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The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation awarded the New York State Archives Partnership Trust (APT), the non-profit arm of the New York State Archives, a $100,000 matching grant for Consider the Source Online: Teaching with Historical Records Project. The project will create an online platform that enables local, regional and statewide collaborations among teachers, cultural organizations and content specialists. In addition, the National Council for History Education designated the APT to head a new council for New York State.

鈥淧rimary sources 鈥� whether it鈥檚 a historical document, an audio recording, or a video 鈥� are one of the best ways to teach students about the past,鈥� said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. 鈥淭hanks to the Gardiner Foundation鈥檚 grant, the Archives Partnership Trust will create an interactive online resource to help educators incorporate primary sources and historical records into their classroom curriculum.鈥�

鈥淭eachers encourage students to make discoveries every day and teaching with primary sources is an excellent way to spark discovery in the classroom,鈥� said Beth Berlin, Acting Commissioner of the State Education Department. 鈥淭he new Consider the Source Online website will bring together educators and cultural institutions to develop an online network of learning communities and introduce teachers to the how and why of using historical documents in the classroom. There鈥檚 no better way to start the Trust鈥檚 new leadership of the New York Council for History Education than the launch of this project.鈥�

Funded in part by the Gardiner Foundation鈥檚 grant, the APT鈥檚 website will feature: digitized primary sources selected by educators and connected to the New York State Learning Standards; teacher-developed primary source lesson plans; training modules and videos on incorporating historical records into the classroom; a calendar of professional learning opportunities; and an online support community where teachers and cultural organizations can ask questions and share ideas. The APT and its regional partners will provide tailored professional development opportunities for teachers to create their own primary source-based educational lessons. Work is expected to begin on the project in September with an anticipated completion in August 2021.

The APT also recently partnered with the to form a state council 鈥� the New York Council for History Education (NYCHE). This partnership further enhances the Trust鈥檚 ability to promote historical literacy by strengthening regional networks of educators, historians and cultural organizations and providing locally focused professional development and outreach activities. The NYCHE will be chaired by The College of Saint Rose Professor, Kristi Fragnoli, Ed.D. and a team of educators from nine regions around New York State. Recruitment is ongoing to form regional networks of educators to serve as advisors to strengthen the work of NYCHE and provide professional development.

Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, said, 鈥淭he priority of a historical society鈥檚 mission of stewardship is in overseeing its archives. These documents are the most valuable pieces in their collections. Though often overlooked and utilized, these resources offer a personal voice and as such a true reflection of a time and place. The Gardiner Foundation is delighted to partner with the State Archives Partnership Trust to advance the use of these primary resources in bringing these narratives to life and to celebrate our historic societies as important educational resources.鈥�

Laura Wakefield, Interim Executive Director of the National Council for History Education, said, 鈥淣CHE is thrilled with the collaboration of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust to build and support the New York Council for History Education. With the help of the Archives Partnership Trust鈥檚 leadership and network, the New York Council for History Education will reach history educators, libraries and cultural organizations with opportunities to connect through conferences, receive professional development, stay informed,听and advocate for history education.听We look forward to growing and serving NCHE鈥檚 members across the state of New York through the work of this new state council.鈥�

The , established in 1987, primarily supports the study of New York State history. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16^th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner鈥檚 Island, NY. The Gardiner Family and their descendants have owned Gardiner鈥檚 Island since 1639, obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England. The Foundation is inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner鈥檚 personal passion for New York history.

is a statewide non-profit whose mission is to keep over 350 years of New York鈥檚 rich documentary heritage within the New York State Archives accessible and alive though education, preservation, and outreach programs. The is the largest repository of state government records in the nation, holding over 250 million records of state and colonial governments dating back to the Dutch colonial period in 1630. The New York State Archives is a program of the 91社区鈥檚 Office of Cultural Education.