Title: Independent Public Historian & Consultant
Location: Rochester, New York, United States
Affiliations/Associations/Societies:
- Connecticut College
- Friends of Mt. Hope Cemetery. The nation’s first municipal cemetery is the final resting place for more than 300,000 diverse Rochesterians including human rights leaders Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. The Victorian cemetery features an array of funerary art and architecture, and an arboretum and gardens, on 200 acres distinctly shaped by receding glaciers. (trustee, 2000-2017)
- Friends of the Rochester Public Library, Rochester Grantwriters Network
- Howard Wilson Coles (1903-1996). African American activist, historian, and journalist, and his family members. Coles founded, wrote for, edited and produced the Frederick Douglass Voice newspaper for 66 consecutive years (1933-1996), and became Rochester’s first Black radio Deejay. His massive collections provide an unparalleled record of 20th century Rochester from the African American perspective, during a time of tremendous demographic change and growing systemic racism and segregation (researcher)
- Institute of Museum and Library Services, Museums for America (field reviewer, 2004-2005)
- Junior League of Rochester (board of directors, 1973-1981)
- National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution (charter member)
- Pittsford Chamber of Commerce (board member, 2007-2010)
- Rochester History Journal (city appointment to editorial board, 2009-present)
- Rochester-Monroe County Freedom Trail Commission. Appointment by Mayor and County Executive, (commissioner)
- Southwest Riverfront Development Committee, Plymouth-Exchange Neighborhood (member, 2010-2013)
- University of Rochester
- Visitor Industry Council representing Rochester attractions (steering committee member, 2013-2014)
- World Canals Conferences held in Rochester (planning committee member, 2000, 2010)
- YWCA Person2Person program, in which diverse Rochester leaders joined to develop, model, and share strategies to eliminate racism (participant, 2014-2015)
Achievements:
- Honoree, Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award (2021, 2020)
- Inductee, Top Professionals of the Year, Marquis Who’s Who (2020)
- Worldwide Who’s Who Recognition for History Preservation and Education (2012)
- Nominee, Business Person of the Year, Pittsford, New York, Chamber of Commerce (2006)
- Recipient, ADDY Citation of Excellence for “Goin’ North” Video (1992)
- Featured, “Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders in America,” Marquis Who’s Who (1990-1991)
- Featured, “Who’s Who in the East,” Marquis Who’s Who (1986-1987)
- County History Researcher and Annotated Bibliographer, National Endowment of Humanities Planning Grant, Historical Society, Ontario County, NY (1977-1978)
- Grant, National Endowment of Humanities (1977-1978)
- Paid Internship, Museum Methods and Communication, New York State Council on the Arts Grant, Rochester Museum & Science Center (1974-1975)
- National Advisory Board Member, “Birds in Art 1987,” Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
