Buffalo State Receives Prestigious Award for East Side History Project

The New York State Archives and Archives Partnership Trust awarded the 2018 Debra E. Bernhardt Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Documenting New York’s History Award to the “East Side History Project,” a collaboration between Buffalo State College and the University at Buffalo. It documents the history of the African American population residing on Buffalo’s East Side.

This award is presented annually to a state organization that exemplifies excellence in an archival program. Daniel DiLandro, head of archives and special collections in Buffalo State’s E. H. Butler Library, accepted the award on behalf of the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center during a ceremony at the Cultural Education Center in Albany, New York, on October 29.

“Through this award, we can help revivify Dr. Fordham’s initiative and dream to collect local largely African American history in an intelligent and useful way,” DiLandro said. “I am happy that our community partners, including our Greater Buffalo United Ministries (GRUM) churches who have done such amazing work, are now being acknowledged by Albany.”

This is one of 10 awards the New York State Archives presented to different organizations and individuals during American Archives Month.

“We’re proud to recognize excellence in the use and care of New York’s records by individuals and organizations across the state,” said state archivist Thomas Ruller. “The state archives celebrates the researchers, educators, and students who are analyzing and sharing the information contained in these valuable records.”

The Bernhardt Award is a terrific example of institutional collaboration, DiLandro said.

“It’s such as win-win for everyone involved.”