Presented by Susan Stessin-Cohn and Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini
Co-authored by Susan Stessin-Cohn, with Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini, Philip White and Albert Cook, the 34 historical sketches in this book present insights into the lives of Black residents of Ulster County from the early days of enslavement in the 17th and 18th centuries to the blossoming of free Black culture following New York’s abolition of slavery in 1827. These stories provide a rare and invaluable glimpse into the lives of these men and women, chronicling their tragedies and triumphs, and dispelling the long-held popular assumption that slavery in America was a “Southern” institution. The stories of those enslaved in Ulster County have long been underserved by historians, and the lives and identities of many are now lost forever, but new research continues to uncover important genealogical and societal information on who the enslaved and their enslavers were, what their lives were like, and the fate of newly emancipated Blacks and their families. Illustrated with photographs, maps, and historical documents, and a table of census records enumerating white, enslaved, and non-white free populations town-by-town. (Amazon books)
Co-author Susan Stessin-Cohn is a professional genealogist, she has co-curated several exhibits focusing on the history of the Hudson Valley and is currently the Historian for the Town of New Paltz, New York and serves as chair of the New Paltz Historical Society.
Co-author Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini is the former Manager of Collections and Archives at Historic Huguenot Street. She currently works with Jones Family Farms on web design and fundraising. With co-author Susan Stessin-Cohn she has curated various exhibits focusing on 19th century topics.
