NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2021
Mountains, Millinery, & Mormons, Oh My! “Experts Next Door” Speaker Series Continues
Ballston Spa, NY – The Saratoga County History Center is pleased to announce the April, May, and June episodes of the popular virtual speaker series “Experts Next Door.” The program connects Saratoga County residents with experts on a wide variety of topics. The episodes are casual, fun, entertaining, and informative. Audience participation is encouraged.
Thursday, April 22, 7pm: “Curing in the Mountains” with Amy Catania, Executive Director of Historic Saranac Lake. Ms. Catania will discuss Saranac Lake’s fascinating role in the research and treatment of tuberculosis, and how it relates to today’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Along the way, she will share tales of Saranac Lake’s history, including first-hand accounts from people associated with the research and treatment center.
Thursday, May 20, 7pm: “The Social Life of Hats” with Dr. Tillman Nechtman, Professor of History at Skidmore College. Grab your fedoras, Panamas, bowlers, pork pies, and boaters, because May’s episode of END is all about hats! In particular, the role hats have played in Saratoga’s storied social scene. Inspired by a spring 2021 course at Skidmore that utilizes Brookside Museum’s chapeaux collection, Dr. Nechtman’s presentation will include stories, students, and some silliness. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite topper and share their own social shenanigans.
Thursday, June 17, 7pm: “New York, Joseph Smith, and the Fight for Religious Freedom” with Dr. Spencer McBride, Associate Managing Historian of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Dr. McBride, a prominent historian and published author, will be discussing his newest book and exploring the remarkable, though short-lived, political career of Joseph Smith, the New Yorker who founded Mormonism, waged a literal war for religious freedom, and launched a quixotic run for the White House.
Episodes are free for SCHC members, and $5 for non-members. Please register in advance at www.brooksidemuseum.org. Registrants will receive a Zoom link and other relevant information. For questions, please contact Isobel Connell at isobel@brooksidemuseum.org.
The Saratoga County History Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing the diverse histories of Saratoga County. Previously focused on the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa, the SCHC now offers a wide variety of innovative, exciting, and educational programming online. In particular, a town hall-style public forum on climate change and historic preservation is slated for the fall. When Brookside Museum re-opens this summer, the SCHC will debut new exhibits and family-friendly events. Please see the SCHC website (www.brooksidemuseum.org) and our social media accounts (@SaratogaCoHistory) for news and announcements.
