Step Into History Be a hero like Henry Knox—follow his legendary trail, visit libraries along the way, and relive the bold journey that helped win America’s freedom! Visit each of the 9 libraries along the trail and get your map stamped. Upon completion, visit any of the 9 participating libraries with your completed maps to receive your award. Libraries: Bolton Free Library, Lake George Library, Crandall Public Library, Hudson Falls Free Library, Fort Edward Free Library, Schuylerville Public Library, Stillwater Public Library, Mechanicville Public Library, Waterford Public Library.

The Monday Afternoon Club was founded in 1890 by Miss Caroline Hills and Miss Augusta Childs, two Binghamton teachers who sought to create a literary club for women. Early meetings were small—just eight members gathered in Miss Hills’ home—and focused on reading and discussing magazine articles. Each member was assigned an article to summarize and present at the next meeting. In 1892, the club hosted its first guest speaker, author Kate Douglas Wiggin. Proceeds from the event covered Wiggin’s $75 speaking fee, with the remaining funds donated to the Y.W.C.A., the City Employment Society, and the Home for Aged Women—marking the start of the club’s long tradition of philanthropy. By 1896, the club joined the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, a membership that lasted more than 66 years. As membership grew, it became impractical to meet in private homes. Members began renting meeting rooms and funded these expenses by selling Kalendars—annual booklets featuring literary quotes and artwork. The Kalendars were a great success and were published until 1921. The club met in various locations, including the Y.W.C.A. and Johnson Block, and organized departments of study in Literature, History, Economics, Philosophy, and Education. Over time, formal paper presentations gave way to lectures by invited speakers. The club also introduced refreshments, concerts, teas, and dances. By 1905, membership had grown to 327, and members began discussing the idea of owning a permanent clubhouse. That year, Mrs. Robert Rose proposed purchasing the Phelps Mansion on Court Street. Despite initial hesitation, members voted to proceed. With a $10,000 gift from then-owner J.S. Wells, the club purchased the mansion for $15,000 and incorporated on April 15, 1905. They quickly added an auditorium to host large gatherings, including the 1905 New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs convention. The Monday Afternoon Club went on to host an impressive roster of speakers, including Jane Addams, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, Grant Wood, Jack London, and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski. As costs rose in later decades, the club focused more on local speakers, continuing its commitment to education and culture well into the 1970s. Philanthropy remained central to the club’s mission. Members raised funds for the Susquehanna Valley Orphanage, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Red Cross; sold war bonds; and advocated for women property owners’ voting rights on taxation matters. During the women’s suffrage movement, the club hosted both pro- and anti-suffrage speakers—including Carrie Chapman Catt, the Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, and Alva Belmont—to maintain balance among its members. Between 1910 and 1916, many suffrage meetings took place in the club’s own auditorium. Beyond its social and civic work, the club played a vital role in preserving the historic Sherman D. Phelps Mansion, built in 1870. Thanks to their stewardship, it remains one of the last great mansions on Court Street. When the Monday Afternoon Club disbanded in 2005, members voted to transform the home into a museum, ensuring it would remain a part of Binghamton’s history. Founded with a vision of intellectual and social growth for women, the Monday Afternoon Club left a lasting legacy of education, philanthropy, and preservation in the Binghamton community.

New York State’s 250th seeks to highlight and commemorate not just the roles of New York’s citizens during the Revolutionary War, but also the subsequent 250 years of action toward the ideals of our nation’s founding principles. This guide for educators includes a variety of information, including classroom resources from the Office of Cultural Education at the New York State Education Department, in support of P-12 exploration related to this historic commemoration.

Recently, the New York State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education had the opportunity to have a presence at the 2026 State of the State! Staff from the New York State Archives, New York State Library, and New York State Museum shared collection items, current programming, and upcoming events related to the 250th. This history — and the commemoration efforts — belongs to all New Yorkers! Staff from the New York State Library decided to capture on-the-spot submissions from event attendees for this Personal History Initiative collection. We asked "What do you love most about New York State?" -- and, via sticky notes!, you told! Here are the results from this crowd-sourced activity: I love that NYS has played a significant role in 250 years of fighting for the rights of all. Inclusivity and the grit of our people. The history of acceptance, exchange, adoption, and ultimately creation of new ways of living. Not just for a few, but for everyone. Community shows up for one another when we need support. From donations to mutual aid to rapid response. We take care of each other. NY’s commitment to children and families. Thank you for caring about people. My favorite thing about New York is how resilient we are. New Yorkers can make it through ANYTHING. Our diversity. It’s beautifully diverse immigrant population. EBRT support for biomedical research funding. UAW! Unions. There's an adventure every day. The ability to travel. The variety. So many different geographic features! Ocean, mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys! Mountains, the people, vacation spots. Secret swimming holes. Golf courses. Lakes, architecture, parks, museums, food. The only state with 524 miles of canal! Locks, canals, parks! Forever wild forest preserves. Museums, libraries, public broadcasting. Libraries (and bagels). LIBRARIES :) Our AMAZING library systems. New York’s wonderful libraries! We have it all. What would you add to this list? Take a deep dive and contribute your thoughts. Or, use this model for an activity in your own community.

The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System (CEFLS), as part of the America250 Committee, is partnering with the Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) to create an engaging activity booklet for youth titled The American Revolution in the Champlain Valley, from A to Z. While the booklet covers the Revolution in general, it also showcases our rich local history. This initiative was inspired by the Committee’s identification of a gap in children’s materials that explore our region’s role in this pivotal period of history. The booklet highlights significant events and Revolutionary War participants from the Champlain Valley, bringing local history to life for young learners. A copy will be distributed to all fourth-grade students in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties, ensuring every child has the opportunity to explore how our area helped shape the nation’s story. This collaborative project brings together retired educators, CEFLS staff, a school librarian, and members of the CCHA. Together, we are designing content that is interactive, educational, and fun—fostering curiosity and pride in our local heritage.

Personal History: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. My upbringing shaped my understanding of justice, struggle, and community. Growing up in New York meant seeing strength and hardship side by side. It meant learning early that voice matters and that silence can cost people their future. As a young person, I was exposed to civil rights conversations and public service. I had the opportunity to meet Reverend Jesse Jackson as a child, and later Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s son at Williams College in upstate New York. Those moments stayed with me. They influenced how I view civic responsibility and the role of leadership in protecting people’s rights. New York shaped my worldview. It taught me resilience. It taught me how to navigate systems. It also showed me how easily communities can be overlooked. Those lessons carried into my adult life and professional path. Humanitarian Work Overseas: Years later, my commitment to service led me overseas. I served as the Lead Case Manager for the Bowen Foundation in Poland. Our work focused on supporting displaced Ukrainian families during the war. In this role, I coordinated case management services, assisted families with housing and essential needs, and helped navigate legal and social service systems in a foreign country. I worked directly with vulnerable populations who had fled conflict. Many arrived with little more than documents and trauma. The work required cultural sensitivity, organization, and direct engagement with individuals facing crisis. It also required endurance. Americans serving overseas in humanitarian roles often operate without public visibility or institutional recognition. As a minority American working internationally, I witnessed how contributions made outside the United States are rarely acknowledged at home. Yet the work reflects core New York values. Service. Diversity. Resilience. Advocacy. Why This Matters for 250 Years: As New York marks 250 years, history should include everyday citizens who stepped into difficult spaces, both at home and abroad. My story reflects a New Yorker shaped by civil rights history who later carried those values into international humanitarian work. Documenting this history ensures that future generations understand that service does not stop at borders. New Yorkers have always influenced the world. I am one example of that legacy.