Conferences
Tentative Program 2026
Theme: With a Little Help from My Peers
9:30-10:00am Registration Check In and Refreshments
10:00-10:30am Poster Session and Networking
10:30-10:45am Welcome
10:45-11:45am Advocating for the Historian’s Office
Presenters: Amie Alden, Suzie Carlson, Rob Goller, and Babette Huber
Standing up for your office and your position as a government-appointed historian can be intimidating, and it can be hard to know how to get your board’s attention or ask for what you need to do your job. This moderated panel discussion will explore ways to advocate for your position, cultivate a positive relationship with your board, and feel empowered as a historian.
11:45am-12:45pm Lunch and Networking
Business Meeting and GAHWNY Elections
30-Year Service Awards
Julia Reinstein Award
12:45-1:15pm A Word from Devin Lander, NYS Historian
1:15-2:15pm Getting Organized: Basics in Cataloging and Archival Management
Presenters: Alex Pierce (Grove Town Historian) & Pete Ames (Niagara Town Historian)
No matter where you are with office and archives management, you can always improve systems for filing and access! Hear from two town historians who have put inventorying, cataloging, and filing techniques to the test, and get inspired to get organized.
2:15pm Meeting Wrap Up
2:30pm Optional: Tour the Aurora Town & East Aurora Village Historian’s Office
Just next door, join Rob Goller for a tour of his office, research room, and public display area. Perhaps take home some ideas about how to make a practical and welcoming space of your own.
Thank you!
Register securely online
Not sure if you’re a current paid member of GAHWNY? Check the list here.
2026 Conference:
Saturday, September 19, 2026, in East Aurora, NY
Registrations now open! The annual meeting will have a poster session, board election, programming, and networking opportunities, and we’re looking forward to seeing you!
Paid members are eligible for a conference fee discount.
Registration cost includes meeting materials, morning refreshments, beverages, and a buffet lunch (with vegetarian selections). Please advise of dietary restrictions in advance and we will do our best to accommodate. Checks from municipalities accepted.
In the meantime, don't forget to connect with us for other virtual training and networking opportunities on our Useful Links page and Facebook page!
Previous Conferences
2025 GAHWNY Conference
Theme: On the Ground in Your Community
9:30-10:00am Registration Check In and Refreshments
10:00-10:30am Poster Session and Networking
10:30-10:45am Welcome
10:45-11:45am Basics in Gravestone Cleaning and Restoration
Presenters: Kathryn Bovee and Jennifer Averill
Cemeteries are a core historical research tool, filling in where vital statistics don’t exist, documenting family connections, and even embodying cultural and artistic expression. This session will cover basic gravestone cleaning and repair to protect the stones’ information and honor those whose resting places they mark.
11:45am-12:45pm Lunch and Networking
Business Meeting
Julia Reinstein Award
12:45-1:00pm Break
1:00-2:00pmResearching Historical Properties 101
Presenter: Gary Goodridge, Chair of Henrietta Historic Site Committee
Interpreting land records and creating a chain of ownership for a property is a vital skill for a historian, but archaic units of measurement and convoluted legal terminology, understanding deeds, mortgages, and other records can be daunting. During this session, attendees will have a step-by-step training on property research to get them started.
2:00pm Meeting Wrap Up
2024 GAHWNY Conference
“Practical Pointers and Sensible Suggestions for Historians”
East Hill Creamery, Perry
2023 GAHWNY Conference
"Be a History Ambassador for Your Community"
Batavia Country Club, Batavia, NY
2022 GAHWNY Conference
"Documenting the Rich Cultural Diversity of Your Community"
East Aurora, NY
…And so on, back to the beginning!