New York Archives Magazine

On June 20th, 2026 at 2pm at the Huxley Theater, join State Archivist Brian Keough for an introduction and special screening of the documentary "The Brothers: Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in Albany" (25 minutes).

The film explores The Brothers, a civil rights organization founded in 1966 by working-class African American men from Albany’s Arbor Hill and South End neighborhoods. Formed over a dispute with hiring by local unions, "The Brothers" was a group which personified the Black power movement in Albany during the mid- to late 1960s.

This organization of working class African American men recognized how their community was disenfranchised and led a movement to expose vote buying and election fraud. They used direct action and picketing, and were at odds with not only the city, but frequently clashed with established social welfare and civil rights groups.

Predating the Black Panther Party, The Brothers conveyed a militant and revolutionary spirit, but they professed non-violence. They personified a growing black consciousness in Albany, as the events in Albany during 1965–67 demonstrated an aging political machine being challenged by an emerging, grassroots social movement that was fueled by black power and consciousness.

This program was made possible by WMHT.

The 2026 New York History conference will be held at Marist University on June 11th-12th, 2026.
Conference Theme: New York at 250: The Empire State's Role in U.S. Independence

The New York State Museum, State Library, State Archives, and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, in collaboration with the Hudson River Valley Institute at Marist University and the Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY Oneonta, are excited to announce the third annual New York History Conference. The goal of the conference is to provide an inclusive and engaging forum in which historians, educators, museum professionals, archivists, and librarians can share research and resources on the practice, research, preservation, and teaching of New York State history.

As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of its independence, the 2026 New York History conference provides an opportunity to reexamine New York State's role in the struggle for independence before, during, and after the period of the American Revolution. Long before the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, even before the first Europeans arrived in North America, the land that would become the Empire State was occupied by a diverse network of Indigenous communities.

While the American Revolution was fueled by questions of how to govern, individual and community rights, social and economic freedoms, and access to and control of resources, the questions themselves preceded and have continued beyond that period of conflict.

Join us on Thursday June 11th at 12:30 PM, for an engaging conversation exploring "New Eyes on Alice Austen," the groundbreaking permanent exhibition at the Alice Austen House Museum for our final Online Speaker Series for the season. 🌈

The exhibition highlights Austen’s remarkable contributions to photography, immigration history, women’s history, and LGBTQ history. It fully embraces Austen's personal story and centers her loving 55-year relationship with Gertrude Tate.

Discover how this new lens on Austen’s story invites visitors, students, and scholars to experience her life’s work with greater honesty, context, and connection than ever before.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. As we wrap up May, we wanted to take a moment to highlight one last AAPI history from the State Archives.
Grammy nominee Pat Suzuki known for her role in the original Broadway production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Flower Drum Song," sings Japanese songs in the NYS Education Department produced children's TV show "Vegetable Soup." Be sure to check out that episode on our YouTube page.

While on our YouTube, don't forget to also check out our collaboration with Museum of Chinese in America and the panel of Chinese American advocates Virginia Kee and May Ying Chen.

The panel ties to our Spring 2025 article, which features the story of Chinese American advocates who fought to improve Chinatown. If you're interested in more, our magazine subscribers get full access to our past and current issues of the "New York Archives" magazine. Don't forget to subscribe for more history goodness!

Join us on Thursday June 11th, at 12:30 PM for an engaging conversation exploring "New Eyes on Alice Austen," the groundbreaking permanent exhibition at the Alice Austen House Museum.

The exhibition highlights Austen’s remarkable contributions to photography, immigration history, women’s history, and LGBTQ history. It fully embraces Austen's personal story and centers her loving 55-year relationship with Gertrude Tate.

Discover how this new lens on Austen’s story invites visitors, students, and scholars to experience her life’s work with greater honesty, context, and connection than ever before.

Archie the Jr! Archivist on another historical adventure!

A couple of weeks ago, Archie reported live from the historic Saratoga, Corinth, and Hudson Railroad Station ( Corinth & Hudson Railway) for our May Online Speaker Series—and took viewers on a journey through New York’s hidden rail history.

While the big rail lines often got the spotlight, it was the short line railroads that quietly connected communities, powered local economies, and kept everyday life moving.

Our speakers uncovered the stories of the trains, the towns they served, and the people who made it all possible.

All aboard for a piece of New York history we were proud to share! 🚞

You can watch the recording on our YouTube channel!

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. We wanted to take a moment to highlight some AAPI history from the State Archives.

While visiting Hong Kong Gov. Hugh L. Carey tries Chinese sweets with Fung Tung (Assistant Director of Housing) and Sir Murray MacLehose in 1981 (Image NYSA_13703-83_B12_010).

Be sure to check out our digital collections for a further deep dive.

Did you know that our Spring 2025 article features the story of Chinese American advocates who fought to improve Chinatown? Our readers get full access to our past and current issues of the "New York Archives" magazine.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. We wanted to take a moment to highlight some AAPI history from the State Archives.

Shown here are men driving rickshaws alongside a double-decker bus in the Shanghai city district along the Huangpu River, circa 1937.

The image is from the State Archives series of glass lantern slides created by the NYS Division of Visual Instruction. Lantern slides were compiled as instructional aids for the public-school curriculum (Image NYSA_A3045-78_17139).

Be sure to check out our digital collections for a further deep dive.

Did you know that our Spring 2025 article features the story of Chinese American advocates who fought to improve Chinatown? Be sure to read on in our Spring Highlights page. Another fun fact, our subscribers get full access to our past and current issues of the "New York Archives" magazine.

Happy Birthday to Florence Nightingale!

May 6-May 12 also marks National Nurses’ Week. What an excellent time to read "A Place for Women," a featured story in "New York Archives" magazine’s Spring 2012 issue.

"A Place for Women" features stories of Tomkins County nurses Sophronia Bucklin, Sarah Palmer and Dorthea Dix, who served heroically in the Civil War, treating soldiers, comforting the wounded and alerting families to the fates of loved ones.

If you’re interested in reading more stories about nurses serving in wartime or the history of forensic medicine, like these, consider a subscription to the "New York Archives" magazine. With your subscription, you can view issues dating back to 2001. Who knows what you’ll discover next?

Join us tomorrow, May 12th at 12:30 PM.

All Aboard! New York's Short Line Railroads Join us for a fascinating journey through the history of some of New York’s short line railroads.

Often overlooked in favor of the major lines, these smaller railroads played a vital role in connecting local communities, fueling commerce, and shaping the state’s economy. Our speakers will help to discover some of the stories of the trains, the towns they served, and the people who kept them running.