The Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Program Series
2010 Events and Programs
The Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust
Program Series
All programs are offered free of charge unless noted otherwise
May 27 - March 1, 2011
Ongoing Exhibition
Historic Fires of Saratoga Springs
Curated by Michael Levinson
Residents of the City of Saratoga Springs have witnessed more than their share of historic fires of monumental proportion and consequences: The loss of lives, property, and world-class historic resort venues.
Our research revealed stories of hundreds of properties that have been destroyed by fire, from the earliest days of this community through the 21st century. This exhibition tells a story of some of those fires, both the devastation that resulted and the perseverance of Saratogians to re-build again, again, and again.
Native American Storytelling by James Bruchac
Saturday, August 28, 11am
Community Room of the Saratoga Springs Public Library
Made Possible by the New York Council for the Humanities
Audiences of all ages will be amused and entertained by Jim Bruchac. Most of the stories Jim shares have been passed down from generation to generation. They also serve as great windows into Native culture. During Native storytelling Jim includes the use of Native Instruments such as drums, rattles and flutes encouraging the audience to sing along with various songs and chants.
Jim Bruchac both authored and co-authored books for kids and adults alike. Childrens books include How Chipmunk Got His Stripes, Turtle's Race with Beaver, and Racoon's Last Race, all by Dial books, When The Chenoo Howls from Walker books and Native American Games and Stories by Fulcrum Publishing. Upcoming childrens' books include Rabbit's Snow Dance, Dial Books, Nature Tracks With Jim Bruchac, Bowman Books, and Jim Bruchac's Animal Tracking Adventure Guide by Fulcrum Publishing. Upcoming Titles include The Girl Who Helped Thunder, an anthology of Native Tales from Sterling Publishing, Trackers Trail as well as Jim Bruchac's Guide to Woodland Survival, both from Bowman Books.
As a Native American storyteller Jim has offered programs for hundreds of schools across the United States. In 1999, Jim was nominated Storyteller of the Year by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Authors and Storytellers. He has performed at festivals, museums and libraries, including the Smithsonian Discovery Theater (Washington DC), the Corn Island Storytelling Festival (KY), Noble Tales Festival and the Connor Prairie Museum (IN), Indian Summer and Riverbend Festivals (WI), The Boston Children's Museum and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum (MA), the Hudson River Clearwater Festival, the Noteworthy Indian Museum, and The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake (NY). Jim is the Director of The Ndakinna Education Center and Nature Preserve, offering hands-on field trips to his family's 80+ acre nature preserve and educational center focusing on Native American history & culture as well as environmental education. He has a BA in American Studies from Skidmore College.
Thursday, September 16 7:00 pm at the Canfield Casino
Re-scheduled from the 23rd
The Fall of the House of Walworth
A lecture and Book Signing by Geoffrey O'Brien
Geoffrey O'Brien researched this fascinating book here in the Beatrice Sweeney Archives. He tell a vivid story of the collapse of the Walworth family and studies the patricide committed by Frank Walworth in great detail. Geoffrey O'Brien is the Editor in Chief for the Library of America. He has as also published Hardboiled America, Dream Time, The Times Square Story and Sonata for Jukebox.
Wednesday, October 27 7:00 pm at the Canfield Casino
Annual Meeting of the Saratoga Springs History Museum
New York in the Civil War
Presented by Alfred Z. Solomon Keynote Speaker
Professor Craig Symonds
A native of Anaheim, Calif., Symonds in the 1970s was a U.S. Navy officer and the first ensign ever to lecture at the prestigious Naval War College in Newport, R.I. After his naval service, Symonds remained at the War College as a civilian professor of strategy from 1974-1975.
He came to the Naval Academy in 1976 and during his 36-year career became a popular professor whose Civil War classes were always over-subscribed. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1988 and Researcher of the Year in 1998. He chaired the history department from 1988 to 1992. In addition to the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, he was awarded the Civilian Meritorious Service Medal three times. From 1994 to 1995 he served as professor of strategy and policy at the Britannia Naval College in Dartmouth, England.
Symonds is the author of 12 books and the editor of nine others. He has also written over 100 scholarly articles in professional journals and popular magazines, as well as more than 20 book chapters in historical anthologies. Five of his books were selections of the Book-of-the-Month Club, and six have been selections of the History Book Club.
His books have won the Barondess Lincoln Prize, the Daniel and Marilyn Laney Prize, the S.A. Cunningham Award, the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize, and the John Lyman book Prize three times. In 2009 he shared the $50,000 Lincoln Prize with James M. McPherson. He also won the "Annie" Award in Literary Arts given by Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Now retired, Symonds is much in demand around the country as a speaker on Civil War subjects. He has spoken at Civil War Round Tables in 27 states and two foreign countries, given tours of battlefields and other historical sites and helped conduct leadership workshops based on the life of Abraham Lincoln.
Thursday, November 18 7:00 pm in the Canfield Casino
2010 Saratoga Springs History Hall of Fame induction and conversation.
2010 HOLIDAY GALA
Friday December 10 6:30 - 10:30 at the Canfield Casino