Join us for a special symposium highlighting the work of NYS Parks’ Bureau of Historic Preservation, including historic sites around the state and the State Historic Preservation Office. We’ll discuss the state’s plans for the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, the 200th anniversary of abolition in New York, and more. Seating is limited for the in-person event, so tickets are required. The symposium will also be broadcast live online via WebEx, free of charge.
In-Person Tickets: Tickets are $40/person and include breakfast and lunch. Seating is limited, so registration is required. Register here.
Virtual Tickets: Virtual access is free, but registration is required. Register here.
9:30 AM - Museum opens for registration and breakfast
10:00 AM - Welcome
10:15 AM - Our Whole History Initiative Overview
10:45 AM - Break
11:00 AM - Panel 1: Abolition & Our Whole History
12:00 PM - Panel 1 Q&A
12:15 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Panel 2: Revolution & Our Whole History
2:00 PM - Panel 2 Q&A
2:15 PM - Break
2:30 PM - Panel 3: Preservation & Our Whole History
3:15 PM - Panel 3 Q&A
3:30 PM - Closing Remarks
4:00 PM - Special Tour: Our Whole History & Philipse Manor Hall
5:00 PM - Event closes
In 2027, New York State will recognize the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved people in New York and the 200th anniversary of the end of legal slavery. Learn about plans for related programs, upcoming exhibitions, and ongoing research.
Lavada Nahon is the Interpreter of African American History for NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Bureau of Historic Sites. She is also a cultural and culinary historian focused on New Netherland/New York, 17th through 19th centuries enslaved and free Black history with 30 years public history experience. Her current research focus is on the abolition of slavery in New York.
Michael A. Lord is the Historic Site Manager at Philipse Manor Hall. A well-seasoned Public Historian, Mr. Lord has decades of experience in research and content development at numerous museums and historic sites. He is a graduate of Amherst College and the College of William & Mary with degrees in African American studies, American History, and American studies, and specializes in presenting the complex and often underrepresented stories of the colonial African American experience.
Jessica Serfilippi is a writer and an interpreter at Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site. She specializes in the Schuyler women, Alexander and Elizabeth Hamilton, and the lives of the people enslaved by the Schuylers and Hamiltons.
In 2026, the nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Learn about new research and programs that incorporate multiple perspectives, including Black, Indigenous, and Loyalist histories.
Ian Mumpton is the Interpretive Programs Assistant at Johnson Hall State Historic Site. His work focuses on highlighting historically excluded narratives as essential parts of the site’s history, including the stories of Loyalists, Native Americans, women, tenant farmers, and enslaved people of African descent. He is also currently researching the martial arts and martial identity of colonial New Netherland.
Sarah Wassberg Johnson is the education and programs manager at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site where she researches the impact of the American Revolution on New York, focusing on civilians and women in the Westchester Neutral Zone, the Philipse family, Black Loyalists, and the Stockbridge Munsee. She has an MA in Public History from the University at Albany and has worked in the museum field since 2007.
Jordan Smith (Mohawk, Bear Clan) is the head of Native Programs at Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site. He researches and interprets the role of Haudenosaunee people in the American Revolution and speaks on the importance of seeking Indigenous input in living history interpretation.
Interested in opportunities to explore, record, or preserve history in your community? Learn about SHPO resources and programs, like the State and National Registers of Historic Places, Certified Local Government (CLG) program, grants, and more.
Cordell Reaves is the Coordinator of Community Affairs for the Division for Historic Preservation, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. His work supports the educational programming and staff training that enable sites to tell complete and inclusive stories. He is also tasked with helping the public better understand the work of the agency and its impact on communities. He has an MA in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and has worked for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation since 2002. He specializes in diversifying the stories and structures of historic preservation.
Leslie Krupa is an architectural historian and author who holds a master’s degree in public history and historic preservation from the University of Colorado. She now serves as a Historic Preservation Program Analyst for the Division for Historic Preservation within the New York State OPRHP where she works helping administer the National Register and survey program. Her interests include historical constructions of the environment, immigration and migration patterns, and increasing recognition of marginalized people within northern New York and the Adirondacks.
On November 16, 2022, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site re-opened after a major investment in access and Our Whole History interpretation. New exhibits were created highlighting the diverse histories of ordinary people during New York's crucial colonial period. Learn about the decision-making process behind both the development and execution of the exhibitions themselves and the interpretation of the site.
In-Person Tickets: Tickets are $40/person and include breakfast and lunch. Seating is limited, so registration is required. Register here or use the link below.
Virtual Tickets: Virtual access is free, but registration is required. Register here.
