Cabin Fever Virtual Conversation Series: Memory and Celebration: Examining the 1929 Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Sullivan Clinton Campaign with Mary Alexander
Wednesday, January 29th, 7pm
Pre-register for the Zoom meeting here!

Join the Fulton County Historical Society and the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library on January 29th at 7:00 pm to discuss the Sullivan Clinton Campaign of the Revolutionary War and its Celebration in Canajoharie in 1929. The talk asks the question what is historical memory and when can we challenge the narrative of the past to present more accurate history today. This program will be hosted on Zoom and is free but pre-registration is required.

Mary Alexander is the Curator of Education and Public Engagement at the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library. She believes that Museums and Libraries are for everyone and works diligently to welcome all people to enjoy art, history, and literature.

Cabin Fever Virtual Conversation Series: Fort Hunter Mohawks: We Are Still Here!
Wednesday, February 5th, 7pm
Pre-register for the Zoom meeting here!

Join Bonnie Jane Maracle and the Fulton County Historical Society for “Fort Hunter Mohawks: We Are Still Here!,” an update from a descendent of the Fort Hunter Mohawks on the survival and establishment of the Mohawk community at Kenhteke/Tyendinaga Territory in southern Ontario on the north shore of Lake Ontario. This program will be hosted on Zoom and is free but pre-registration is required.

Iehnhotonkws Bonnie Jane Maracle is from the Wolf Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Kenhteke/Tyendinaga Territory, Ontario. She holds a B.A. in Indigenous Studies, Trent U and a B.Ed. & M.Ed., Queen’s U. Bonnie Jane is a member of the Board of Directors for Tsi Tsyonnheht Onkwawenna Language & Culture Centre (TTO) at Tyendinaga; and is a Board member and Language Program Coordinator at Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community in Upper New York State. She is also the CGO of Ontario Native Literacy Coalition at Ohsweken, Grand River Territory. Bonnie Jane has been a Sessional Instructor at U of Victoria for the past 20 years. At present, having retired from full-time employment as the Indigenous Learning Strategist in Student Life at U of Toronto, she is now the Traditional Teacher in Residence at First Nations House.

Cabin Fever Virtual Conversation Series: Revolutionary Women with Samantha Hall-Saladino
Wednesday, February 12th, 7pm
Pre-register for the Zoom meeting here!

From the women of the Revolutionary War to revolutionary women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Rose Knox, join us in a discussion about some of Fulton County’s well-known and unsung heroines. This program will be hosted on Zoom and is free but pre-registration is required.

Cabin Fever Virtual Conversation Series: Erie Canal at 200 with David Brooks
Wednesday, February 19th, 7pm
Pre-register for the Zoom meeting here!

The Erie Canal is celebrating its bicentennial! This program outlines the story of
the canal and how it has been heralded in pop culture, folklore, and the history books. Discover how it was recognized at 100, and what celebrations the corridor has planned for it’s 200th! This program will be hosted on Zoom and is free but pre-registration is required.

David Brooks is the Director of Education at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site.

Humanities NY Reading & Discussion Group
Land, Liberty, & Loss: Echoes of the American Revolution
February 22nd, April 12th, May 17th, and June 14th, 11am-1pm
Pre-register for this series here

Join Dr. Anna Biel and the FCHS in an exploration of and reflection on the history and legacies of the American Revolution as we consider how those legacies connect to or disrupt indigenous histories, our use of natural resources, political development, and national expansion.

The group will meet four times, discussing a different reading at each meeting. The books we’ll be exploring are:

  • The Pioneers, James Fenimore Cooper (February 22nd, 11am-1pm)
  • William Cooper’s Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic, Alan Taylor (April 12th, 11am-1pm)
  • The Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers, and the Northern Borderland of the American Revolution, Alan Taylor (May 17th, 11am-1pm)
  • Conspiracy of Interests: Iroquois Dispossession and the Rise of New York State, Laurence M. Hauptman (June 14th, 11am-1pm)

A limited number of books will be available to borrow through Humanities NY on a first come, first serve basis.

Land, Liberty & Loss: Echoes of the American Revolution is made possible with support from Humanities New York.

Spring Cleaning Day at the Museum
Saturday, May 3rd, 9am-12pm

Help spruce up the museum for the season at our Spring Cleaning Day! Stay as long as you like or join us the entire time, we appreciate your help. There will be something for everyone, from outdoors work (trimming hedges, picking up litter, planting flowers) to indoor organizational and cleaning tasks. Everyone is welcome! The museum will provide water and some light refreshments for volunteers. Questions? Email ssaladino@fultoncountyhistoricalsociety.org.

Spring Psychic Faire with Into Wishin’
Saturday, May 10th, 11am-4pm

Join the Fulton County Historical Society and Into Wishin’ Studio & Crystal Shop for the Spring Psychic Faire! Intuitive readers from the Capital Region will be available for consultation and Into Wishin’ will offer a variety of crystals and other items for purchase. Explore the museum’s exhibits and hear evidence of spiritual activity in the building captured by paranormal investigators. Admission is $5 per person. Fees for readings will be set by the individual readers.

The Psychic Faire aims to partner with readers, business owners, and members of the community, while raising awareness about this spectacular piece of history right in Fulton County. Proceeds will support the FCHS.

Those interested in participating as readers or vendors can find more information here.

History Fair and Ice Cream Social
Friday, May 16th, 6-8pm

Two of our popular annual events are joining forces! The Ice Cream Social kicks off our summer season and marks the official opening of the museum for the year. History Fair (typically held in October) is a chance for local museums, historians, re-enactors, authors, and community organizations to share all the great work they’ve been doing. Enjoy a scoop of ice cream and your choice of toppings, explore the museum, and connect with friends and neighbors. Enjoy a scoop of ice cream and your choice of toppings, explore the museum, connect with friends and neighbors, and discover something new about Fulton County!

Rain or shine! Tickets are $5 per person or 5 for $20. Tickets are available pre-sale or at the door and can be purchased by mailing a check to the FCHS at 237 Kingsboro Ave. Gloversville, NY 12078 or emailing ssaladino@fultoncountyhistoricalsociety.org.

If you can’t attend, but still want to support the museum, please consider making a donation.

Historic Songs of Appalachia and Old Time Fiddle Circle with Cosby and Tom
Sunday, June 22nd, 1pm
Free

The Appalachian Mountains stretch from Georgia to Maine, and were considered the new frontier when settled by the Scots-Irish and Germans. These groups sought freedom from government and prejudice, as well as cheaper land. Their history is both charming and dark as they struggled to survive and bring their culture with them, especially their music! Program includes ten songs with interesting narrative, about one hour, for adults and teenagers. Bring your string instruments and join in after the program — or just listen — to an old time fiddle circle with Cosby!

Hands on History for Kids
Thursdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31, 10-11am
Free

Join the Fulton County Historical Society on special Thursday mornings for Hands on History at the museum! Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme and use our exhibits and collections to explore these themes in local history. We’ll finish the morning with a craft activity. This program is geared toward ages 5-10.

  • July 10th: Story Time with the Gloversville Public Library (please note, this program starts at 10:30)
  • July 17th: The Circus is Coming to Town!
  • July 24th: Immigrants Empire Board Game with Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site
  • July 31st: WWII Rationing Test Kitchen

Outlander in the Mohawk Valley Series
A Tale of Two Frasers: Scottish Immigration to Colonial New York with Samantha Hall-Saladino
August 6th, 7pm
Free

In the years leading up to the Revolution, Scottish Highlanders made their way to the colonies, settling heavily in Nova Scotia, North Carolina, and New York. In the Mohawk Valley, these new, predominantly Catholic settlers were distrusted by their neighbors, mostly Palatine Germans who were gearing up to fight for liberty. Just a few decades after their defeat Culloden, these new settlers found themselves in the midst of war once again. What side would they choose – and why?

Through the experiences of the fictional Jamie Fraser and historic figures like Sir William Johnson, we’ll discuss the Scottish settlement in Tryon County and the decisions they made during this divisive time in American history.

Outlander in the Mohawk Valley Series
Sabre Wounds, Scurvy, & Smallpox: A Medical History Examination of Outlander with Anne Clothier
August 27th, 7pm
Free

Have you ever wondered what you would have done in Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser’s shoes? Could you have set a dislocated shoulder, removed a musket ball or treated typhus? Join us to discover the medical world of Outlander with historian Anne Clothier.  From herbal remedies to surgical procedures, we will discuss medical cases from the books and the show, discuss the authenticity of their portrayals, and learn how the ailments and injuries would have been treated in the 18th century. Recipes for remedies you can try at home will also be shared. The presenter will display items and instruments from her collection of medical antiques.  

Outlander in the Mohawk Valley Series
“Freedom & whisky gang thegither:” Whisky & Revolution in the Mohawk Valley with Samantha Saladino & Erie Canal Distillers
September 6th, 2pm at Erie Canal Distillers in Fort Plain
$20 per person (includes tasting, 21+ with valid ID)
Get your tickets online here

Whisky is deeply intertwined with Scotland’s identity, culture, and economy. When Scottish emigrants landed in the colonies, they brought the skill and knowledge of distilling with them. Whisky was an important currency; in Outlander, Jamie and Claire Fraser counted on their homemade whiskey not only to gift to friends but also to trade for other much-needed items. In the years leading up to the Revolution, taverns and public houses became epicenters of political discussion, meeting places for patriots and Loyalists alike. As Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote: “Freedom & whisky gang thegither.”

Join us at Erie Canal Distilling to learn more about the role of whisky in colonial America and its connection to the Revolution. Then sample some of the distillery’s excellent spirits while learning more about the modern distilling process. Ticket price includes program and samples. Snacks will be available for purchase from the bar. This event is 21+.

Outlander in the Mohawk Valley Series
Stroud & Silver, Beaver & Bear: The Fur Trade & Diplomacy on the Borderlands with Ian Mumpton
September 24th, 7pm
Free

For those living on the borderlands between the territories of the Six Nations and the British Empire in the 1760’s, trade and diplomacy were inextricably linked, with the fur trade holding the key to wealth and diplomatic power for European colonists and Indigenous people alike. Pelts harvested by Native fur trappers and destined for the London fur markets were traded for European textiles, tools, weaponry, and adornment. See and touch reproductions of 18th century objects as Ian Mumpton talks about the fur trade and the role of Sir William Johnson and the British Indian Department in facilitating and regulating it.

Ian Mumpton is the Interpretive Programs Assistant at Johnson Hall, developing and delivering interpretive educational programming about the many people who make up the story of this crossroads of cultures on the borderland between empires. His work is work focused on highlighting the stories of Loyalists, Native Americans, and enslaved people of African ancestry in our shared colonial history. In his spare time, he also researches and practices the martial arts of 17th century colonial New Netherland.

Bowling for History!
November 8th, 12-3pm
Arterial Lanes, 140 N. Pine St. Gloversville
$20 per person (includes shoe rental and lane use)

Join us for a fun afternoon at bowling at Arterial Lanes in Gloversville and help support the museum! Prize basket drawings, 50/50, and more! You can sign up in advance online here and pay at the door. Stay tuned for a list of sponsors!

Outlander in the Mohawk Valley Series
Women of the Saratoga Campaign with Anne Clothier
November 12th, 7pm
Free

In the 7th Outlander book, An Echo in the Bone (and in S7E8 of the tv series), we see Jamie and Claire heavily involved in the Battle of Saratoga. These two battles, fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777, proved a turning point in the war for the Americans.

Anne Clothier returns to share untold stories of the courageous women who played a key role during the American Revolution. From everyday heroes to pivotal figures in the Saratoga Campaign, these women shaped the turning point in history. Discover their inspiring contributions in this captivating presentation.