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Category: "Social Studies 2.1"

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Poking Fun: Political Puns and Social Satire in the Genre Paintings of William Sidney Mount

Elizabeth Kahn Kaplan, St. James
Subtle humor injected into scenes of country life by this world-renowned 19th century Long Island artist brought smiles to the lips of those in the know.

The Quest for Porcelain: Art, Alchemy and the Transformative Power of Fire

Nicholas Zumbulyadis, Rochester
Trace how artisans, alchemists, and early chemists working across three continents and since the dawn of civilization, jointly created the first artificial material -- one that is both commonplace, and the stuff of legend.

Rebels in Red Kerchiefs: East European Jewish Women and the Founding of the Jewish Bund

Harriet Davis-Kram, New York
A significant number of Jewish women were involved in Russian struggles for democracy during the end of the 19th century. Their active roles led to the emergence of Zionism as well as the Social Democratic Bund.

Trunks and Travel: A 19th Century Journey in New York State

Mary Jeanne Bialas, Sherrill
The audience is part of the program in this lecture, which brings to life the customs, sights, sounds, and formidable packing requirements of for a wealthy industrialist and his wife traveling in late-19th-century New York State.

Ancient Pompeii in the Year 79 A.D.

Mario Macaluso, Plainview
Ancient Pompeii on August 24, 79 A.D. - the day when the city was destroyed by a cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

The Balfour Declaration: The Central U.S. Role in Israeli-Palestinian Relations

Joseph Rappaport, New York
The United States has played a role in the Middle East conflict going back at least as far as 1917. Learn more about the modern history of Israeli-Palestinian relations, America's involvement in key milestones along the way, and the current challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians.

Understanding Past Native American Cultures in the Hudson Valley Through Archaeology

Eugene J. Boesch, Mahopac
The presentation will focus on Native Americans in the Hudson Valley, from its earliest occupation by humans, at least 12,000 years ago, to the period of initial European Contact.

Letting in the Sky: Women Writers and Nature

Charlotte Zoe Walker, Gilbertsville
Based on "Women and Nature," a course Walker teaches at SUNY Oneonta, this lecture considers the work of major women novelists and poets, such as Virginia Woolf, Willa Cather, and Terry Tempest Williams, from the perspective of their concern for nature and the environment. Includes audiovisual materials.

The Lenape: Lower New York's First Inhabitants

David Oestreicher, White Plains
Who were the original inhabitants of lower New York? What were they like, and what remains of their culture today? Learn the true story of the Lenape -- not the romanticized figures of popular mythology or new-age literature, but a living people as they really are.

"Your" County in World History Perspective

Thomas Mounkhall, New Paltz
The history of your county is important and interesting in its own right. However, if one considers your local history in a global context, the narrative grows in depth and breadth.

Spectacles of Religiosity: Sacred Theater in Peru

Wilma Feliciano, New Paltz
Peru celebrates its history in dance-dramas and festivals that combine native spirituality with Catholic icons. These performances explore the endurance of mestizo identity amidst mass culture and globalization.

19th Century Circus: Sex, Violence and Politics

David Carlyon, Larchmont
When did circus change from raw adult fare to innocent family entertainment? A historian. and ex-Ringling Brothers clown investigates the reasons.

All Things Herriot: James Herriot and His Peaceable Kingdom

Sanford Sternlicht, Syracuse
In the Great Depression how could a poor, newly graduated, veterinarian from Scotland, who had taken a job caring for farm animals in Yorkshire, England, become a household name as a world class storyteller?

History of Music in Buffalo

Raya Lee, Williamsville
From the first music store to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the city’s musical heritage at its best is highlighted.

Buffalo's Grand Celebration: The 1901 Pan-American Exposition

Raya Lee, Williamsville
Buffalo hosted the Pan-American Exposition from May to November of 1901. The fair showed off the cutting edge of progress and technology -- as well as music, art, gondola tours, and a wild midway. But the fair would be remembered more for an American political tragedy than for its display of American pride.

The Many Guises of King Arthur

William Seaton, Goshen
King Arthur appears in a variety of stories: some are heroic, some romantic, mystical, or simply entertaining. What can this ancient hero teach us today?

Sweet Treason: Literary Translation

William Seaton, Goshen
Illustrated by texts in several languages, this lecture argues for the value of literary translation in spite of the impossibility of complete success.

Winged Words: Notes on the Oral Performance of Poetry

William Seaton, Goshen
How does performed poetry differ from poetry on the page? Is one mode more authentic of effective? The speaker surveys the history of art.

Objects and Memory

Jonathan Fein, Cortlandt Manor
What are the things in our homes and museums that mean the most to us? How do we preserve the past and speak to the future?

How Cars Conquered Our Cities

Brian Ladd, Altamont
We have rebuilt our cities to fit our cars. How have cars changed cities? What have we gained and lost in the process?

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