Smart phone users will have a new way to tap into Albany’s photographic archives and rich architectural history when they download the “Albany: Then & Now” application. The public is invited to celebrate Archives Month with a reception on Thursday, October 18 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the National Register-listed University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue at Dove Street.
Christine Ward, Assistant Commissioner, New York State Archives and Chief Executive Officer, Archives Partnership Trust will discuss this and other inventive uses of technology to promote our history.
The app, created by Albany resident Tim Varney of Troy Web Consulting, is a virtual tour through archival photos of Albany’s historic streetscapes. By using location-based mapping, users can stand at the very spot where a photograph was taken, in many cases 100 years ago or more, and see what the buildings looked like at that time. Background information is available for all of the images.
“Albany: Then & Now” was produced through the cooperation of Troy Web Consulting and the Historic Albany Foundation. All photographs were provided by the Albany Public Library, Albany County Hall of Records, New York State Archives, Albany Institute and the Library of Congress. The app is free, and is available for iPhone and Android users.
The Albany Institute of History & Art will provide a tour of their redesigned website, funded in part by a $148,000 federal Institute of Museum and Library Service grant. The new website will allow online visitors to better understand the history and cultural heritage of Albany and the Hudson Valley through the museum’s collections, educational program and exhibits.
The reception is free and open to the public, light fare will be served, and drinks will be available. The Club’s award-winning Chef Kevin Pagano will debut some new apps as well – tasty appetizers featuring seasonal flavors and ingredients. Please RSVP to Genny Faist at Historic Albany at 518-465-0876 x10 or by email at gfaist@historic-albany.org .
Archives Month is an annual, month-long observance of the importance of archival and historical records to modern life. In New York, the observance began in the late 1980s when groups of archivists in various regions of the State decided to hold special events and activities at a particular time each year to increase public awareness of the relevance of archives.
The University Club Foundation, a 501c3 corporation, is presenting this event in conjunction with Historic Albany Foundation. The U. Club Foundation was formed to recognize and maintain the unique historic and architectural significance of the University Club building and property, its neighborhood and the city of Albany, where it has been located since its inception in 1901. Historic Albany Foundation is a private, not-for-profit membership organization working to promote the preservation and appreciation of the built environment in and around the city of Albany. One of America’s oldest museums, the Albany Institute of History & Art was founded in 1791, during the presidency of George Washington, making it older than the Louvre, the Smithsonian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Troy Web Consulting is an agile software development company focused on architecting, building, and deploying mobile and web applications.
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Check out a great write-up on the "Albany: Then and Now" app on All Over Albany!
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