Welcome to the eMarcurius, NNI's monthly e-newsletter edited by NNI director Stephen McErleane and brought to you in part by the generous sponsors featured below. 

Something to share? Interested in becoming a sponsor? Reach us at nni@newnetherlandinstitute.org.

If you do a Google search for "translator" these days, you get software—lots of it. While there's no telling what the future will bring, for now only a human can capture the subtleties required for a good translation. And even then, interpretations will vary. According to the UN, International Translation Day is meant "to pay tribute to the work of language professionals." It is celebrated every year on the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of (among other professions) translators. 

The New Netherland Institute owes its existence to translations, namely the New Netherland Project (now the Netherland Research Center), which was established in 1974 to translate the 12,000 or so Dutch-language documents held now by the New York State Archives. An impressive amount of work has been done over the last 40 plus years, but a few volumes still remain. If you'd like to be a part of our push to finish what Dr. Charles Gehring started over four decades ago, please consider a donation to NNI. 

Image: Bijeenkomst van de 72 vertalers van de wet op bevel van koning Ptolomeüs Philadelphus, Jan Luyken, 1704 (Ptolemy Philadelphus frees the Jewish prisoners of war in reward for the translation of the Old Testament)

We look forward to more excellent submissions for the 2021 special issue of New York History on race and slavery in North America's Dutch communities.

The deadline isn't until December 1, 2020, but if you are considering submitting, we'd love to hear what you're working on. 

Though it is now known as a fundamental piece of the early history of the city, it was not until 217 years after the event that New Yorkers first learned of the now infamous 1626 purchase of the island of Manhattan by the Dutch from the Indians for twenty-four dollars. This talk by NNI director Stephen McErleane follows the construction of that story from its first appearance in the 1840s and focuses on an important and overlooked piece: an 1853 painting of the purchase by the American artist William Ranney. Ranney has been dubbed a myth-maker for his influential depictions of the American Revolution and of life in the American West. His role in the creation of the Manhattan purchase myth, however, has gone largely ignored. 

This talk (over Zoom) will be hosted by the Hudson Area Library in Hudson, New York.

Join the New Amsterdam History Center online for a lively discussion of the enduring legacy of the 40-year Dutch rule of New York City, 1624–1664.

Russell Shorto and architectural historian Barry Lewis will trade observations about how our democratic institutions, rule of law, hyphenated nationality, entrepreneurial spirit, multiculturalism, and vocabulary are indebted to our Dutch origins.

Reservations are required.

Does your community have a great piece of Dutch New York folklore that should be shared? Legends & Lore, a program on the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, is designed to promote cultural tourism and commemorate legends and folklore as part of our heritage.

Generally speaking, folklore is the stories, customs, traditions, and expressive arts and crafts that are passed on from one person to another, often from generation to generation. Folklore is the knowledge that people share as members of a group or community. Our shared identities and sense of belonging are the result of shared traditions, stories, customs, and activities.

We are probably too late for this round's October 2nd deadline, but if you'd like to suggest a New Netherland/Dutch story for the next round, please get in touch with us! One of the keys here is to obtain permission from a landowner for the marker to be installed. We hope to hear from you.