Archive - WNY Heritage

Charles Augustus Thompson: Buffalo's First Black Renaissance Man

The first African American recipient of a Jesse Ketchum medal exemplifies what is possible when one perseveres.

Mr. George K. Arthur: 1933 - 2020

We remember this pillar of Buffalo’s African American community with a series of personal recollections.

Her Executive Ability: Challenging Gender Norms at the Pan American Exposition

The Board of Women Directors at the Pan Am used their power and social standing to overtly claim public space for women and challenge traditional Victorian gender norms.

President Millard Fillmore's Dilemma of War, Peace and Slavery: The Case of Daniel, 1851

Ignoring the cries for human rights and basic human decency, President Millard Fillmore opted to support the Fugitive Slave Act in an attempt to prevent civil war and preserve the Union.

Echoes From Chloe: John Graves Simcoe and the Upper Canada Slave Act, 1793

Sold like a draft animal in 1793, Chloe Cooley's horrific ordeal set into motion a series of events that would eventually result in the elimination of slavery in British North America.

Historic Concordia Cemetery: Where Every Stone Tells a Story

Founded in 1859 by three German churches, Concordia Cemetery has served the changing East Side community ever since. Today, the stories of its “residents” continue to be preserved through a variety of efforts and events.

Searching for Robert: An Adventure in Doing Local History

Finding a list of politicians in a stack of old documents led to a journey of both frustration and discovery.

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.

Western New York Heritage

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