SRAC Headlines for NYSAA Publication

Since founding SRAC in 2005 we have had many hurdles and milestones along the way, and we have clearly shown a passion in following our mission throughout. What this passion allows us to do is to see each success along our journey and to be able to celebrate each one with our ever growing membership and list of supporters.

Today is yet another one of those celebrations as SRAC has been represented as the lead article for the NYSAA (New York State Archaeology Association) quarterly newsletter. The NYSAA is a non-profit organization composed of people interested in various phases of archaeology in New York State. Founded in 1916 and chartered in 1927 by the Board of Regents of the State of New York, NYSAA is a nonprofit organization composed of 15 chapters and a world-wide membership-at-large.

We consider this an honor to be represented by the NYSAA and hope that our readers feel the same pride that we do in sharing this latest news.

I want to thank William E. Engelbrecht, N.Y.S.A.A. President, for inviting me to write the article to introduce SRAC to his organization. Although many of us are members of the NYSAA, I am sure there were many NYSAA readers that for one reason or another have not learned of us yet. What a wonderful opportunity we were given to do so.

Click Here to download your copy today:
http://nysaaweb.bfn.org/newsletter/newsletter_winter09.pdf

If you would like to join the NYSAA click here:
http://nysaaweb.bfn.org/membership.shtml

"French Azilum" - Tuesday, March 3rd

Retired Binghamton University French Professor, Richard Boswell will present "French Azilum" at the next SRAC History's Mysteries on Tuesday, March 3rd from 6pm - 7:30 pm.

Azilum, or Asylum, was appropriately named, for it provided a natural setting of undisturbed calm and pastoral serenity ten miles below Towanda, PA for a group of French exiles in the autumn of 1793. Some of the refugees, because of their loyalty to the King, had left France to escape imprisonment or death at the hands of the Revolution. More than fifty structures were erected by the refugees during that time in hopes to erect a village that could survive and support the population of exiles.

It is believed by some that even Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, and her two children were trying to escape in order to settle in this rather large village that is all but gone today.

Mr. Boswell taught French language and civilization nigh on forty years at Binghamton U. and has been retired for a few years. He enjoys history, primarily American, French, and British, and especially ways in which they interlock. He has studied French Azilum for a number of years recently created the program for public consumption.

The program is chock full of information concerning this site and is one and a half hours long to include the Q & A session. SRAC is located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY. Admission prices: Adults - $4, Students and SRAC members -$3. Doors open at 5:30pm.

SRAC Receives Janiak Collection

Barbara Janiak Displays the SRAC/Janiak Collection Recently Donated to SRAC

Waverly, NY - Recently Valerie Sinsabaugh contacted the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC.) Her parents, Stan and Barbara Janiak, past residents of the Valley now living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina heard about SRAC and wanted to return their artifact collection to the area. The collection included 4 cases of arrow and spear points and 2 cases with hard to find glass trade beads, some from as early as the 17th century.

SRAC’s Executive Director, Deb Twigg stated, “The Janiak collection is a wonderful addition to the SRAC and it is the tenth local collection that we have received since our inception. While we have received much larger collections in the past, this collection is special specifically because of the glass trade beads that are very hard to find these days. I want to thank the Janiak family again for donating these wonderful artifacts because many people would have sold them for a lot of money instead of considering their worth as it relates to our history.”





The SRAC/Janiak Collection is already on display in the SRAC Exhibit Hall, which is located at 345 Broad St., Waverly, NY and is open from 1-5 pm Tuesday through Friday and 11am – 4pm on Saturday.

To learn more about SRAC visit www.SRACenter.org, call (607)565-7960 or email info@SRACenter.org.

Louise Welles Murray and Her Legacy

I (Deb Twigg) will be presenting "Louise Welles Murray and Her Legacy" this Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the Waverly Library in downtown Waverly, NY. It will be a part of the Waverly Library's "First Sundays" series from 2:30 - 4:30pm.

This presentation will be about Mrs. Murray and her life during a time when women were not allowed to vote, yet she founded the Tioga Point Museum and became a highly respected force in Pennsylvania Archaeology. Her life is an inspiring tale that is long overdue for celebration. If anyone wonders what (or who) inspired me to do what I do, look no farther than Louise Welles Murray. She is my hero.

This presentation will also be a great lead in to the upcoming "Murray Garden" presentation that is about a site in the Murray's garden in 1882 while workmen were digging up a drainage ditch and was the catalyst that put Louise and her family on the path to preserve our local archaeology. The Murray Garden presentation will be held on March 16th at SRAC from 6:30 - 7:30 pm (doors open at 6.) Exhibit hall free passes will be given to all attendees!

Hope to see you there!

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SRAC’s History's Mysteries - February - “Glaciers in Our Valley”

SRAC’s History's Mysteries will be on Tuesday, February 3rd from 6:30 – 7:30pm at SRAC located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY. The presentation will be “Glaciers in Our Valley” presented by SRAC member, Mike Buynak. Download flier here.

The Valley was once part of a huge glacial lake that reached from Milan, PA to Owego, NY. In this presentation, Buynak will tell us how we know this lake existed and about local land formations around us that were the result of glaciers. Some of these formations are of prehistoric, historic and modern significance. Climate and vegetation changes will also be a part of this presentation as well.

Doors will open at 6pm and free SRAC Exhibit Hall passes will be given to all presentation attendees to view thousands of locally found artifacts before and after the presentation.

"Making and Breaking China in the Ottoman Empire"

The Triple Cities Chapter of the NYS Archaeological Association will hold its January meeting on Thursday, Jan 22, at 7:30 PM. We will be meeting at the Old Village of Union Historical society, 407 E. Main St, in the Union District of Endicott, NY. It is free to attend for the public.

Our speaker this month will be Lynda Carroll of Binghamton University. Her topic will be "Making and Breaking China in the Ottoman Empire". This will be a chance to see the archaeology of a warm place as well as an opportunity to hear
about how ceramic analysis sheds light on a historic era and empire.

Dan Caister
President
Triple Cities Chapter
nysaatcc@yahoo.com

Long Houses in Your Own Back yard! Tuesday Night!

The next installment of History's Mysteries will be Tuesday, January 6th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY.

SRAC's Ted Keir will present information and show actual photos from many archaeological excavations in Northeastern PA and Southeastern NY. From long houses to village sites, you will be sure to be amazed at all of the archaeological sites found in just our Valley and surrounding region! Many artifacts from these digs will be on display and collectors who want to display locally found artifacts at this event are welcome to do so. (Doors open at 6pm for setup of any displays.)

The admission price of the event will be $4 for adults, and $3 for students and SRAC members. The SRAC Exhibit Hall filled with thousands of locally found artifacts will be open at 6pm and will be free to view by all event attendees.

For more information, please call Ted Keir at 570-888-2718, or email info@SRACenter.org.