Library, History Center to Host Local History Lunch Series

Tompkins County Public Library and The History Center in Tompkins County will partner for “Exploring and Doing Local History,” a hands-on, monthly history program facilitated by Tompkins County Historian Carol Kammen and Rod Howe, executive director of The History Center in Tompkins County.

These free, 75-minute drop-in sessions will be held at noon on the second Thursday of each month from October 8 through April 14, with program locations alternating monthly between the Library’s large study room and The History Center’s map room. The first session will take place at the Library.

Howe will introduce exploratory themes and topics, and Kammen will assist participants in conducting their own local history, by documenting past events, people or groups, and provide information on how to conduct research. She will introduce local documents for group discussion. The format will include time for open discussion.

Kammen is an award-winning historian, a published author and editorial writer for “History News,” the journal of the American Association for State and Local History. She has taught at Ithaca High School, Tompkins Cortland Community College and is retired from teaching at Cornell University. She lectures widely around the country to historical organizations and consults for a number of historical societies.

Howe has strong generational ties to the Tompkins County. Prior to his work with The History Center, Howe worked at Cornell University in an extension and outreach role focused on community and economic development. He has a diverse educational background that includes architecture, sociology, planning, theology and history.

No registration is required, and participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch.  Beverages will be provided.

For more information, contact Carrie Wheeler-Carmenatty at (607) 272-4557 ext. 248 or cwheeler@tcpl.org or Kayla Sewell at 607-273-8284, ext. 227 or community@thehistorycenter.net.