Collections : [New York State Modern Political Archive]

New York State Modern Political Archive

New York State Modern Political Archive

Elected officials, interest groups, and activists from New York State.
The New York State Modern Political Archive (NYSMPA) was established in 1982 to document the work of individuals and private interest groups concerned with New York State public policy issues in the 20th century. Originally named the Archives of Public Affairs and Policy, the NYSMPA collects, preserves, and facilitates access to primary sources pertaining to New York State public affairs and policy, and now includes the personal papers of members of the gubernatorial administrations of Nelson A. Rockefeller; papers of former New York Congressional members and elected officials who served in New York State Legislature; and the official records and papers of numerous private groups, professional associations, individuals, public-sector labor unions, community groups, and other organizations concerned with Empire State public-policy issues.

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The series includes meeting minutes, agendas, financial statements, flyers and correspondence referring to various projects in the Capital District. There are also some DSA subject files. In addition, the series includes issues of The Albany Anvil, the monthly newsletter of the organization. The newsletter was a project of the Social Justice Center that started almost immediately after the group formed in 1981. May 1981 to May 1996, December 1996 and May-June 1987 are available.

Collection
Online
Born in Leavenworth, Kansas, Schein was a pioneer in the development of educational television and radio in New York State. During graduate study at Boston University, he became active in fundraising to help establish Boston's educational television station, WGBH and served on the Massachusetts Citizens Committee on Educational Television. In 1955, Schein came to Schenectady and served as associate producer and first president of the Mohawk-Hudson Council on Educational Television, where he produced instructional programs for in-school use broadcast over WRGB-TV. Schein led the effort to launch the second public television station in New York State, Schenectady's WMHT in 1962, and was executive director and later general manager. He was instrumental in the addition of the all classical music radio station WMHT-FM in 1972 and the Radio Information Service (RISE), a radio reading service for the blind and print handicapped in 1978. He retired in 1986 as general manager, after concluding negotiations for the acquisition of Channel 45, WMHQ. The collection contains newsletters, programs and schedules, meeting minutes, photographs, and Schein's files as president of Mohawk-Hudson Council on Educational Television, and files as executive director and general manager of WMHT.
Folder
Online

Folk music aficionados Bill and Andy Spence retained photographs, newspaper clippings, posters, schedules, flyers, and audio of the Fox Hollow Festival, of which they were involved in through their Capital District folk organization, Pick'n' and Sing'n' Gather'n' (PSG). The Beers family (Robert, Evelyne, and Martha) of Petersburgh, N.Y. held the Fox Hollow Festival on their family farm celebrating the traditions of folk music and arts every year from 1966 to 1980. The Festival consisted of multiple days packed with folk singing groups, workshops, art showings, activities, entertainment, dancing, games, speakers, crafts, and special guests with camping and other site accommodations upon request. This festival served as inspiration for the Old Songs Festival created in 1981 by Andy. The passing of Robert Beers in May 1972 signaled a shift for the Fox Hollow Festival, and Bill and Andy's last year of participation was 1973. PSG were involved as volunteers with the festival from 1966 to 1973, and Andy resigned from the Fox Hollow Board of Directors in September of that same year.