Conference to Celebrate 400th Anniversary of Hudson Exploration

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in what is now New York, the College of Staten Island/CUNY and the Dutch consulate present “Myths and Realities Regarding New Netherlands: A Staten Island Perspective,” a half-day conference that will be held on Friday, September 25 in the Center for the Arts Williamson Theatre from 9:00am to 12:30pm.

According to Dr. Hugo Kijne, Executive Director Continuing Education and Professional Development at CSI, “the conference will be interesting to historians, CSI students, and the general public.”

The event will feature three speakers: Dr. David S. Cohen, a former member of the New Jersey Historical Commission, who will give a presentation on “Myths and Realities Regarding New Netherlands” in which he will also address myths and realities regarding Henry Hudson’s arrival in 1609; Patricia Salmon, Curator of History at the Staten Island Museum and a CSI graduate, will talk about Staten Island during the Dutch colonial era; and Annette Marks, Adjunct Professor of History at CSI, who will discuss the treatment of people of African heritage during the Dutch colonial era, and how that differed from the British and (later) Americans.

In regard to the program, Dr. Kijne adds, “Dr. Cohen will describe how Henry Hudson’s landing party on Staten Island was attacked by natives living on the island, who killed one of Hudson’s men. Ms. Salmon will talk about the rich Dutch heritage that can still be found on Staten Island, and Ms. Marks’s contribution will illustrate how the Dutch were far ahead of their time in the way Blacks were treated in their colonies.”

Professor Howard Weiner, past Chair of CSI’s History Department, will emcee the conference and chair a brief panel with the three presenters. Dutch Consul General Gajus Scheltema and CSI’s President Tomás Morales will briefly greet the attendants at the beginning of the conference.

Admission to the conference is free. It is co-sponsored by the Dutch Consulate in New York City and the Staten Island Leadership Institute. Call the Office of Continuing Education at 718.982.2188 for more information.