Peterboro Civil War Weekend is an educational and fundraising event sponsored by the Town of Smithfield, the Smithfield Community Association, and private donors. Proceeds from the event support the preservation and promotion of the heritage of the Town of Smithfield. During the event Peterboro relives the period of the mid 1800s when the hamlet held national recognition because of Gerrit Smith’s Underground Railroad station, the visitations of famous abolitionists, and the connection with John Brown that sparked the War Between the States. Peterboro sites are on the Heritage NY Underground Railroad Trail and on the National Park Service Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Trail. New exhibits at four sites will be open. Saturday June 12 hours for the event are 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday June 13 from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for ages 6 – 12, and free for children under 6. Admission to the to the special Civil War concert at 8 p.m. may be paid at the door. Parking is free.
For more information on Peterboro Civil War Weekend: 315-684-9022, and www.sca-peterboro.org
Martha Swan, founding director of John Brown Lives! Lake Placid NY will bring reports from the North Country to the Smithfield Community Center in Peterboro on Saturday, June 12 at 12:00 noon. During her program The World that Made John Brown---and The World Yet To Be Made, Swan will review the many activities held throughout 2009 commemorating John Brown and Harpers Ferry, as well as the John Brown Day 2010 to be held at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site on Saturday, May 8 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Swan will give an overview of the political and social backdrop of the United States during the fifty-nine years of John Brown’s life, from 1800-1859, that led to Brown’s formation as an abolitionist and man of action. She will also reissue the call reminiscent of our abolitionist forebears that was first issued last December for 100 Anti-Slavery Conventions to galvanize New Yorkers to commit to the unfinished task of abolishing slavery and achieving racial justice in our world today. She will report on the efforts to restore state funding for the John Brown Farm, a state historic site since the 1890s, and provide an update on its status. The program is free and open to the public.
The John Brown program is part of the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum (NAHOF) Open House at 5255 Pleasant Valley Road in Peterboro which will be held during the 18th Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, 2010. Members of the Cabinet of Freedom for the Hall of Fame will be at the abolition exhibit and the newly installed audio-visual exhibit on the inaugural meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society held October 22, 1835.
Martha Swan initiated and produced the Dreaming of Timbuctoo Traveling Exhibition that forced a re-thinking of Gerrit Smith’s antebellum “scheme of justice and benevolence” championing black voting rights and the redistribution of land to 3,000 free black New Yorkers. That “scheme” led Brown to settle in the Adirondacks and choose it as his final resting place. The work of John Brown Lives! has been featured in the New York Times, on National Public Radio, and in newspapers and other media outlets across the state.
For more information on John Brown Day May 8, 2010 contact www.johnbrowncominghome.com
Jonathan Cornue, The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum Vice President, was recently appointed to the New York State Education Department Amistad Commission. In 2005 the New York State Legislature created the Amistad Commission. This organization is named in honor of a group of enslaved Africans, led by Joseph Cinque, who overthrew the crew of the slave ship Amistad in 1839. The Freedom Seekers eventually gained their freedom in a United States Supreme Court ruling.
Jonathan was appointed to the position by President Pro Tempore Malcolm A. Smith upon recommendation by State Senator David Valesky’s office. Dorothy Willsey, president of The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro, initiated the consideration for appointment because of Cornue’s experience in the field of education. “As a trainer of teachers in a multi-district region, Jon works daily with teachers and curriculum. The ways and means of delivering viable curricula according to the NYSED Learning Standards are among the main instruments in Jon’s professional toolbox. He needs no introduction to instructional expectations and levels to be ready to begin the Amistad work,” said Willsey.
“As a member of The Madison-Oneida BOCES department of Staff and Curriculum Development, Jonathan Cornue has worked with numerous school districts across the state in the prioritization and development of curricula in all subject areas. His ability to personally connect with people has made him a popular presenter and collaborator. Jonathan is a valued member of the staff development team,” said Margaret Bailey, Director of Staff and Curriculum Development.
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum believes that Jonathan will make an excellent addition to the Amistad Commission as he will bring with him not only a knowledge of the New York State standards, but an understanding of how both students and educators learn.
New York State’s Amistad Commission, comprised of 19 members, is charged with researching and surveying the extent to which the African slave trade and slavery in America is included in the curricula of New York State schools, and makes recommendations to the Governor and Legislature regarding the implementation of education and awareness programs in New York concerned with the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African-Americans in building our country.
In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Black History, the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark will display a replica of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation given to the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum in Peterboro by the New York State Library in Albany. The exhibit will be at the Visitor Center at the Gerrit Smith Estate Saturday and Sunday, February 13 and 14 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.One of the nation's greatest documentary treasures, the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on September 22, 1862, has been part of the New York State Library's collection since 1865. “The unassuming appearance of this four page declaration in Lincoln's hand tends to mask the significance of what one source declared to be the ‘most important and far-reaching document ever issued since the formulation of this government.’ …Though Lincoln had always found slavery morally repugnant, he consistently stated that the Civil War was being fought solely for the purpose of restoring the Union. … Besides, as Lincoln knew, simple justice and moral imperative demanded it. The partial Union victory at the terrible Battle of Antietam in September 1862 provided an opportunity for Lincoln to issue his epoch-making decree. It had taken nearly a century, many years of abolitionist agitation and two years of America's bloodiest war to begin to apply the meaning of the Declaration of Independence to the nation's black population.” (NYS Library)
“Lincoln read this document to his Cabinet on September 22 and told them that he firmly believed in its principles, though he would accept minor changes of wording. Secretary of State William H. Seward, a former Governor of New York and lifelong abolitionist, suggested certain additions which strengthened it and then actually wrote in his revisions. Except for these revisions and the formal beginning and ending written by the Chief Clerk, the document is otherwise entirely in Lincoln's hand. The next day the nation's newspapers gave prominent attention to the Proclamation, beginning a discussion of its importance which culminated three months later.” (NYS Library)
“The proclamation declared that all slaves in states which were still in rebellion on January 1, 1863 ‘shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’ ” (NYS Library)
In February and March of 1864, the Army Relief Bazaar was held to raise money for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, an agency that helped provide medical care for Union soldiers. To assist the Bazaar in its fund drive, Lincoln donated the Preliminary Proclamation, sending it to Emily Weed Barnes through Frederick W. Seward, son of the Secretary of State. On the very last day of the Bazaar, the manuscript was won in a lottery by well-known abolitionist Gerrit Smith. Smith generously gave the proclamation to the U.S. Sanitary Commission to be sold to raise more money. Said Smith, “My purpose when I purchased the tickets…was to let it go to the individual or association, who should pay the largest price for it…As I believe the putting down of this infernal Rebellion to be our highest and holiest work, so I recognize no other claim upon my possessions to be as strong as that of the Soldiers, who are prosecuting this work.” (Letter, Gerrit Smith to William Barnes, March 12, 1864)
Three days after Lincoln's funeral train passed through Albany on April 25, 1865, the New York State Legislature purchased the proclamation for the New York State Library.
The Chicago Historical Society acquired the manuscript copy of the final proclamation. Unfortunately, it was lost when the Society's building was burned during the great Chicago fire of 1871. However, the New York State Library's collection includes 19th century photographs of the final proclamation.
At the Visitor Center on Sunday, February 14 at 2 pm, Norman K. Dann, Ph.D. will present a program on Lincoln as “The Great Emancipator,” the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation’s ties to Peterboro, and describe the Central New York origins of “Lincoln’s party.” Dr. Dann is the author of the 2009 biography of Smith, Practical Dreamer: Gerrit Smith and the Crusade for Social Reform.
For both days of the exhibit the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) invites participation in “Linking Lincoln.” A paper chain of 2010 red, white, and blue links with the names of donators of currency with Lincoln’s image will be featured at a ribbon cutting October 24, 2010 to celebrate the Heritage NY Underground Railroad project.
The two day February exhibit is hosted by the Chair of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark Lodge Squad, Jody Jones, a Morrisville State College Resort and Recreation Management Technology Intern. The program is part of a series of programs provided by the Stewards of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark through a PACE grant to the Smithfield Community Association from the Central New York Community Foundation. The Estate is on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and the Heritage NY Underground Railroad Trail as part of the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The Visitor Center is open during the summer on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m. and by appointment. Programs and tours are $2 per person, $5 for a season pass, and free to children, stewards, and residents of Smithfield with season passes from The Lodge. For more information mail@sca-peterboro.org or 315-684-3262.
The National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum, in a bold move, invited Fredrick Douglass to speak to its supporters. Douglass delivered a powerful and emotional speech on the issue of “Race: A Soul’s Evolution”. Pulling from his most important speeches and writings, Douglass took the audience through relevant periods of his life, the development of his thought and the stages of his personal transformation in the understanding of race, culminating with his illumination about the way to experience our common humanity beyond categories of division. The audience’s response was a hearty spontaneous standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech. Fredrick Douglass (played by Frederick Morsell) after the speech held a short insightful but thought provoking Q&A period, followed by a photo opportunity for those in attendance who wanted to record their place in History, with Mr. Douglass.
When the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum was launched in October 2004, a portion of the proposal for the new organization was based upon the words of Douglass: “Liberty came to the freedmen of the United States, not in mercy, but in wrath, not by moral choice, but by military necessity…Nothing was to have been expected other than what has happened.” Black freedom was a legal fact, not a moral fact! The mission of NAHOF&M is to not only honor abolitionists, but to complete abolition—the moral choice. Fredrick Morsell was the main speaker at the first induction ceremony hosted by the Upstate Institute at Colgate University in October 2005 and represented Douglass at the great black abolitionist’s induction that same year. Morsell’s first Douglass’ programs in the area were in 2000 when he portrayed the great man during the 150th commemoration of the Cazenovia Convention of 1850 at the invitation of the Madison County Historical Society. Acclaimed across the United States for his portrayal of Douglass, Morsell’s performaces include programs at National Park Service Sites, the Smithsonian, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, many Douglass’ centennial events, this year at the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry and this summer at the Madison County, NY Fair.
Join us for the Third NAHOF&M Commemortion honoring Lewis Tappan, Theodore Dwight Weld, The 175th Anniversary Celebration of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Anti-slavery Society which met in Peterboro on October 22, 1835, Saturday October 23 2010, Peterboro, NY.
Also be on hand for the Ribbon Cutting opening of the sites and exhibits by Heritage New York, National park Service, National Historic Landmark,National Park Service Network to Freedom, New York State Assembly and New York State Senate, Sunday October 24, 2010, Peterboro, NY.
Send the great emancipator to Peterboro in 2010! October 2010 will be the 175th anniversary celebration of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Ant-slavery Society and the NAHOF&M invites you to join your name as one of 2010 to form a paper chain which wil lbe displayed at the celebration.
Cost for a link in the chain is only $5! Send or bring your $5 bill, check or even 500 pennies to the National Abolition Hall of Fame & Museum, 5255 Pleasant Valley Rd, Peterboro, NY 13134-0055 with the Name and Address you would like to appear on a link.