Columbia County History Events

Wartime Refugee Crisis in the Hudson Valley, 1754-1763

by Tom Arne Midtrød

On Thursday, June 4, 6pm, the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History, in collaboration with the Columbia County Libraries Association and the Hudson Area Library, hosts this year’s third of four Leisler Lectures. The event will be held virtually via Zoom. To register visit https://historyroom.hudsonarealibrary.org/history-room-programs.

Tom Arne Midtrød, Ph.D. will discuss how the outbreak of the Seven Years' War affected Mahican and Munsee-speaking populations in the Hudson Valley. During this conflict, many Native groups felt themselves pressured to relocate to new areas both inside and outside of the Valley, creating a refugee crisis that led to a varied of responses from both colonial officials and the Mohawks and other members of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Six Nations.

Tom Arne Midtrød is associate professor of history at the University of Iowa. He has a PhD from Northern Illinois University. 

The Jacob Leisler Library Lectures are made partially possible through the generous support of the Van Dyke Family Foundation, HRBT Foundation, and Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation.

The Hudson Area Library History Room houses a collection that pertains to the history of the City of Hudson, Greenport and Stockport; as well as Columbia County. The History Room also hosts a local history speaker series at the library, offering free monthly talks on diverse topics related to local history. These talks include the Leisler Lectures, produced by Leisler Institute for Early New York History, and the Speaking about History series, produced by the African American Archive of Columbia County.

The History Room is open Saturdays, 10am-1pm and Wednesdays 6 - 8pm and by appointment.

Online research requests for information on local history are available  athistoryroom.hudsonarealibrary.org/. This is a free service to the public. To inquire about an appointment email brenda.shufelt@hudsonarealibrary.org or call 518-828-1792 x106.T