LIGHT ON NEW NETHERLAND:

A traveling exhibit produced by the New Netherland Institute

This two-dimensional panel exhibit is currently being designed by Adirondack Studios, Argyle, NY, and is curated by Robert E. Mulligan, retired history curator at the New York State Museum.  It will consist of twenty-six 4ft x 8ft panels, encompassing about 1500 square feet or 150 linear feet.  Each panel is free-standing and will contain text and 2 - 3 graphics, for the most part on a single topic. 

The panels are grouped into three sections: 

• Introduction, Patria, Seaborne Empire, the Atlantic World,  the West India Company, and New Netherland
• New Amsterdam, Fort Nassau, Fort Orange and Beverwijck, Patroons, Wiltwijck, Long Island, New England, New Sweden, and Schenectady
• Zeewant, agriculture, personalities (Hudson, Minuit, and Stuyvesant), the people of New Netherland, family life, religion, slavery, the fur trade, relations with the Indians, education, ships and sailing, and the Dutch legacy.

Many of the illustrations are the work of Len Tantillo; original graphics are by Craig Gravina. All copy has been reviewed by Dr. Charles Gehring, Director of the New Netherland Project. An article on the New Netherland Project, written by Peter Douglas, accompanies the exhibit (see previous August 2008 update), as does a bibliography.

Scheduled venues:

 December 8, 2008 - January 12, 2009 New York State Museum

 February 14, 2009 – March 14, 2009: the Museum of Connecticut History

April 19, 2009:  At the request of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the exhibit will be in      Washington, D.C., on the occasion of Dutch Friendship Day, at a location to be determined.

 June 1, 2009 – July 12, 2009: 3 locations in Dutchess County

 December 7, 2009 –March 20, 2010: The Historical Society of Delaware

 April 2010 – May 2010: Calvin College, Michigan

Venues under consideration:

Purchase College, the FDR Library and Museum, and locations in Washington, DC; New Jersey; and New York City.

The Town Hall of Amsterdam and the Westfries Museum in Hoorn, both in the Netherlands, have expressed interest pending funding.

• All venues will be supplied with bibliographies and other information for education programming.
• All text copy is in English. However, a handout about the exhibition content will be distributed in Dutch to any venue in the Netherlands. 
• Preliminary renderings of 2 panels as well as an overall conceptual floor plan can be provided.

ILLUMINATING NEW YORK'S DUTCH PAST: a documentary DVD

This video about the New Netherland Project, produced by Mogul One Production, LLC, and containing interviews with Dr. Charles Gehring and Dr. Janny Venema, respectively the Director and the Associate Director of the New Netherland Project, is nearing its completion in the fall of 2008.

LIBER AMICORUM : a book of twelve essays, with an introduction by its editor, Dr. Martha D. Shattuck, and an introductory essay by Russell Shorto.

This text, tentatively entitled Explorers, Fortunes, and Love Letters: The Dutch Experience in the New World, presents aspects of the Dutch in the New World and their impact on the United States. It is now at the publisher, Mt. Ida Press, and will be available in August 2009. 

For any additional information, contact James F. Sefcik, 2009 Project Coordinator, New Netherland Institute at jsefcik@mail.nysed.gov or jfssrny@yahoo.com.  

Or call 518.783.4251 or 504.508.1476 (Cell).