Paterson Museum Program Offerings
The Paterson Museum Staff are a Resource in themselves. We are very happy to provide programming at community and group events, both in-person or virtual. We offer a variety of traditional lectures and hands-on programming. If you are interested in having a representative of the Museum speak at your event, please contact us at (973)321-1260 for more details and to discuss scheduling. Below is a list of the programs currently offered.
Batter Up!
Presented by Tanganyika Thorpe
Interactive Program
Batter Up is an interactive baseball program introducing students to the life and career of Larry Doby; the first Black baseball player in the American League. In this program, students will analyze objects, photographs, and news clippings on Paterson’s own, Larry Doby as they discover details about his life as a barrier-breaking Major League Baseball player. Participants will present their discoveries and conclude the program with a game of trivia baseball. Batter Up Program Overview
“Can’t Discriminate Against Negroes”*: The Minerva Miller Story
* Headline from The Morning Call Paterson, New Jersey, November 25, 1911
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
On September 22, 1911, Minerva Miller and two other ladies stood outside the Paterson Show House, ready to pay their fifteen cents for entry. They were told that entry for “colored folks” was actually twenty-five cents. The resulting lawsuit that took place in November, would be an early win for Civil Rights in New Jersey. But, who was Minerva Miller. There is an additional layer to Minerva’s story beyond the narrative of her court case. This presentation will discuss the important events surrounding her case and then take a deeper look into the historical record to see what can, or cannot, be uncovered about this woman’s life. Minerva’s story and the limited resources available to learn more about her, demonstrate the inequity of material, so commonly found, when researching marginalized individuals, such as women or people of color.
A Closer Look at the Paterson Museum’s Glass Plate Negative Collection
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
In September of 2021, the Paterson Museum Foundation initiated the first phase of a project to digitize the Paterson Museum’s collection of over 8,000 glass plate negatives. While over two-thirds of that collection have now been digitized, that is only one-step toward the long-term preservation and increased access to this collection. In this presentation, will explain the process taken to preserve the collection and detail future plans, before sharing some of the images that have been rediscovered.
From the Panama Canal to the Rogers Locomotive Works:
A History of the Paterson Museum
Presented by Giacomo DeStefano, Director
Powerpoint Lecture
The Paterson Museum can trace its origins back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Learn how this cultural institution, focused on preserving and presenting the history of the city and its inhabitants, has evolved from a natural history and art museum, to a museum focused on the industries of Paterson.
Larry Doby and His Legacy: A Paterson Legend
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
The year 2022, marked the 75th anniversary of Larry Doby breaking the baseball color barrier in the American League. However, to many Americans, Doby and his story remain unknown. This presentation will share Doby’s story, detailing his path to playing Major League Baseball and about his life after he joined the Cleveland Indians. Learn the many ways that his legacy lives on in Paterson today.
Never a Second Lady: Jennie Tuttle Hobart
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
Many Patersonians are familiar with the name Hobart. Often, they are more familiar the Garret A. Hobart, 24th Vice President of the United States. However, it could be said that his wife, Jennie Hobart had a more significant impact on the Paterson community than her husband. In this presentation, Garside will introduce this dynamic woman who witnessed national and international politics and events, such as the outbreak of the Spanish American War, President McKinley’s assassination and the call for Women’s Suffrage, from a unique vantage point. Jennie Hobart survived her husband by over 40 years. In that time, she dedicated herself to an array of philanthropic causes within the City, earning herself the title of “the first lady of Paterson.”
Paterson Great Falls, From Power to Park
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
The Paterson Great Falls has dual, sometimes conflicting, identities. The first, as a natural wonder, a scenic beauty and a tourist attraction. The second, as a source of power, providing the energy needed by the industries that developed into the City of Paterson. Both identities have existed simultaneously since the Falls were formed 13,000 years ago, weaving a complex tapestry filled with moments and events full of triumphs, set-backs and its fair share of acrobatic feats. Using historical and modern photographs, as well as original artwork inspired by the Falls, this presentation will walk the audience through time, exploring the waterfall’s long journey from a natural resource and industrial tool to becoming a protected park.
Pearl Mania: The Paterson Gem Rush of 1857
Presented by Heather Garside, Curator
Powerpoint Lecture
What connects a carpenter, an empress and a dentist? Pearls. In 1857, America’s first gem rush occurred right here in Northern New Jersey. This presentation provides an in-depth look at this moment of mania that captured the attention of Americans all over the nation. Meet an unlikely cast of characters that include J.P Morgan, Charles Lewis Tiffany and Empress Eugenie Bonaparte and learn how fortunes were found, and in one case, cooked, as thousands flocked to Passaic County to get rich quick.
Silk, the Queen of Textiles:
Its Production and Manufacture from Silkworm to Cherished Fabric
Presented by Giacomo DeStefano, Director
Powerpoint Lecture
A native Patersonian who grew up surrounded by working textile mills, DeStefano has been the Director of the Paterson Museum for over thirty years. During his tenure, the Museum acquired the silk machinery that visitors see on display in our silk exhibit. In this presentation, DeStefano shares his extensive knowledge of the silk manufacturing process as he examines the silk industry, which grew to give Paterson the nickname Silk City. The focus of the presentation will be a detailed look at the many stages of the manufacturing process from dyeing and winding to weaving. Historic images of the Paterson silk mill experience, alongside images of the machinery on exhibit, help bring the process to life.
Silk Weaving
Presented by Tanganyika Thorpe
Interactive Program
The Silk Weaving program explores the reason for Paterson’s nickname, Silk City. Participants will become familiar with the process of weaving silk into fabric, view and handle artifacts found in Paterson silk mills, and have the opportunity to weave their own piece of fabric by hand. Silk Weaving Program Overview
Take Your Medicine: The Life and Career of Pharmacist Frank Pinchak
Presented by Giacomo DeStefano, Director
Powerpoint Lecture
Born in the back room of his parents’ pharmacy in 1922, Frank Pinchak and Pinchak’s pharmacy were a cornerstone of the Paterson community for over sixty years. An active leader in Passaic County’s pharmacy network, Frank’s achievements in medicine safety have been recognized by the Smithsonian.
This is Paterson
Presented by Giacomo DeStefano, Director
Powerpoint Lecture
In 1792, the experiment of Paterson, New Jersey began. The brainchild of several visionaries, including Alexander Hamilton, Paterson was developed to demonstrate America’s ability to develop its own industries and achieve economic independence. This presentation will answer the question, why Paterson? Also, learn about the struggles endured in the early years of development. The presentation will also highlight some of Paterson’s major industries and successes.
Don’t see the program you are looking for? Contact us! Museum staff are always in the process of researching and developing new programs related to the history of Paterson.