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With Rob Doyle This program is part of the exhibition, Fertile Ground: the Hudson Valley Animal Paintings of Caroline Clowes. Below: Click on Watch on YouTube to open a new window & to view full screen. Click on the red play button in the middle to view within the existing window. The generous support of our Program sponsor, Hudson Views, and Virtual Event Space sponsor, N&S Supply, allows us to bring programs such as this to the public at no cost to the viewer. Artist Bios & Additional Information Sara Cole (1805-1857) Frances Fanny Flora Bond Palmer (1812-76) Eliza Pratt Greatorex (1820-97) Lilly Martin Spencer (1822-1902) Rosa Marie (Rosalie) Bonheur (1822-1899) Susan Catherine Waters (1823-1900) Sarah Anne Lillie Hardinge (1824-1913) Ellen Maria Carpenter (1830-1909) Charlotte Buell Coman (1833-1924) Fidelia Bridges  (1834 – 1923)Laura Woodward (1834-1926) Julie Hart Beers (1835-1913) Miss Susie M. Barstow (1836-1923) Evelina (Nina) Mount (1837-1920) Mary Josephine Walters (1837-1883) Caroline Morgan Clowes (1838-1904) Virginia Wealthy Chandler (Titcomb) (1838-1912) Maria J.C. A’Becket (1839-1904) Miss Mary Kollock (1840-1911) Agnes C Way (1842 – 1943) Julia Cornelia Widgery Slaughter (1850-1905) Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin (1850-1930) Annie Cornelia Shaw (1852-1887) Bibliography American Women Artists, from Early Indian Times to the Present. Charlotte Streifer Rubinstein. 1982. Art Work, Women Artists and Democracy in Mid-Nineteenth-Century New York. April F. Masten. 2008 Fertile Ground. The Hudson Valley Animal Paintings of Caroline Clowes. Catalog. 2022. DCHSNY.org HOME ON THE HUDSON: Women & Men Painting Landscapes, 1825-1875. Catalog. 2009. Boscobel. Laura Woodward, The Artist Behind The Innovator Who Developed Palm Beach. Deborah C. Pollack. 2009. Nantucket Spirit, The Art & Life of Elizabeth R. Coffin. Margaret M. Booker. 2001. New Path, The. Ruskin and the American Pre-Raphaelites. Linda Ferber/William Gerdts. 1985. Brooklyn Museum Exhibit. Painting Professionals, Women Artists & The Development of Modern American Art, 1870-1930. Kirsten Swinth.  2001. Remember The Ladies, Women of the Hudson River School. Thomas Cole National Site Exhibit Catalog 2010. Restless Enterprise. The Art and Life of Eliza Pratt Greatorex. Katherine Manthorne. 2020. Women Artists, In All Ages And Countries. By Mrs. E. F. Ellet. 2016 Reprint of 1859 book. Women Artists of America, 1707-1964. Exhibition Catalog Newark Museum. April 2 – May 16, 1965

Two Rhinebeck Houses Reflect Opposing Political Views in 1860 By Bill Jeffway A study of two houses across the street from each other in Rhinebeck, and the politics of their owners, is a study in the politics of our early republic in the run-up to the Civil War and the split in the north within the Protestant White establishment. Their opposing involvement in the 1860 US Presidential election, and some local actions and words of Abraham Lincoln, offer insight into the divisions in the country, and Lincoln’s “team of rivals” approach to reconciliation. Although in 1860 Ambrose Wager was living north of Rhinebeck Village on Montgomery Street in a house that stands today (see photo), he is best known for his Second Empire house on West Market Street that was constructed in 1874. Slightly younger than Darling, Wager built the monumental West Market Street house at the peak of his life’s achievement, as was the case with Darling when he built his West Market street house in the 1850s. From Era of Good Feelings to Civil War in a Generation Local newspapers in Dutchess County, and around the country in 1817 were describing what they saw as an Era of Good Feelings in the country where political divisions were put aside. The name and concept took hold, and the era is seen by historians as aligned to the Presidency of James Monroe, from 1817 to 1825. But in little more than a generation, between 1861 and 1865, the Civil War caused the deaths of 2% of the US population, the equivalent of 7 million people today. Nathan Darling chose Hudson River Bracketed Style Nathan Darling had built the house that stands today on the north side of Market Street by 1858 in a classic, local style described as Hudson River Bracketed by the local architect of national influence Alexander Jackson Davis. It was a style designed by Davis that could be embraced and executed by the average working class, as well as the elite, and everyone in-between. Although never a political candidate, the 1860 Federal census description of his occupation as “politician” is appropriate given the path he took to become a “wide-awake” leader of the Republican party. Ambrose Wager chose Second Empire Style On the south side of West Market Street stands the home of Ambrose Wager, an imposing Second Empire style home reaching back to Napoleonic France for inspiration built in 1874. Its imposing grandeur and connotations of Empire give it an immovable feeling. Wager’s 1883 obituary describes him as a steadfast and unwavering “Democrat of the old school.” The Democratic Party of that time was associated with a more permissive approach to slavery and its expansion. Wager was the 1860 candidate for Congress for the Democrats. Darling was active in politics all his life. In that transitional period between the era of good feelings and the Civil War, he got involved in a wide array of political movements that splintered and coalesced and splintered and coalesced again. The names of the political movements at the time give us a sense: the Locofoco’s, the Hindoo party, the Barnburners, the Know Nothings, the Free-soilers, the Native American party (referring to European Americans born in this country), the Hard and Soft Democrats. That splintering started to recede as the newly formed Republican Party emerged in 1854, a party with anti-slavery sentiments. By the 1860 Presidential election the Republican party had matured and Lincoln emerged as the party leader. Going further, however, within this movement, there emerged locally and all across the north, the most visible agitators for Lincoln who became known as the Wide-Awakes. The name was meant to reflect the depth of their commitment, and the level of energy they brought to the cause. Given the nimbleness of Darling’s prior political maneuvers, it is not surprising he became the visible leader of that movement in northern Dutchess County. Here is a description of a Rhinebeck parade from the November 3, 1860 Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle, “Grand wide-awake demonstration at Rhinebeck. 1,300 men in line. The Republicans of Rhinebeck had a grand time last evening. The parade of the wide-awakes was far ahead of any political procession ever seen before in this town. The clubs from Poughkeepsie were on hand headed by Flockton cornet band and were honored with the right of the line. The procession formed under command of Captain Darling Grand Marshal. Almost every house in the village was illuminated in the enthusiasm of the spectators and was unbounded as a political demonstration. It was most successful and showed most conclusively that the Rhinebeck Republicans are wide-awake for the cause.” As the Republican candidate, Lincoln won the November 1860 Presidential election without winning any southern state. And while he won all northern states, except New Jersey, you need only look at Dutchess County election results to see the choice was far from a mandate in the North. While Lincoln carried the county overall, he did not carry East Fishkill, Fishkill (Beacon), Hyde Park, LaGrange, Red Hook, or the Town of Poughkeepsie. Lincoln won the electoral college with only 39% of the popular vote. Lincoln inaugural train stops in Rhinebeck This was the divisive backdrop to the inaugural train journey from his home in Springfield, Illinois to Washington DC where he would take the oath of office that included Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln, their three sons, and Lincoln’s African American servant William Johnson.  Lincoln had stopped in Albany overnight and was on the next leg of his trip when he stopped briefly in Rhinebeck. Lincoln is described by viewers as having bowed, but not spoken to the crowd. The New York Times reported that Lincoln picked up at least one person, specifically William Kelly, of Rhinebeck’s Ellerslie Estate. Kelly had just run for, and lost the NY Governorship candidate from in the Democratic Party. This kind of outreach is typical of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” embrace. Ambrose Wager was the (also failed) Democratic candidate for congress in the 1860 election.

For a very long time, since 1809 to be precise, the best-known Knickerbockers have been the fictional characters depicted by the author Washington Irving in a satirical history of New York. His work spawned the use of the iconic name to mean a “real” New Yorker, the Dutch focus reflecting the fact that the first European settlers in New York were Dutch. The popularity of Irving’s work led to the popular depiction of the “Father Knickerbocker ” character, with a three pointed hat and knickerbockers, the pants that go just below the knee and socks take care of the rest. The name lives on popularly today in the basketball team, the New York Knicks, among others. Bryan Knickerbocker lives outside of Philadelphia, and has been studying his family history for decades. DCHS is pleased to be publishing Bryan’s findings in a less traditional way, through the serial publication of chapters that will illuminate points along a trail in northern and central Dutchess County. That evolving trail can be found at www.dchsny.org/knickerbocker-trail. Among the most extraordinary findings, 90% of the Knickerbocker’s in the United States are descendants of these northern Dutchess Knickerbockeers. Subsequent chapters will be told and assigned their place on the Knicerkbocker trail!  Bill Jeffway To best view the trail, align your mouse over the trail window (middle) and scroll up and down. To adjust the position of the window, align your mouse to the left or right edges and scroll up or down.

Above: early assembly of men volunteering for service in Poughkeepsie in 1861 when the war commenced. The Civil War is a topic that holds a great deal of interest among many people. Although, with the exception of the battle at Gettysburg, much of the fighting took place in the U.S. south, two percent of the US population died from combat or disease or war-related injuries, that is the equivalent of seven million people today. The Civil War had a profound and lasting impact locally. Men fought in different regiments, but the 150th NY Volunteers was known as the Dutchess County Regiment, and the 128th Regiment has a large composition of county men. Women organized aid societies and served at the battlefied as nurses and aids. Programs: DCHS Trustee, Dr. Michael Boden is an expert on the Civil War and his series of programs supported by CR Properties is popular. Collections: the highlight has to be the draft wheel used in Poughkeepsie in the 1863 draft. The Titus Papers and Dean Thomas Collection highlight the 150th and 128th respectively. Two consecutive DCHS Yearbooks were dedicated to the topic.

Highlights People 1941 VOICES Interviews of Manet Fowler Places AME Zion Church The Walter M. Patrice Collection Things Freedom For Sale Man purchases own freedom Words from the past Newer Perspectives Other Starting Points The Walter M. Patrice Collection focuses largely on the history of the Smith AME Zion Church in Poughkeepsie, which through Mr. Patrice’s efforts was listed on the national historic register. Although unable to part with the photo album, Mr. Patrice allowed DCHS to take photographs and use the images from his mother’s family’s photo album. In most cases, his mother was not able to identify specific individuals (aside from her father, Jasper Jackson) but she confirmed that it is the family album of Henry and Alma Jackson of the Town of Milan. Below right are some striking images by Reuben Van Vlack of men preparing to serve in World War One in 1918.

DCHS Trustee and Dutchess Community College professor Dr. Michael Boden, himself a long-serving veteran is just back from the Shenandoah battlefield. As is his style, he takes moments of national importance and allows us to see and experience them through the eyes of the men, in this case, who would have been our friends and neighbors had we lived in Dutchess County over a century and a half ago. After you click on the video, for best viewing click on the Full screen icon at the bottom right of the video screen.

Meet the woman behind the building of the cast iron building! Meet the titan of the iron industry who had a home in Poughkeepsie, who made sure his client got a world class product. Take a look at how the things meant to inspire in 1872 can inspire today! The Dutchess County Historical Society is grateful for the longstanding and significant support from CR Properties, Tom Cervone, President, including the organization’s commitment to the preservation of historic properties, objects, and stories of the people of our past.

DCHS Yearbook Encore Editions are single-topic reprints of articles drawing our our yearbooks which have been published since our founding in 1914, making DCHS Yearbook the longest-serving historical journal in New York State. Black History Free full-view online River Sports Free full-view online Order Printed Copies Through Amazon

May 2022 The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College and the Dutchess County Historical Society have formalized a partnership around their shared goals of community engagement and education through the visual arts, with a view to offering more inclusive and insightful historical narratives as context. The first collaboration is the November and December 2022 exhibition, “They Suppose You Are a Gentleman:” Caroline Clowes’ Exceptional Path to National Artistic Acclaim, which is being held at the Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie. Important financial support comes from the Members’ Fund of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Other support comes in the form of the involvement of students, graduates and Ph.D. candidates. There will be an expansion of both short and long-term loans of DCHS Collections for exhibition at the Loeb. Important financial support comes from the Members’ Fund of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Other support comes in the form of the involvement of students, graduates and Ph.D. candidates. There will be an expansion of both short and long-term loans of DCHS Collections for exhibition at the Loeb. Bart Thurber, Director and Lecturer in Art at the Center said, the goal of the partnership is “to shine a light on the long overlooked histories in the region.” Bill Jeffway, Executive Director of DCHS said, “the two organizations have the perfect balance of shared goals and complimentary skills and resources; together we will have a much greater impact than we could individually.” Letters reflecting Caroline Clowes close relationship with a number of influential Vassar College professors, including the founder of Vassar College’s gallery and art history department, Henry Van Ingen. At one time Vassar College had a painting by Clowes but it was sold in the 1940s. A long relationship becomes formal and focused Below, Executive Director Bill Jeffway speaks at the May 22, 2022 dedication of the historic marker at Vassar College, citing the 1908 suffrage rally held by Vassar students in an adjacent cemetery given a ban on such activities on campus. From the Pomeroy Foundation, the sign is part of the National Votes for Women Trail developed by the National Collaborative for Women’s History sites.