follow The Path, published by the African American Archives of Columbia County. Contact them at thepathhv@gmail.com.
Oh, Freedom! ProjecT
Oh, Freedom! Quilting Project
The Oh, Freedom! Quilting Project is currently in session and looking for those interested in contributing to a community quilt! For more information, contact ohfreedomquilting@gmail.com. The project is supported in part by the Vassar College Good Neighbors Partnership and the Dutchess and Putnam Community Grants Funds of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.
Historical society of the nY courts
The Historical Society of the New York Courts’ exhibit of panels and a video narrated by the iconic voice of James Earl Jones presenting the landmark Lemmon Slave Case has recently concluded its successful tour of courthouses around the State at the NY County Courthouse. This program featured Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt interviewed by David L. Goodwin, Esq. discussing the NY courts’ decision to free eight enslaved women and children in 1852, defying the law of the land permitting slavery soon to be codified in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, and the dramatic events and cast of characters surrounding the
case. You can view the full program here.
