Archive

Off the Beaten Path: Frederick Douglass in Allegany County

Frederick Douglass' 1851 tour of Allegany County provides some unique insights into the philosophy and tactics of this iconic slave-turned-abolitionist.

Fletcher Pratt: Western New York's Teller of Tales

With a seemingly endless number of works written in genres almost as numerous, Fletcher Pratt deserves his place among Western New York's noted literary figures.

Postscript: Colonel Peter A. Porter at Cold Harbor

Colonel Porter's death at the Battle of Cold Harbor was tragic, but the reactions of some of the survivors of his regiment was equally inspiring.

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Olmsted and Vaux's Parkways

The West Side "parkways" created as part of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's city-wide system of parks, paid homage to the recent Civil War.

A Buffalo Irishman at War: The Letters of Sergeant George Tipping

Sergeant George Tipping was one of hundreds of Buffalo Irishmen who joined the ranks of the Union Army. His rare collection of original letters provides a look at one family’s struggle with the familiar themes of war, separation and survival.

Emory Upton: Military Mastermind

Batavia’s Civil War hero was also responsible for enduring changes to American military tactics and policies.

At the Brink: Confederate Conspirators or Peace Brokers in Canada?

Using period letters and primary sources, the author sheds light on the supposed “Niagara Falls peace negotiations” that were proposed less than a year before the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

What to do with the Dead? Niagara’s Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery, opened in 1852, was typical of the Rural Cemetery Movement — but far from ordinary. Designed by railroad engineer Theodore Judah, it’s the only cemetery with a section dedicated to Niagara’s daredevils.

Western New York Heritage

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