|
(315) 386-4569
|
(315) 386-4569 |
Febuary 2000
Page 2
Help Preserve New York's Rich HeritageNew York is in danger of losing a priceless treasure. Scattered about the state in file drawers and boxes, in offices and attics, are innumerable reservoirs of information about our historical and recent past. Much of this vital resource is being lost or destroyed, mostly from neglect, lack of understanding, or lack of resources to save what needs saving. If unchecked, this deterioration will result in a shallow and uneven historical record that will leave critical parts of our history unknowable and untold. The State Archives and Records Administration of the New York State Education Department has begun a pilot project for a statewide initiative that will work to ensure the equitable and comprehensive documentation and accessibility of New York's history and culture. The New York Heritage Documentation Project, with funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, is refining and testing an approach that can be adopted and applied by all sectors of New York society - from ethnic population groups and social movements to business and industry, from local and state governments to non-profit organizations. In the two-year pilot phase of the project, the method will be tested in the areas of mental health, environmental conservation, and the Latino communities. These are three areas which have rich and significant histories in New York, are going through dynamic developments in the present, and pose contrasting challenges for documentation planning. In each of these areas of focus, the project will work with concerned individuals and groups to protect and preserve some of the most important materials, and it will raise public awareness of the value of an even and equitable historical record. For more information about the New York Heritage Documentation Project, please contact John Suter at (518) 473-4258; or email: jsuter@mail.nysed.gov |