Blog
Blog · June 12, 2025
On Wednesday, June 18, at 4 pm, Norman K. Dann PhD continues the eight two hour sessions on the Gerrit Smith Estate with a program on the Underground Railroad in Peterboro. Dann will explain the Underground Railroad and discuss it as a symptom of a corrupt nation whose founding values were not implemented. He describes the origins of slavery, details the lives of the enslaved, and describes the Underground Railroad as a process of achieving freedom via the use of a network of support persons...
Blog · June 10, 2025
The closing program of Peterboro Juneteenth Weekend 2025 is at 10:45 am on Sunday, June 22nd at the Peterboro United Methodist Church (PUMC), 5240 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. Donna Dorrance Burdick, historian of the Hamlet of Peterboro and the Town of Smithfield, will present Churches of Peterboro. Burdick will share her research and images of the churches that were once in Peterboro as well as the PUMC. With regard to the Juneteenth Weekend, Donna will feature the history of the...
Blog · June 07, 2025
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum stands by the Zinn Education Project to uplift, preserve, and celebrate ALL of our historic narratives to preserve democracy. Cabinet of Freedom members gathered this week to organize final plans for summer programs. Our cabinet consists of many active and retired educators that have pledged their lives to teaching truth. -We stand for teaching truth in all of our programs all season long, from our Black History Matters (February) video series to...
Blog · June 03, 2025
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Elizabeth Smith Miller: Quiet Advocate examines Elizabeth’s relationship with her cousin Elizabeth Cady (Stanton) and their work together for equal rights for women. For Miller the issues of dress reform, suffrage, and education for young women were primary, especially in collaboration with her daughter Anne Fitzhugh Miller. Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, will present a series of eight two-hour sessions...
Blog · June 03, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Ann Carroll Fitzhugh Smith: Support Services Agent scrutinizes Ann’s support of Gerrit’s human rights activism while acting as a “First Lady” in their home that served as a group therapy center for human rights activists. Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, will present a series of eight two-hour sessions 4 – 6pm on Wednesdays May 7th through June 25th, at the Smithfield Community Center 5255...
Blog · May 17, 2025
Celebrating Juneteenth in Peterboro, NY Freedom Folk Festival of music and food on Saturday, June 21, 2025 3:00-8:00pm at the Gerrit Smith Estate, 5304 Oxbow Road, Peterboro, NY. Roster: The Cadleys Rod MacDonald Sean Ceilly $15 Advance, $20 at the door Festival tickets on sale now Click for Festival Details
Blog · May 17, 2025
Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, continues the Gerrit Smith Family Series at 4 p.m. at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Gerrit Smith: The Practical Dreamer Norm Dann examines Gerrit’s benevolence and philanthropy in his perusal of human rights movements. Gerrit operated the land sales business started by Peter in order to have the resources to lubricate...
Blog · May 09, 2025
Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, continues the Gerrit Smith Family Series with The Era and the Issues on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 4 p.m. at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. The Era and the Issues is a survey of social life in 19th Century America with emphasis placed on racism and sexism. The 1830 – 1860 Reform Era of American history stimulated public interest in implementing...
Blog · May 03, 2025
Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, opens an eight program series The Gerrit Smith Family of Peterboro NY and the Crusade for Human Rights on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 pm at the Smithfield Community Center, 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134. The first presentation is from research that Dann did for the biography Peter Smith: Furs, Land, and Anguish. Dann examines the life of Peter Smith after whom the hamlet of Peterboro and...
Blog · May 02, 2025
Norman K. Dann PhD, researcher and biographer of members of the Gerrit Smith family of Peterboro, will present a series of eight two-hour sessions 4 – 6 pm on Wednesdays May 7th through June 25th, at the Smithfield Community Center 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, PO 55, Peterboro NY 13134