Small Communities, Big Ideas!

October 6-8, 2025

Hampton Inn & Suites

Cazenovia, NY

The Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS) is pleased to announce that our 2025 Annual Conference will be held in Cazenovia, NY, in Madison County, October 6-8, 2025. Our annual conference draws more than 100 government-appointed historians and affiliates from across the state.

 As we gather in Madison County for the APHNYS Annual Conference on October 6-8, 2025, we invite you to consider the historical contributions of your community in the context of our theme, “Small Communities - Big Ideas!”

In exploring our theme, you might reflect on the various ways a narrative can be “outstanding.” For example, the narratives we craft as historians can be outstanding when they are fact-based and engagingly told. How do we hit this mark, and what else goes into crafting an outstanding historical narrative? Sometimes, it is the subjects of our historical narratives that stand out. What historical actors and events capture our attention and why? Are there subjects that have been left out of the historical narrative and if so, what should we do about it? What about the primary sources we rely on for our research? These might stand out for their ability to document certain experiences or because they reveal otherwise obscured perspectives. How have different types of sources and the narratives they represent stood out to us over time? Think, too, about the different ways historians present historical narratives, from papers, lectures, and exhibitions to podcasts, performances, and public art. What methods of delivery are compelling to different types of audiences?

Let’s explore what goes into—and comes out of—outstanding historical narratives at our 2025 conference in Cazenovia.

Tours Information 

Two tours will be offered. Please make your selection in the conference registration. 

Tour 1 -- Oneida Community Mansion House-The Oneida Community Mansion House was home to the Oneida Community, one of the most radical and successful of the 19^th-century social experiments—to explore pressing social issues that still confront audiences today. Founded in 1848 by the itinerant preacher, John Humphrey Noyes, this religiously-based Perfectionist community challenged contemporary social views on property ownership, gender roles, child-rearing practices, monogamous marriage, and work. The Oneida Community’s insistence on life-long learning and determination to make all work enjoyable as they built their utopia, fostered a work ethic and well of industriousness that sustained the group for over thirty years, making them one of the most successful and longest lasting communal experiments of the 19^th-century.

Tour 2 -- Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark/National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum-

• Gerrit Smith Estate-The Gerrit Smith Estate was the lifetime home and office of Gerrit Smith (1797-1874). Driven by his liberal ideas and empowered by his wealth, he was one of the most powerful abolitionists in the United States. Scores of abolitionists received support and renewed commitment to the cause of freedom at Smith’s home in Peterboro. Smith helped hundreds of African Americans by purchasing their freedom from slavery, arranging safe passage to Canada, helping families establish their lives locally, gifting land, providing educational opportunities, and working for human rights. Due to Smith’s persuasive and exemplary efforts, Peterboro became a crossroads for human benevolence.
• National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum-The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum honors American abolitionists by showcasing their work to end slavery, and the legacy of their struggle: the drive to end racism. The Museum is located in the building in which the inaugural meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society was held in 1835. The original meeting, which was located in Utica, was aborted by pro-slavery protestors, including a New York Senator, and a future New York Attorney General, Samuel Beardsley. Gerrit Smith, a leading American social reformer, suggested Peterboro, New York as an alternate location.

Travel & Lodging

The conference will be held at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located at 25 Laker Lane. Cazenovia, New York 13035. The conference rate is $109/119 a night. Click here to book your room online.

Traveling to Cazenovia:

From I-90: Take Exit 34 (Canastota) off thruway. Turn left (south) onto Peterboro St. In approximately one mile Peterboro St. will become Oxbow Road (after passing through 3 stoplights). Stay on Oxbow Rd. approximately 8.5 miles, Oxbow Road will become Pleasant Valley Road. Stay on Pleasant Valley Road approximately 4.5 miles, turn Right onto US-Rt. 20. Stay on Route 20 approximately 6.5 miles turn left onto Lakers Lane. Hotel will be in front of you.

From I-81: Take Exit 73 exit. Turn right onto US-Rt. 11. In a ¼ mile take a left onto US-Rt. 20. Stay on US-Rt. 20 for approximately 15 miles. Turn left onto Forman St. in a ¼ mile turn right onto Albany St (US-Rt. 20). Stay on Albany St. for 1.1 miles. Turn Right on Lakers Lane. Hotel will be in Front of you.

Conference Program

The digital Program will be available soon.

APHNYS Open Board Meeting

The APHNYS Board of Directors will be holding an open meeting at the conference.

Association of Public Historians of New York State Awards

Nominations are now opened

APHNYS will be seeking nominations for its awards, given every year at its annual conference. Awards are given during the recipient's lifetime and not posthumously.  Here are the categories for the awards:

Franklin D. Roosevelt Local Government Historian Professional Achievement Award - Awarded to an appointed historian in recognition of outstanding career achievement in the practice of Public History in New York State.

Named in memory of FDR’s service as Historian of the Town of Hyde Park in Dutchess County. Nominations open to appointed municipal historians, only.

Edmund J. Winslow Local Government Historian Award for Excellence– Awarded to an appointed historian, recognizing excellence in one or more public history projects or publications in New York State.

Named in memory of Edmund J. Winslow, Senior Historian, New York State Museum (1968-1990). Nominations open to appointed municipal historians, only.

APHNYS Award for Excellence in Promoting Local History - Awarded for excellence in promoting local history in New York State through research, writing, and other related accomplishments.

Nominations open to all, including appointed municipal historians, deputy historians and co-historians.

Hugh Hastings Award – Awarded in recognition of distinguished service to and support of the public history community, through work to promote and preserve history in New York State.

Named in honor of Hugh Hastings, the First State Historian for New York State (1895-1907). Nominations open to those other than appointed municipal historians.

Joseph F. Meany Award – Awarded in recognition of excellence in a military, maritime or labor history project or publication, in New York State.

Named in honor of Joseph F. Meany Jr., Acting Historian for New York State (1994-2001). Nominations open to all, including appointed municipal historians, deputy historians and co-historians.

All nominations must have supporting statements or information attached or mailed with the form to assist the APHNYS Awards Committee in its review. Nominations submitted without supporting statements or information will not be reviewed.

If you have any questions, please contact Ray LaFever, awards@aphnys.org, (607) 832-4609.

The deadline for nominations is August 4, 2025. Please complete this nomination form online at APHNYS 2025 Awards Nomination.

or mail to 

APHNYS

PO Box 316

Babylon, NY 11702

If mailing the form, be sure it is postmarked by August 4, 2025.