The John Jay Lecture by NY State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey
NYS Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey Delivers John Jay Lecture: Stewardship of New York's Cultural and Natural History
The John Jay Lecture, a free program jointly sponsored by Pace Law School and the Jay Heritage Center since 1994, was held on April 29th at the Jay Estate in Rye, NY. Funding for this free event was provided through a grant by Con Edison. The esteemed guest and speaker was Hon. Rose Harvey, Commissioner of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation of the State of New York. Accompanying her were Deputy Commissioner of Historic Preservation, Ruth Pierpont and Deputy Commissioner of Real Property and Legislative Affairs, Carol Clark.
On arrival, together with Pace Law School Professor Nicholas Robinson and JHC President Suzanne Clary, the Commissioner toured the Path Through History landmark and park, also taking in its 10,000 year old viewshed to Long Island Sound. A free program and reception for the public followed. The new Dean of Pace Law school, David Yassky, welcomed the audience and together with Shelby Green, Professor of Historic Preservation, awarded Commissioner Harvey the Pace Medal of Excellence.
Commissioner Harvey delivered a powerful presentation about the importance of preserving the tangible places and touchstones of our past like John Jay's home; their site specific stories remind us of the many firsts in our state's history including the leaders, the catalysts in so many progressive movements in social causes, in tolerance and diversity. In a talk titled Stewardship of New York's Cultural and Natural History, the Commissioner marveled, Here we are at the boyhood home of the only native founding father and the first Chief Justice of the United States, author of New York's constitution and two time governor, abolitionist and patriarch of several generations of similarly public minded descendants. It is a reminder of how many leaders called New York home and it is a source of state pride that we have preserved this home.
Citing her own extensive background in land conservation, she explained the compatible strategies of people who care for both our natural and man-made environment. The roots, the philosophy, the tools and goals of land conservation and historic preservation are the same, and so connected, and so symbiotic. In both conservation and preservation we strive to connect, to link -- to link people to history, their roots, their heritage.
After an overview of the success stories and challenges facing NY State parks today, the Commissioner applauded the Jay Heritage Center, its board, volunteers and advocates for preserving Jay's home. There is a reason New York State has such a remarkable legacy. It is through the work of friends, supporters, and many ordinary citizens - people like you, with your interest in history and historic places - who believed in the importance of protecting and preserving our heritage. A duty and a responsibility handed down from one generation to the next.
Under a new public-private partnership agreement with NY State and Westchester County, JHC is spearheading the rehabilitation of the critical cultural landscape and architectural elements of John Jay's childhood home in Rye. The Jay Estate is a 23 acre park and the centerpiece of the Boston Post Road Historic District, one of fewer than 2500 National Historic Landmarks in our country.
Film Credit: Jay Heritage Center
Examining John Jay's Legacy at the Jay Heritage Center and the Jay Homestead
Learn about the two US National Historic Landmarks where the legacy of John Jay, the only Founding Father native to New York State, is examined through a range of educational programs on American History and Social Justice: at the Jay Estate and Jay Heritage Center in Rye where Jay grew up and is buried, and at the Jay Homestead in Bedford where he retired after serving in every branch of US government.
Jay passed on his beliefs in the abolition of slavery to both his sons, Peter and William who carried on his meaningful work- and so each of Jay's homes is listed on Westchester County's African American Heritage Trail. Visit them both in one day for a complete look at Jay's unparallelled career.
The Jay Estate in Rye is a historic site manged by the non-profit Jay Heritage Center (JHC); it is a cultural heritage site where slaves are known to have lived and worked in the fields and gardens and where they were also emancipated by the Jay family. Among its goals, the JHC hopes to be a national focal point for a continuing conversation about the two greatest pieces of unfinished American business--race and land; meaning how we treat each other and how we treat the rest of God's creation. Tony Hiss
To bring that discussion to the forefront of education, the JHC created Striving for Freedom. It is an acclaim winning interactive theatre program developed by the Jay Heritage Center specifically for a middle school history curriculum. It examines the often ignored existence of slavery in the Northern States. It tells the story of the reunion of two sisters who were both slaves on the Jay Property.
Teachers and schools interested in seeing and participating in this play can contact Jay Heritage Center Program Director, Heather Craane at (914) 698-9275. We can accomodate classes as large as 150 students (seating is amphitheatre style in the Carriage House) and smaller groups are welcome as well.
Learn more about the Jay family's legacy in Rye on our Flickr site at:
(Video credit: Carl Pagano/Westchester County and Jay Heritage Center; Narrated by Tracey Mitchell, Director, Westchester County Office of African American Affairs )