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The New York State Museum is a program of the University of the
state of New York and provides management support for a number
of extension and outreach programs to museums, historical
societies, local government historians, government agencies, and
the general public. Most of these services are linked to
mandates created in Education Law.
The Office of State Historian is an officially-appointed office
with mandated responsibilities to a network of 1,640 appointed
local government historians. The State Historian represents the
Commissioner of Education on the New York State Board for
Historic Preservation and evaluates nominations to the National
Register of Historic Places; serves on the State Committee on
Geographic Names, the Heritage Areas Advisory Board, the NYS
Military History Advisory Board, and other advisory bodies as
may be required; serves as "point-of-contact" for legislative,
press, and public inquiries on New York State history; offers
programs in New York State history as requested and required in
order to continue and expand a statewide public presence for the
office and the Museum.
The State Committee on Geographic Names is established by
Education Law within the Education Department to advise the
United States Board on Geographic Names on issues relating to
place names in New York. The Committee reviews proposals for new
place names and maintains data on existing place names. Staff of
the State Museum, State Library, State Archives, with one
outside scholar serve on the Committee, with activities
coordinated by the Museum. Research is often conducted to
evaluate proposals for place name changes.
The Section 233 Permit Program provides for archeological and
paleontological research on state lands and is coordinated by
the State Museum. This program is mandated by Education Law and
protects public cultural and geological resources. Proposals for
access to state lands for research purposes are reviewed and
permits issued in conjunction with other state agencies. Most
applications relate to diving activities and this program
provides effective protection for many recently discovered
underwater sites in New York. Recently the Museum participated
in an interagency initiative to create precedent setting
submerged history diving preserves of several sunken French and
Indian War vessels in Lake George. As an aspect of Education Law
Section 233, staff also provide interagency consultation on the
management of historic collections on State property.
The State Historic Marker Program, which was managed by the
Education Department?s State History office as an active field
program from 1926 to 1966, has now become largely an advisory
and data base management program. The archives of that program,
as well as the records of over 2,800 historic markers across the
State, are maintained by the Museum. Although historic markers
are no longer funded by state appropriations, information on
past markers continues to serve as a data base for research,
marker replacement, and tourism development. Organizations
wishing to erect new markers are provided with information and
procedures and this Division acts as a clearinghouse for
proposals to monument local historic sites.
The Chartering Program is the mechanism by which education
corporations are created by the Board of Regents, which
oversees the State's educational system. Nonprofit
organizations and institutions with educational purposes, such
as schools and cultural agencies, seeking to incorporate, must
do so under Education Law ? 216. New York State is unique in
the United States in this way. While every other state views
cultural agencies as nonprofit businesses, New York treats them
as educational organizations. This is a significant difference
because the underlying assumption of Education Law, as
implemented by the Rules of the Regents, is that the Board of
Regents will evaluate the quality of an organization or
institution that seeks to be incorporated. This is the same
judgment applied by the Board of Regents when it considers the
chartering of schools and institutions of higher learning. In
fact, the charter is the instrument used to incorporate schools
and colleges, as well as mo st cultural agencies. Because of
the judgment implied in its granting, considerable prestige is
associated with a Regents Charter.
The Local Government Historians represent a network of 1,640
appointed historians. This constituency traditionally looks to
the State Historian's Office to provide education, training, and
expertise on a wide variety of subjects relevant to their
responsibilities. It represents for the Museum a
legally-mandated, state-wide, historical outreach program to
every county and municipal jurisdiction in the state.
Website: "http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/"
[Summary provided by the New York State Museum]
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