Committee Report | January 2011

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

The discussion will inform the Regents about the research and documentary editing activities of the New Netherland Research Center, a new program of the Office of Cultural Education.

Reason(s) for Consideration

For Information

Background Information

Seventeenth century collections of government records in the New York State Archives and non-government documents in the State Library’s Manuscripts and Special Collections constitute the world’s largest collection of early Dutch language documentation of the New World colonies.  Scholars regularly explore the collections for insights into 17th century life in New Netherland.   The New Netherland Project focuses on translating and publishing of these materials.

In 2009, the government of the Netherlands committed to a grant of $275,000 to continue and expand the New Netherland Project by establishing a New Netherland Research Center (NNRC) and to make the collections of 17th century Dutch materials available electronically. Dr. Charles Gehring is the Director of the New Netherland Project and its principal translator.  Dr. Janny Venema is Assistant Director.  Both have worked to unlock the wealth of information in these collections by making them available in English.  They have also written extensively and spoken widely on the scope and legacy of New York’s early Dutch heritage.  Dr. Gehring will present an overview of the work of the NNRC and update to the committee.