New York Heritage Documentation Project
New York is in danger of losing a priceless treasure. Scattered about the state in file drawers and boxes, in offices and attics, are vast amounts of information about our historical and recent past, the seeds of history and understanding for an educated and informed citizenry. Much of this vital resource is being lost or destroyed. Whole industries, cultures, and areas of New York life, and many of its important events, people, and organizations are undocumented. The New York State Archives is working to reverse this trend so that we can preserve and make accessible to all New Yorkers a comprehensive documentary record of their history.
The New York Heritage Documentation Project, funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, enabled us to refined and tested an approach to documentation in the areas of mental health, environmental affairs, and the Latino communities. The project also produced a comprehensive list of topics to document in New York history and A Manual for Documentation Planning in New York State The manual presents the methodology for people and organizations that wish to undertake statewide or regional documentation planning to help ensure the creation of a more comprehensive, balanced, and equitable record of all New York’s peoples and their history.
Regional work on documenting New York continues through the Documentary Heritage Program grant projects. DHP grants are designed to ensure the identification, surveying, collecting, and making available historical records relating to underdocumented groups and topics. You can learn about the projects that have been undertaken by visiting the Rediscovering New York webpages. A link to information on completed documentation projects can be found under specific subjects.
If you have questions or comments about this project or this site, please contact us.
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