My beginning at the Jacob Leisler Institute

As a major history geek, I have visited many historic sites from Sagamore Hill on Long Island to the Gettysburg Battlefield, both of which brought me some of the greatest joy that I have ever felt. Whenever I went to these sites, one thing that I always wondered was “How do they gather all of this information together to form such great knowledge?” or “What’s going on behind the scenes as all of these tourists are walking around the public area?”. Since I have started my internship at the Jacob Leisler Institute in Hudson, NY, these questions have been solved in ways that I never would’ve thought I’d have the privilege to experience.

From my time at the institution, I have learned that there are two major goals that try to achieve. The first of these is learning the history of New York from 1664 (the year that England took control from the Dutch) to 1773, just about two years before the breakout of the American Revolution. For the Leisler institute, this is a time period in New York that is very under examined and it dedicates almost all of its research within this 109 year time frame. The second of the institute’s goals, which is more specific, is to learn about Jacob Leisler, a New York merchant who served as the rebel governor of the state from 1689-1691 during the New York Rebellion of 1689 (AKA Leisler’s Rebellion).

The biggest method that the Leisler institute uses to conduct its research from what I have seen so far is the translating of documents and manuscripts in order for it to be understood by the public. During most of my time there, I work with some sources dating as far back as the late 1500’s in some cases and attempt to translate them and, after being translated, the documents and manuscripts are saved into the filing system and are open to anyone in the public to come and see for themselves if they wish to do so. Along with the manuscripts and documents are also many published books that are either currently translated to english are in the process of doing so as well as maps and even geneological files that anyone is more than welcome to view for themselves.

Due to the institute being a nonprofit, independent organization, it is much harder for it to reach out to the public than other historical institutes such as those run by the Federal Government. As stated previously, the institute is open to all of the public to come in and view the research for themselves, but the institute still has the issue of public recognition and interest even with this amazing feature. The best way that the institute has reached out to the public is through its lectures that are held throughout the year in locations such as the Hudson Area Library in town. Despite not receiving the public recognition that it deserves, the institute still does a phenomenal job in its mission to discover the life of Jacob Leisler and to uncover the early Colonial history of New York that so many historians have overlooked and, while serving at the institute, I can say with absolute pleasure that I get to be part of one of the greatest historical experiences of my life.