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September 17, 2009

32nd Annual Rensselaerswijck Seminar Oct 2 and 3 in Albany New York

Announcement from Nancy Johnsen Curran

RUSSELL SHORTO TO BE OPENING SPEAKER AT 32nd ANNUAL RENSSELAERSWIJCK SEMINARRussell Shorto, noted author, will speak on “Oh, Henry: What Has the Hudson Year Wrought?” at the opening reception of the 32nd Annual Rensselaerswijck Seminar, Thursday, Oct. 1, at 5:30 p.m. at the NYS Museum, Albany. Admission is free.

The seminar theme
Oct. 2 and 3 the Rensselaerswijck Seminar, “Kiliaen van Rensselaer’s Colonie: The Beginning of European Settlement of the Upper Hudson,” will be in the New York State Museum’s Carole Huxley Theatre. Registration is at 9 a.m. both days.

The New Netherland Institute’s conference theme is a return to its roots as a platform for local historians to present their latest research on the only successful patroonship in New Netherland.

The members of the New Netherland Project staff will all take part. Charles T. Gehring, Ph.D., director of the project, Janny Venema, Ph.D., assistant director, and Martha D. Shattuck, Ph.D., editor, will present new information from their research specialty areas.

Genealogy and history will be twin themes in the analysis of the history of the Van Rensselaers, both from the aspect of their place in history and the succeeding generations of the family.

Shorto used the resources of the New Netherland Project in writing his 2004 book about New Netherland, “The Island at the Center of the World.” His most recent book is “Descartes’ Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason.”

He will also take part on a panel of authors Friday at 10:30 a.m., with other contributors to the institute’s recent publication, “Explorers, Fortunes & Love Letters: A Window on New Netherland.” Dr. Shattuck, editor of the book, will be moderator.

A score of scholars and historians from this country and the Netherlands will present seminar topics over the two days, giving current information about the origins and history of Rensselaerwijck, a million acres that encompassed what is now Albany, Rensselaer and Columbia counties.

The annual New Netherland Dinner Saturday at the Hampton Inn will cap the two days of discussions.

Admission to the seminar is $75 for both days, $50 for one day, and $25 for students.

A special rate is offered at the Hampton Inn for those attending the conference.

More detailed information and registration forms are available at the New Netherland Institute website


Those with New Netherland (New York) ancestors can search New Netherland Genealogy databases feely available on Olive Tree Genealogy website

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