History Room Programs

In this Jacob Leisler Institute collaboration, Owen Stanwood, Professor of History at Boston College, speaks about Mathieu Sagean, a Canadian explorer, raconteur, and inveterate liar. Sagean’s tales about Jacob Leisler and the early history of New York intrigued the elites of Europe during the early days of the 1700s and, though not to be relied upon, they give us a glimpse into the stories in this time period.

Date/Time: Thursday, April 25, 6 – 7:30pm

Location: In person, Hudson Area Library Community Room

Registration: No registration required, all are welcome.

Photo caption: Detail from Guillaume Delisle, Carte du Canada et de la Nouvelle France et des découvertes qui y ont été faites (Paris, 1703)

The Jacob Leisler Library Lectures are made partially possible through the generous support of the Van Dyke Family Foundation and Hudson River Bank and Trust.

Delve into the cultural, familial, economic, social, and religious history of Black people in the county through our exhibition of the 1980s Black Legacy Association of Columbia County (BLACC) Oral History Project collection. Curated by Tanya Jackson, founder of the annual Columbia County Juneteenth archival exhibit and celebration, Who We Be!, this exhibition is an effort to bridge historical knowledge gaps and foster a more inclusive community narrative.

Date/Time: On display through June when room is not in use for programming. The recording from the opening reception & panel will be shared on our YouTube page when it becomes available.

Location: In person, Hudson Area Library Community Room

There will also be a youth workshop and educator event associated with this exhibition. Email brenda.shufelt@hudsonarealibrary.org for more information or visit historyroom.hudsonarealibrary.org.

In this local history talk and author event Susan Stessin-Cohn, former professor of social studies education at SUNY New Paltz and Director of Education at Historic Huguenot Street, and current New Paltz Historian, will speak on her 20+ years of research into the history of slavery in the Hudson River Valley, with a particular focus on the plight of the “runaways”—enslaved persons who sought freedom by escaping from their enslavers. Stessin-Cohn and her research partner, Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini, have brought to light 830 notices of enslavers of the Hudson Valley who placed notices of rewards for the recapture of their enslaved “runaways”. The second edition of the book includes 250 more notices. This in-person event will include a Q & A and book signing. Books can be purchased at the event courtesy of Spotty Dog Books & Ale.

Date/Time: Thursday, May 9, 6 – 7:30pm

Location: In person, Hudson Area Library Community Room

Registration: No registration required; all are welcome.