Town Historian

Clarence Town Historian

Promoting, learning and teaching local history has been a lifelong passion of mine. As town historian, I will continue to inspire students and the community to use the resources at the Clarence Historian's Office and Museum to learn, research and get excited about Western New York history. 

Some goals are to make the information in the historian's office accessible to the public by digitizing old photographs, documents and genealogies so the information is accessible on my website. As the town grows, there must be a place where new residents can learn about our rich past.  I plan to make the historian's office a place accessible to the public and a place where students and community members can be pointed in the right direction regarding local history research. 

Clarence has a rich prehistory spanning thousands of years and a history going back to the time of the colonies.  March 2024 will be 216 years that Clarence has been a town.  As the new town historian I will make it my mission to excite, educate and inspire our community to learn about our interesting past. 

Summary of the Historian Responsibilities

Research and Writing

An important responsibility of the Town Historian is to interpret the past. This involves research and writing on aspects of Clarence for publishing in books, magazines, and newspapers. From the law: “The best local historians have upheld high standards of gathering and evaluating evidence, making thoughtful and appropriate generalizations, writing well-organized and readable narratives, and sharing their work with others through the most appropriate mediums.”

Teaching and Public Presentations

As town historian, I will serve as a resource to teachers in the fourth and seventh grade local history curriculum, serve as a content consultant, speak and lecture to community groups, and participate in radio and TV talk shows to disseminate local history. Having started a new class at Clarence High School focusing on local history called Western New York History and Geography, has reminded me of my passion for this community.     

Historic Preservation

Having been on the Clarence Preservation Commission has given me experience Historians are advocates for historic preservation and a resource to your appointing authority on questions relating to history and preservation. The historian may be asked to prepare a cultural resource survey, identify historic structures and prepare nominations to the State and National Register of Historic Places and to develop and manage historic marker programs.

Organization, Advocacy and Tourism 

Historians are asked to organize and direct the commemoration of historical anniversaries and to participate in other civic or patriotic observations. The historian may be asked to act as a fundraiser or grant writer for historical programs. Appointing authorities may ask you to support local tourism.

Duties of the Town Historian

1. Promote the community’s awareness and appreciation for the town’s history through research, writing and public speaking. 
2. Support efforts of the Clarence Historical Society, the Clarence Public Library and the Clarence Preservation Commissions. 
3. Advise town boards and commissions on historical issues when requested. 
4. Promote local history in schools. 
5. Respond to historical questions raised by residents, visitors, the media, and others. 
6. Act as a consultant for publications, projects, exhibits, public programs, displays, celebrations, commemorations, the establishment and maintenance of plaques, markers and monuments, and the preparation of classroom aids, guides, workshops and training.

Historian Reference Library*

• Genealogical Material
• Photographs
• Military Records
• Selected Property Histories
• 19th and 20th Century Newsprint
• Oral Histories
• Local History Books
• Cemetery Records
• Church and School Records
• Diaries and Scrapbooks
• Historic Maps