JOHNSTOWN — Fulton County Historian Samantha Hall-Saladino’s office is celebrating some special months.
She alluded to the designations during a recent meeting of the county Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development and Environment Committee.
Hall-Saladino reported she is planning a series of blog posts and presentations in celebration of Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March.
“Those details will be forthcomng in the next couple weeks,” she said.
The special months’ celebrations will focus on stories and experiences of Fulton County residents. It is due to include biographies of people like Amos King, a black Caroga resident who fought in the Civil War; and Lou Young, a Gloversville suffragist and activist. Hall-Saladino said that in April, her office will explore some of the area’s literary talents in honor of National Poetry Month.
Elsewhere in her monthly report, Hall-Saladino stated: “This is a slow time of the year, in general.” She did say she was getting more research requests than normal.
Hall-Saladino said she has spent most of her recent time working remotely, conducting research for future programs, writing upcoming blog posts, and keeping a running list of research requests to complete once she can again access the naturalization records in the Fulton County Clerk’s Office.
In a wrap-up of 2020, she said her office is facing some of the same challenges this year.
“We experimented with virtual programming,” she said.
She said her office reviewed virtual program formats, posted new research on the blog, and continued to remain involved with statewide initiatives in the history community. She said a “Lunch and Learn” series she launched in 2020 in partnership with local historical societies and streamed on Facebook, reached 2,474 people.
“It was really popular,” Hall-Saladino said. “I’d like to continue to do those this year when the weather clears up a little.”
She said she also worked with the Johnstown Public Library in presenting some virtual programs.
“I look forward to continuing to combine virtual outreach as well as in-person programs when safely able to do so,” Hall-Saladino said.
The past year allowed for a “crash-course” in digital programming and technology that “will continue to be useful in the years to come,” she said.
