Press

 

Jaclyn Keegan
(518) 474-1201
Press@nysed.gov(link sends e-mail)
www.nysed.gov

Join Us in Honoring the Trailblazing Women Who Shaped Our Past and Present

To commemorate Women's History Month, the Office of Cultural Education is hosting a series of interactive, community-focused programs that spotlight the remarkable achievements of pioneering women in science, art, and culture. These free events invite visitors of all ages to explore the collections of the State Museum, Library, and Archives to learn more about the groundbreaking contributions of women trailblazers.

Through engaging presentations and experiences, the programs aim to inspire and educate the community about the incredible women who have shaped our history. Each event leads up to the Museum’s signature Women’s History Month program, Women of Science, which will be held on Saturday, March 22 at the New York State Museum and feature interactive events for all ages and impressive speakers from throughout the state, including Christina Rieth, the second woman named New York State Archaeologist.

Commissioner Dr. Betty A. Rosa, the first Latina woman to serve in the role, said, "The New York State Education Department is dedicated to elevating diverse voices, and we take great pride in the trailblazing women at the Department who have dedicated their careers to public service. Through a carefully curated series of public programs, we not only honor the extraordinary contributions women have made to our state’s history but also celebrate the invaluable daily impact of the women on our team who shape and drive the Office of Cultural Education’s initiatives. As we commemorate their legacies throughout this month and beyond, we acknowledge the enduring influence of their work—past, present, and future—on the vibrant cultural landscape we are privileged to nurture and support."

Chief Curator of History Dr. Jennifer Lemak, the first woman to serve in the role, said, “Women's History Month is a time I look forward to each year, as it provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the women who have paved the way for future generations and often overlooked. At the museum, we are dedicated to researching, preserving, and showcasing the history and contributions of women in New York State.”

New York State Librarian Lauren Moore, the second woman to serve in the role, said, “Our invaluable collections include countless primary documents that detail the inspiring stories of women who triumphed over adversity throughout history. While these works are always available to the public onsite and through our interlibrary loan program, March offers a special chance to further highlight these precious accounts through thoughtful webinars and displays.”

Director of Archival Services Monica Gray said, “I am immensely proud to be part of a strong leadership team at the State Archives, many of us women. The archival records we hold reflect a long history of women holding political office, leading social change, and providing New Yorkers with unparalleled public service. I look forward to continuing to celebrate that throughout the month and beyond.”

New Exhibit – Outcasts: Mary Banning’s World of Mushrooms 
On View: Opening Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Location: New York State Museum, Photography Gallery 

Uncover the captivating world of fungi through the eyes of self-taught mycologist Mary Banning. In 1889, Banning completed an unpublished manuscript, "Fungi of Maryland," featuring 175 exquisite watercolor illustrations and descriptions of mushroom species. Despite her incredible talent, Banning faced financial hardship and housing insecurity toward the end of her life. Hoping to preserve her work, she entrusted the manuscript to renowned mycologist Charles H. Peck, who founded the fungal collection at the New York State Museum. Peck stored the manuscript at the museum, where it remained hidden for nearly a century. Former mycological curator John Haines rediscovered the long-forgotten manuscript in the 1980s, finally bringing Banning's remarkable work back to light. Today, it is one of the most prized objects in the New York State Museum’s collections.

Webinar – Women in Science Now: Stories and Strategies for Achieving Equity 
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Webinar
Register for Women in Science Now: Stories and Strategies for Achieving Equity

Author Lisa M.P. Munoz discusses the numerous obstacles women working in science face during each step along their career paths. Munoz will unpack the persistent gender gap while offering new perspectives and highlighting research-based solutions for women in the field. 

Event – For the Love of Ash Trees 
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater

Dr. Gwendolyn Saul, the New York State Museum’s Curator of Cultural Anthropology, will delve into the captivating art of Haudenosaunee basket making and shine a light on critical efforts to safeguard Black Ash trees from the devastating Emerald Ash Borer beetles - a threat to this vital resource. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to view a brand-new art acquisition that ties directly to this important cultural and environmental topic.

Webinar – Breaking Glass Ceilings: Clara Stanton Jones and the Detroit Public Library
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Webinar 
Register for Breaking Glass Ceilings: Clara Stanton Jones and the Detroit Public Library

Renate Chancellor, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at Syracuse's School of Information Studies, will lead a thought-provoking and important lunchtime discussion about the powerful story of Clara Stanton Jones. Jones was the first woman and African American to direct a major United States public library system, setting the standard for future library directors nationwide.

Webinar – The Handbook of Black Librarianship: Trailblazing Women 
Date: Friday, March 14
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Location: Webinar
Register for Handbook of Black Librarianship: Trailblazing Women 

Join us as we continue our series celebrating the Handbook of Black Librarianship. Our March edition will feature candid interviews with pioneering women of color, showcasing the insightful perspectives of retired librarians who have built distinguished careers. 

Event – BrainFood for the Curious: Women in New York: Stories from the Collections 
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025  
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum, Huxley Theater 

The program will feature presentations from the Library, Archives, and Museum highlighting significant figures, accomplishments, and resources from their collections. Following the presentations, there will be a Q&A session, providing a fantastic opportunity to gain deeper insights. Bring your lunch and be inspired by this thought-provoking event. 

Event – Women of Science – *Our Signature Women’s History Month program
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025  
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum 

Celebrate inspiring female scientists and their contributions across a wide range of fields! Meet women scientists from the New York State Museum and beyond, learn about their cutting-edge research, and explore interactive exhibits and activities. The day's schedule is packed with hands-on fun - from educational activities to "Ask a Scientist" panels tailored for all ages. Don't miss this chance to gain insight into the future of science, directly from the women shaping it! 

Event – The Mushroom Letters: A Dramatic Reading of Mary Banning & Charles Peck’s Correspondence with NorthEast Theater Ensemble 
Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025 
Time: 2:00 p.m. 
Location: New York State Museum, South Lobby 

Join us for a dramatic reading of "The Mushroom Letters" - the captivating correspondence between self-taught mycologist Mary Elizabeth Banning and Charles H. Peck, a leading mycologist at the New York State Museum. Despite living in obscurity and poverty, Banning dedicated her life to studying fungi, creating stunning illustrations, and describing new species. Her unpublished manuscript, "The Fungi of Maryland," filled with 175 exquisite watercolors, remained hidden for nearly a century before being rediscovered in the 1980s. This event brings Banning's passionate pursuit of mycology to life, offering a glimpse into the challenges she faced as a woman working in a male-dominated field.

Event – History and Hops at the Albany Outpost: Fungi and Feminism: The Pioneering Work of Mary Banning
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Common Roots Albany Outpost

An evening of history, science, and the story of women in mycology! Delve further into the life of Mary Elizabeth Banning during a time when women in science were often overlooked. Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Senior Historian and Curator of Social History, will provide context on the barriers women overcame while Dr. Patricia Kaishian, Curator of Mycology, will highlight how Banning became an inspiration.

New Display – Breaking Barriers: Pioneering Women in Science
On View: March and April 2025 
Location: New York State Library, 7th Floor

Discover the remarkable contributions of women in science through a new display showcasing books, government documents, medical pamphlets, and newspapers that highlight their pivotal role in advancing scientific progress. Among the influential women featured is Winifred Goldring, the first female curator at the New York State Museum and the first woman to serve as State Paleontologist (1939-1954). Goldring's groundbreaking work, especially in the study of fossils, laid a crucial foundation for understanding the geological history of New York State.

New Display – She Persisted: A Celebration of Female Trailblazers in New York
On View: March and April 2025 
Location: New York State Archives & Library, 11th Floor Lobby

Highlighting exemplary women who have influenced history and enriched New York's collections, "She Persisted: A Celebration of Female Trailblazers in New York" draws from the holdings of the New York State Library's Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit and the New York State Archives to showcase the perseverance, contributions, and leadership of these female trailblazers.

 

About the Cultural Education Center

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter. 

The New York State Library, established in 1818, is the largest state library system in the nation and one of the largest research libraries in North America. It oversees a vast network of more than 7,000 libraries statewide. Collections are made available onsite and through a robust interlibrary loan program. The Library’s mission is advanced through several key divisions, including the Research Library, which houses a collection of over 20 million items, the Talking Book and Braille Library, and the Division of Library Development. The Library preserves and maintains invaluable historical collections and works, and serves as a Regional Depository for federal publications. Additionally, the State Library is the official repository of New York State government publications, ensuring their enduring preservation and accessibility for future generations. For more information, please visit the New York State Library website and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.  

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.  

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more.

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.    

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