The Unforgiving Yardstick – Westchester Women’s Roles and Struggles Through the Art of Fleur Spolidor, Featuring Artifacts from the Rye Historical Collection
Mar
21
to Mar 27

The Unforgiving Yardstick – Westchester Women’s Roles and Struggles Through the Art of Fleur Spolidor, Featuring Artifacts from the Rye Historical Collection

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Exhibition Open: March 21, 2025 - March 27, 2026

The Unforgiving Yardstick exhibition tells the stories of ten women whose lives span over 300 years, from the 1700s through today. One of these ten women is Peg Lyon, whose story is the earliest in the exhibition, offering a rare glimpse into the life of an enslaved woman during the American Revolution—a time when the ideals of liberty and freedom were widely proclaimed but not extended to all.

Admission is free, but support is appreciated through donations or museum membership.
Become a member here: Rye Historical Society Membership

The Rye Historical Society is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, recognizing its commitment to excellence and best practices in the museum field.

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Photo Caption: Portrait
Painted by Fleur Spolidor
Photographed by Jim Frank
Peg Lyon’s portrait is based on a compilation of several photographs of her descendants, including her 4x great-granddaughter and Rye Historical Society board member, Teresa Vega. Peg was tri-racial, with Munsee Lenape and mixed East and West African ancestry on her maternal side and British ancestry on her paternal side.

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Online Lecture: Uncovering the Lake George Battlefield with Siobhan Hart
Apr
17
6:00 PM18:00

Online Lecture: Uncovering the Lake George Battlefield with Siobhan Hart

The Lake George Battlefield State Park (Warren County, New York) contains the remains of twenty-five years of military action and encampment spanning the French and Indian War through the American Revolution. Within the park are the intact remains of notable battles and evidence of the daily life of soldiering in the 18th century. In 1776, the area became home to the largest smallpox hospitals in the American colonies, with several thousand smallpox patients brought and cared for here. This presentation will discuss past and current archaeological research at the Lake George Battlefield State Park and a shift towards the use of non-invasive geophysical techniques, limited excavation, and existing collections research.

Presented by Siobhan M. Hart, PhD

Siobhan Hart (she/her) is an anthropologist and professor at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Her work is concerned with using material culture, place, and community collaboration to address inequities in the world today. As an anthropological archaeologist, she is interested in what we know about the past, how we know it, and how it matters to people today. She is curator of the Skidmore Archaeological Collection and author of the book Colonialism, Community, and Heritage in Native New England (2019, University Press Florida). 

 To Register: RW 250: Uncovering the Lake George Battlefield - LibCal - Rye Free Reading Room

In Partnership with RW250 and the Rye Free Reading Room

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Annual Luncheon and Boutique
May
8
12:00 PM12:00

Annual Luncheon and Boutique

Join us for the Rye Historical Society's Annual Spring Luncheon and Boutique on May 8, 2025

Featuring Special Guest, New York Times bestselling author, Lauren Willig to discuss her book, The Girl From Greenwich Street.

Boutique opens at 10:00am, Luncheon starts at 12:00pm.

Tickets and donation opportunities are available now at: Rye Historical Society Annual Luncheon & Boutique or by calling 914-967-7588.

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