Community-Sourced Historiography

Provides $300 scholarships annually to two students in memory of Will Hooson, with awards granted in 2022.

Conducts regular monthly meetings on the third Wednesday from January to June and September to November, featuring guest speakers and presentations, and holds an annual meeting that includes a business agenda, report, budget presentation, and trustee elections.

Oversees the construction, maintenance, and improvement of a veterans memorial monument, including site enhancements such as stamped concrete and decorative lighting, supported by over $17,000 in donations, and hosted a dedication ceremony on October 5, 2024.

Collects, maintains, and shares historical materials related to the Clark Mills community, including artifacts, journals, and archival documents such as a 1945 daily journal and a World War II-era family journal.

Successfully led advocacy efforts resulting in the 2023 renaming of the Buffalo post office at 170 Manhattan Avenue to honor Indiana Hunt-Martin, a notable local figure.

Engages in ongoing research to document and explore historical and contemporary ties between Western New Yorkers and U.S. Presidents, including public outreach to compile records of presidential visits to Buffalo.

Organizes and presents public programs, speaker events, and traveling exhibits throughout Western New York on presidential and local history topics. Operates a Speaker’s Bureau that sends historians to community groups and events to share knowledge about presidents and regional historical contributions.

Runs a free public museum on the second floor of the Buffalo and Erie County Library, open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring exhibits on presidential and local history, including a current exhibit on the history of Uncle Sam as a symbol of patriotism. The museum was established in 2021 and includes materials from the Elwin Richardson presidential book and memorabilia collection acquired in 2015.

Organizes and hosts public events including living history cemetery tours with costumed performers, a two-day Revolutionary War living history event, film screenings, and storytelling gatherings for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to engage the community in local history.

Creates and distributes educational materials such as downloadable scavenger hunt guides for Margaretville, hosts anniversary celebrations like the 150th-anniversary event in 2025, and supports the re-creation of the Mountain Athletic Club for vintage baseball to foster community connection to local history.

Preserves, restores, and maintains historic structures and sites, including the District 10 stone schoolhouse (rebuilt 1862), Arkville Cemetery (restored 2008), and the Wawaka Grange Hall, which was refurbished and reopened in 2010 for community use.

Conducts and publishes historical research on local communities, including geographic development, family homesteads, businesses, and infrastructure. Projects include documenting Kelly Corners’ historical development, the Hubbell family homestead, creameries, school districts, and property records related to reservoir claims.

Produces and presents historical exhibits such as the history of cauliflower farming at the Annual Cauliflower Festival, a 2009 exhibit on dairies and creameries, and video content including "Margaretville Memories" to educate and engage the public.

Advocated for and secured the listing of the Mountain Athletic Club grounds and the entire hamlet of New Kingston on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, promoting recognition and preservation of significant local sites.

Documented the service of 243 Civil War veterans from Middletown, recorded burial information for over 730 veterans across 16 local cemeteries, and researched the post-war lives of 40 Revolutionary War veterans who settled in the area.

Records, preserves, and shares oral histories from local elders and former residents, including memories of Arena and experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Has conducted and archived over 65 interviews, including 13 in 2020.

Collects, preserves, and makes accessible historical documents, photographs, personal accounts, and memorabilia related to the Town of Middletown and surrounding areas, including archival materials from 30 former school districts. Digitized and published the complete run of The Catskill Mountain News (1902–1985) for public research.

Published and made accessible online a historical diary documenting life in Halcottsville from 1877 to 1928, enhancing public access to primary source material on local history.