About the Documentary Heritage Program
The
DHP is a statewide program designed to locate, organize, and make
available the records critical to ensuring the survival of New York
State’s heritage. The DHP is administered by the New York State
Archives, State Education Department and locally is a program of the
Rochester Regional Library Council. The DHP provides regional services
and a statewide competitive grants program. The RRLC DHP serves
Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY 2013 PowerPoint Presentation
Preston E. Pierce, MLS, EdD
DHP Regional Archivist
Rochester Regional Library Council
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD:
US and NY State Military Medals and Decorations
Reference Guide for Local and Family Historians
Preston E. Pierce
Regional Archivist
Documentary Heritage Program
Rochester Regional Library Council
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD:
Learn More About The Underground Railroad and Slavery in New York
Compiled by Preston E. Pierce
January 2009
There is more published on this topic each year. Here are some suggestions for learning more about slavery and the Underground Railroad in Upstate New York. All of these publications are widely available and most are still for sale. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of references on slavery and the Underground Railroad.Rather, it is meant to be a suggested study guide to books and videos that are currently available and easy to find. It is designed for a popular audience, teachers and students.
CIVIL WAR RELATED COLLECTIONS - Inventory Worksheet
The purpose of the Civil War collections inventory form is to collect information on the existence, location, access to and restrictions on the Civil War-related collections in service areas of the Rochester Regional Library Council and the Western New York Library Resources Council. The information collected will be used in a guide to the Civil War-related collections that will be published in hard copy and on the Internet by the Rochester Regional Library Council.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET. Please return the form to Preston Pierce at ppierce@rrlc.org.
CIVIL WAR DRAFT: INTRODUCTION
WEBSITES RELATED TO CIVIL WAR MEDICINE
A new look at the Civil War and its documentary heritage.
We are all familiar with the basic story of the Civil War. Some of us spend a great deal of time investigating the impact it had on our local communities and families. For the most part, however, our efforts to understand the Civil War focus the men who fought it, the organization of their regiments, and the impact of the great battles in which they fought.
A neglected chapter in the local story of the Civil War is the way in which it was financed. Very largely, it was local governments, organizations, and local agents of the federal government that raised the money that ensured the Union victory. Much of the documentary heritage of that effort is still available at the local level.
The RRLC Regional Archivist, has a new program that explains the documentary heritage of Civil War finance and provides illustrations of documents still found at local, state and national repositories. Advice on accessing and preserving those documents is an important component of the program. The program, “Bounties, Bonds, Banknotes and Taxes,” takes about 90 minutes. To schedule a presentation of the program contact Dr. Preston Pierce, Regional Archivist, at the Rochester Regional Library Council. Email Dr. Pierce at ppierce@rrlc.org. There is no charge for the program.
A brief reading list on the topic of Civil War financing in New York was recently prepared for a presentation of the program at the annual meeting of the Association of Public Historians of New York State. Click here to download Financing the Union Victory in the Civil War [pdf format].
Bicentennial of the War of 1812
The bicentennial of the War of 1812 will formally begin next year. In truth, the events that led to the war began years before the formal declaration of war in June of 1812. During the war, the Royal Navy shelled several towns in the Rochester area including Charlotte, Pultneyville and Sodus. A small battle was fought at Sodus Point when a British landing party came ashore. Militia from around the area marched to the defense of the lakeshore towns. Local men joined the American forces that fought at Queenston Heights in 1812, at the battles of Black Rock and Buffalo in 1812-1813, and along the river at Ft. Erie, Chippewa and Niagara-on-the-Lake (then called Newark). "Mr. Madison's War" as its opponents called it, was controversial. Local residents paid a high price to defend their homes and territory. In the end, that "second American revolution," as it was also known, changed our nation and its relationship with Canada, Great Britain and several native nations.
A BICENTENNIAL RESOURCE AND READING LIST has been developed to encourage research and an informed celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. An expandable list, it will be improved and updated as local historians, librarians, archivists, and scholars make us aware of resources not yet listed. They should be books or collections readily available to the public.
Presentation by April Younglove, Librarian at Archives Month October 2010
Rochester Regional Library Council
Doing More with Less: Is Digitizing Consortially for me?
Oral History Collections in the Region
Since the 1960s, the collection and use of oral history has been an important part of historical and archival collections. Oral history projects can be found in many libraries. The Library of Congress is leading the way with their Veterans Oral History Project. That on-going effort advocates the collection, preservation, and use of archived oral histories collected from World War II veterans, in particular.
To promote the collection and use of oral history material, the Rochester Regional Library Council DHP Regional Archivist began a series of workshops for librarians, municipal historians, and historical society members. Any group interested in hosting an oral history workshop can email RRLC Regional Archivist, Preston Pierce (ppierce@rrlc.org) to schedule a session.
A consolidated list of oral history repositories has been compiled and is available for download. CLICK HERE to download the Western New York Oral History Collections. While the response from libraries, archives and local historians has been good, we know that there are many oral history collections available. The repository list will be periodically updated as information is received.
Working with the Western New York Library Resources Council (Buffalo), a more comprehensive list of oral history repositories will soon be available for the entire region west to the Niagara Frontier.
Primary Sources in Teaching and Learning
A workshop on "Primary Sources in Teaching and Learning" has been developed by DHP Regional Archivist, Dr. Preston Pierce. It can be scheduled for college classes, museum educator's meetings, teacher in-service programs, and other appropriate audiences. The workshop duration is 50-90 minutes as appropriate. Contact the Regional Archivist by phone at 223-7570 or email (ppierce@rrlc.org) for more information and scheduling requests.
Archives-to-Go
“Archives-to-Go” is a service offered by the Regional Archivist at the Rochester Regional Library Council.
RRLC Regional Archivist, Dr. Preston Pierce, will bring several workshops and briefings to schools, libraries, museums and other organizations throughout the five-county region served by RRLC (Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming).
Workshops and briefings include “Oral History: Collecting, Processing, Archiving;” “Primary Sources for Teachers, Museum Educators and Mentors;” “Archives in Learning and the Classroom;” “Establishing a Small Archive;” and “What is an Archive, and why are they important?”
Workshops and briefings can be scheduled at your school, historical society, library, museum, church or community group. For more information, or to schedule a program, call RRLC at (585) 223-7570. The Regional Archivist can be reached by email at ppierce@rrlc.org.
Dr. Pierce holds masters degrees in history and library science. He received his doctorate in curriculum and instruction (social science) from the University of Rochester. He is certified as a Social Studies Teacher and as a School Media Specialist and now teaches US History at Finger Lakes Community College.
Archives-To-Go is an initiative of the RRLC and is funded by the Documentary Heritage Program, a statewide program of the New York State Archives, State Education Department.
The RRLC is a not-for-profit organization whose members include more than 450 public, school, college, medical, museum, corporate, and other types of libraries in the greater Rochester area. RRLC connects libraries in ways that ensure people in our community have access to the high-quality, trustworthy information they need for education, work, school, and health.
DHP Grants
The DHP competitive grants program concentrates on identifying, collecting and making available historical records relating to under-documented groups and topics, especially in twentieth-century New York. The DHP annually awards a total of $100,000 for grant projects. Applications are due December 1. For more information contact your Regional Archivist or visit http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml
Archival Advisory Services
Through the New York State Archives Documentary Heritage Program, RRLC has on staff a part-time Regional Archivist to assist area libraries and historical records repositories. Services provided by the Regional Archivist include:
- Site visits: The Regional Archivist is available to
- Meet with your organization's governing body to discuss program needs
- Make presentations to your membership
- Review and assess your historical records collections and program policies.
- Networking opportunities: RRLC and the DHP sponsor several special interest groups that provide opportunities for people to network and receive information on topics of interest. These groups include:
- Archives in Learning Forum
- College Archivists Forum
- Local History Forum
- Religious Archivists and Historians Forum
- Training: The DHP organizes and offers technical workshops on a variety of archives-related topics including:
- Establishing a Small Archive.
- Basics of Oral History
- Archives in Learning and the Classroom
- Primary Sources for Teachers, Museum Educators and Mentors.
- What is an Archive?
- Publications: The local DHP produces a number of archives-related publications and has others available from New York State Archives. These include:
DHP Goals in the Rochester Region
Regional goals support statewide priorities to
- Identify individuals and organizations that create or maintain records documenting aspects of this region's past, including post-World War II materials.
- Provide technical advice and assistance to records creators or collectors, to strengthen their efforts to preserve collections.
- Support existing repositories and networks to facilitate cooperative efforts
- Encourage activities that will raise public awareness about the DHP and historical records
- Help secure resources for historical records programs
- Direct efforts toward increasing attention to underdocumented topics in the region such as new population groups and regional economic changes of the twentieth century.
RRLC DHP Updates
If you wish to receive notices via email about upcoming Documentary Heritage Program activities, please send an email request to rrlc@rrlc.org.
Conservation/Preservation
Questions regarding the Documentary Heritage Program for the Rochester Region should be directed to Preston Pierce, ppierce@rrlc.org.
Preston Pierce, Regional Archivist
Documentary Heritage Program
Rochester Regional Library Council
390 Packett's Landing
(585) 223-7570
ppierce@rrlc.org